Standing ovation for student talent competition finalists
After qualifying through a series of campus heats, students from across The Manchester College came together at City Campus Manchester to compete in the grand final of TMC’s Got Talent 2026.
Organised by the further education provider’s Enrichment team, the annual competition gives students from across the College the opportunity to showcase their talents and attracted entrants from a wide variety of courses.
This year, 24 students entered the competition, auditioning at venues across the College’s campuses as well as via pre-recorded submissions. From these, 10 finalists were selected to perform in the grand final, which took place in the Studio Theatre at City Campus Manchester.
Visual Arts student Queency Elizabeth Pombor was crowned the winner, delivering a powerful and captivating spoken word performance that earned a huge response from staff and students in the audience on the night.
The evening opened with a special guest performance from last year’s winners, Olivia Norton (Singer) and Hifza Ahmed (Keyboardist), who returned to the stage following their 2025 triumph with a rendition of Saving All My Love for You by Whitney Houston.
Rachel Curry, Principal of The Manchester College, attended the event alongside other members of the College’s leadership team and was blown away by what she witnessed. Reflecting on the evening, Rachel said: “Our annual student talent competition is an incredible celebration and one of the standout fixtures on our Enrichment calendar.
“Our students never fail to amaze me and giving them the chance to showcase their often hidden talents in this way is a brilliant and breathtaking experience.”
Rachel added:
The competition is all about helping our students step outside their comfort zones and build confidence in the process. It’s also wonderful to see students encouraging and supporting one another, and enjoying a joy‑filled evening with others from across our College community.
Asked about the experience, this year’s winner summed it up perfectly, saying: “It was an opportunity to let my true colours show.”
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