It’s Your Turn was NEIU’s 4th annual Talent Showcase which this year featured 23 talented groups and individual students who took to the NEIU Auditorium Stage on Thursday, Sept. 25.
The performers each had four minutes to capture the audience and sway showcase judges with their music, dance, prose, poetry, comedic, and other talents. Contestants were judged on artistic talent, audience appeal, originality, presentation, and a category aptly named “That special something that makes you stand out in the crowd” with a $1,100 first prize at stake. Talent Showcase revered judges, comprised a “Panel of Presidents” including NEIU president Sharon Hahs along with Student Government Association’s Jason Garcia and other university departmental leaders. The talent of the competitors made it a difficult task for the panel of 10 judges to make their final determinations.
First Place again went to 2006 Talent Showcase winners Guys with Drums whose unique percussion and distinctive use of lighting gave them a slight edge over Second Place, $500 winner Tabitha DeLao & Angel Martinez’s Salsa/ Hip-Hop performance and Third Place, $250 winner Aldo Perrelli’s Aria performance, “Nessun dorma” from the Puccini opera Turandot. Honorable mention went to Maralgua Darjaa for her piano performance of Rachmaninov’s Musical Moment in E minor. The Talent Showcase continues to be an interactive annual free event for the university community and special thanks goes out to all who performed and attended.
It’s Your Turn was emceed by comedian Hannibal Burgess, voted Chicago’s funniest person by Time Out Chicago, sponsored by Beck’s Bookstore and produced by the NEIU Office of Cultural Events.