Mayer Competes in Second Round of MSG Varsity's Talent Show

A Commack High School vocalist is competing not only for your votes this Sunday, but a chance to raise awareness in honor of his mom this Mother's Day. 

Matthew Mayer will pick up his pink ukelele to perform in the May 13 semifinals of MSG Varsity's Talent Show this Sunday. The pink ukelele on which he'll pluck out the strings of "Straight from the Heart" by Brian Adams, carries its own powerful message sure to make his mother proud. 

"People don't really understand why I play pink instruments at first, what the significance of the pink," Mayer said. "It makes them question it, and it allows me a chance to explain."

Mayer said he first spotte the pink ukelele inside a guitar shop while spending the summer at Syracuse University. 

"I immediately thought of my mother who had breast cancer when I was in the sixth-grade," he said. 

The up-and-coming singer said he purchased the pink ukelele without hesitation, and now plays it whenever he performs to help raise awareness of breast cancer. His mission lead Mayer to sign up for MSG Varsity's Talent Show.

Mayer said he was watching a special on the Commack Cougarettes on MSG Varsity when he saw an commercial advertising the talent show competition. Despite singing and performing for less than four years, the Commack teen said he sent in a an audition video. 

"Sammy Sclafani from Commack won it last year. If she could win it, I can win it too," Mayer said. 

But he didn't expect to get a response. His acceptance to the show came as "a shock, but a good kind of shocked." 

After his first performance, Mayer was among two of four individual vocalist receiving the highest number of votes. He will face off again Kristi Long from Bishop Kearney HIgh School in Brooklyn, Melanie Martinez from Baldwin High School and Kayla Stockert from Sayville High School this Sunday to continue. Only two will advance to the finals. 

"It would mean the world to me. Four years ago, I didn't consider singing a hobby of mine," Mayer said. "To come from that state to where I am no, to win the competition would be a pretty good story." 

If he won the competition, Mayer says he's like to use the publicitize to raise more awareness about breast cancer and surviving it, in honor of his mother. 

As an individual vocalist, Mayer is competing for a chance to win a two-day professional studio experience including the opportunity to work with an award-winning produce to cut a demo CD or video, and create custom-designed cover art. The prize package also including a professional photo shoot. 

Watch Mayer's performance broadcast this Sunday on MSG Varsity, Optimum Channel 14 at 8 p.m. A link to the  voting can be found here on MSG Varsity's website. Voting will close at 9 a.m. May 18. 

"I really feel as if I have ever single person in the community behind me right now," Mayer said. 

Commack residenst have the chance to see Mayer perform locally at 10 p.m. Friday, when he will take to the stage of Commack's Relay for Life event. He will also be in multiple numbers at Commack High School's senior show on Saturday.