NEIU's Talent Quest Competition

On Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 7:00 pm, NEIU held a talent competition in its newly refurbished auditorium. The event was titled Talent Quest and participation was open to all current NEIU students, faculty and staff. This event was produced by Mostly Music at NEIU and sponsored by Beck's Bookstore. The audition/demo deadline was Sept. 11, 2007, and all final entrants into the competition were to be gauged by a panel of judges.

The criteria to judge all contestants focused on talent, audience appeal, originality, presentation, and the "it" factor (that special something that makes one stand out in the competition) All genres of music, dance, poetry, comedy, etc were allowed to enter and compete for cash prizes and awards.

There were eighteen competing entrants total. Of these eighteen entrants, the first place prize of $1100 went to the group called Guys With Drums. This trio consisted of Frank Alongi-Student of Music Education, Michael Perkins-Student of Music, and Nathan Bojko-Student of Music. Their song Emergency consisted of loud drumming, gongs, sirens, colored lighting in darkness for dramatic effect, and audience participation (one of the judges joined in on gong)

The second place prize of $500 went to singer Alisa Harris-Student of Elementary Education for her accapella song Yesterday.

Third place and a prize of $250 went to Arick Lockhart-Student of Music Education/Voice for his piano and voice piece entitled "An Anointed Song"

Lastly, there was a Special Mention award given to the Salsa/Urban Dance duo of Tabitha DeLao-Student, and Eric Perez for their energetic dance piece.

NEIU's Talent Quest 2007 was hosted by Chicago's own Ricky Carmona, who provided comic relief and smooth transitions between sets (not to mention prizes for the audience members)

Lastly, the magician The Great Frankini provided a final pleasant surprise for the talent show with his Egyptian-themed magic.