Mizzou crowns winner of student singing competition.
Photos by Shane Epping Published Feb. 22, 2013
Hollywood's got nothing on CoMo.
Contestants in the fourth annual Mizzou Idol, a student singing competition inspired by the popular television showAmerican Idol, performed to a sold-out crowd in the 1,200-seat Missouri Theatre — a first for the event. Another first: Fans who weren't lucky enough to get tickets could watch a live stream of the show online and, along with the in-person audience, vote by text or tweet in the "fan favorite" and "wild card" categories.
First-place and second-place winners were chosen by a panel of judges: former MU campus activities coordinator Lauren Karr, radio personality/local music guru Kevin Walsh and MU School of Music professor Christine Seitz.
The fourth annual Mizzou Idol competition took place on Friday, Feb. 15, at the Missouri Theatre to a sold-out crowd of 1,200 attendees.
The show was streamed over the Internet, and fans not in attendance could watch the show and vote by text or tweet on two rounds: best wild-card performer and fan favorite.
Contestant Mariah Taylor, a freshman nursing major, says her singing wasn't inspired by anyone in particular. "I just kind of started going my own way," she says.
Armani Cross, a freshman animal science major and one of three wild card performers, competed for a spot to join ten semi-finalists. The crowd voted Cross to the next round, during which she performed "I'm Walking on Sunshine."
Contestant Brianne Boland, a senior journalism and graphic design major from Washington, Mo., performs with a guitar.
Contestant Chantel George, a sophomore communications major, has been singing since she was eight years old.
Contestant Savannah Givens, a junior health sciences major, performs.
Contestant Paige Flores, a senior broadcast journalism major from Arkansas, has been singing since she saw her first Disney movie, 'Pocahontas.'
Contestant Zack Gray, one of two male performers, is a sophomore education major who has been singing as long as he can remember.
Contestant Gibraun Mitchell, a freshman physics major, performs "Let Me Love You" by Mario.
Members of the audience use their phones to vote for wild card contestants and fan favorites.
Contestant Abbey Tingle, a sophomore journalism major, performs a censored version of Macklemore's "Thrift Shop." The crowd chose Tingle as the fan favorite by voting through text and Twitter.
Judges include (left to right): former MU campus activities coordinator Lauren Karr, MU School of Music professor Christine Seitz and KOPN host/music aficionado Kevin Walsh. After all 11 singers had performed, the judges chose six finalists for a second round: Paige Flores, Chantel George, Gibraun Mitchell, Marrissanne Lewis-Thompson, Jenny Teator and Abbey Tingle.
Contestant Jenny Teator, a junior health sciences major, sings an original song in her second performance and wins second place.
Finalist Marissanne Lewis-Thompson, a sophomore journalism major, sings Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" in her second performance and wins the Mizzou Idol title.
After winning first place, Lewis-Thompson performs a third and final song. She won $400 and a chance to sing the national anthem at an upcoming sporting event.
Mizzou Idol was sponsored by the Missouri Students Association (MSA)/Graduate Professional Council (GPC), Residence Halls Association, and College Music Committee. This was the first time that the contest sold out.
The winners
Fan favorite: Abbey Tingle, a sophomore journalism major, who performed “Too Close” by Alex Clare in the final round.
Second place: Jenny Teator, a junior health-sciences major, who performed an original song during the finals round.
First place: Marissanne Lewis-Thompson, a sophomore journalism major, who won over the judges with her rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and won the Mizzou Idol title.
These Tigers aren't the only Mizzou vocalists making a stir. MU student Kiara Lanier, a junior from Chicago, recently competed on American Idol and earned high praise from judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban. Watch her audition.
