Piano, Xylophone on Tap for Morristown's Got Talent

It all started innocently enough.  senior Oliver Cervantes, 17, joined the marching band a couple years ago so he could get involved with music.

He said he didn't know what he was getting into.

"I didn't even know the names of the instruments," the keyboard percussionist said. 

His friend, 17-year-old junior Charlie Savage, however, has been playing piano since the first grade. "I've always had an interest in it, and it just went from there," he said.

Naturally, the two thought it a good idea to team up and try out for . Good thing, since they were selected to be one of only 16 acts to perform on Feb. 29 at .

Their piece, "Tambouin Chinois," by Fritz Kreisler, may be a bit different from the modern pop standards a lot of their fellow performers will bring to the stage for the fifth-annual event. But, for the two young musicians, it's a piece both are already intimate with.

"It's very cool," Charlie said. "I learned the piece last year and thought it would be great to take it up to the next level and audition."

Their choice of material certainly did not hurt their chances. "It's cool that, especially out of 96 [who tried out], to know you're the one who stood out," he said.

Besides the Xylophone, which Oliver will be playing during the performance, he also has played the Marimba and Vibraphone, among other instruments know as "Keyboard Percussion."

The two students have been friends for several years and said they were excited to show the traditionally-packed Morristown's Got Talent audience what they're made of.

And, if they are selected for the $1,000 grand prize? "We'll split it," Oliver said.

"We better split it," Charlie said, laughing.

While Oliver said he would treat his share of the potential spoils as a scholarship and use it toward college, Charlie said he would likely keep it for a more pedestrian purpose.

"I'll probably use it for gas money," he said. 

The fifth-annual Morristown's Got Talent will be held Feb. 29 at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. For more information, check out our MGT 2012 guide.