Chantel George, a communication major, performs in the first round of Mizzou Idol at the Missouri Theatre before winning the coveted title.
Mizzou students took to the Missouri Theatre stage Feb. 22 for the fifth annual Mizzou Idol, a vocal performance competition inspired by the television show American Idol. Communication major Chantel George emerged from popular finalists as the winner. The 2014 competition marked the third time George had participated, an experience she describes as “exhilarating.” She says she was close to giving up, but her family’s support inspired her to try again.
The winner was decided by a panel of judges, including 2013 Mizzou Idol Marrissanne Lewis-Thompson, and by audience votes.
Between performances Comedy Wars entertained the audience.
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- Sini Stephan, a graduate student studying journalism, gets ready in the dressing room before the start of the first round of Mizzou Idol at the Missouri Theatre. Stephan was the only graduate student to participate in the annual student talent competition.
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- Mariah Taylor, a sophomore majoring in nursing, performs during the wildcard round of Mizzou Idol at the Missouri Theatre. She was one of the five wildcard entrants.
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- The front-row audience at the Missouri Theatre enjoys a skit by Comedy Wars improvisational troupe members who performed between rounds and kept the audience engaged during the show.
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- Kenton Gewecke, the master of ceremonies for the evening, explains the voting instructions to the audience. The audience decided the fate of the five wildcard entrants, only two of whom would proceed further in the competition.
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- Sini Stephan, one of the semi-finalists, performs "At Last" by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren, a song made popular by Etta James.
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- Brian Strohm, an accountancy major, performs during the first round of the competition. Storhm and eight other participants came to the event as semi-finalists and automatically earned spots in the competition.
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- Kerri Peer, a sophomore, performs during the first round of Mizzou Idol. One of the judges praised her shoes.
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- The judges discuss a participant's performance. Marrissanne Lewis-Thompson, right, was the title winner last year. She sang the National Anthem at the start of the event.
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- Kenton Gewecke announces the names of the five contestants who would proceed to the final round of Mizzou Idol.
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- Finalist Gibraun Mitchell, a physics major and jazz minor, dedicates his final-round song, "Falling in Love" by Tyrese, to his girlfriend. Mitchell was a crowd favorite and came close to winning the title.
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- Marrissanne Lewis-Thompson, one of the judges, comments on Mitchell’s performance.
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- One of the judges watches Chantel George perform.
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- Taylor Carr, a social work major, performs her final song, a medley of Adele’s "Someone Like You" and Miley Cyrus’ "Wrecking Ball." She was chosen as the first runner-up later that evening.
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- Audience members listen to Taylor Carr’s performance, which earned a standing ovation.
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- Chantel George, right, reacts as emcee Kenton Gewecke names her Mizzou Idol 2014. Contestant Gibraun Mitchell, left, later congratulated George on her win.
