Andrews University students wore masks and socially distanced while attending AU’s Got Talent, which was hosted by AUSA. There were 12 performers in total, and they all brought a unique sound and experience to the talent show. After all the performers executed their acts, Andrews University students were able to scan a QR code or follow a link to vote for their three favorite acts. The winners of the AU Talent Show 2020 were Franky Paypas in first place, Torrey Jupiter in second place and myself in third place.
I played a song entitled “I Feel Good” by Monika Stadler on the pedal harp. When I was practicing it, I intended the song to be a combination of intricate jazz and soulful blues to be plucked delicately on the strings. I attempted to utilize numerous harp techniques to enhance the beauty of the performance.
Torrey Joo (freshman, psychology) composed an original rap to a track. The audience thoroughly enjoyed his performance and paid close attention to his original lyrics. He passionately rapped and included pop culture references such as “I’m a fresh prince like my name was Zuko or Will” and “Cause the real ones are among us no room for imposters.” When asked about what was the inspiration behind his original act and how he began cultivating his interest, Mr. Joo said, “I think I was interested in rap since middle school, it was during an eighth grade English poetry class.” Even though the rest of his group found it hard to find words to rhyme, he found it inherently easy and he appreciated the genre. At AU, one of his friends urged him to audition for this year’s talent show and the rest is history.
Franky Paypas (freshman, pre-physical therapy, music) played “Right Round” by Flo Rida on the violin and danced rhythmically to the beat. She displayed her vibrant personality against the backdrop of the upbeat track. Her swift moves and stylistic gestures reminded the audience of Lindsey Sterling. Ms. Paypas brought her own gorgeous flair and energy to her performance and dazzled the audience. When asked about how she came to formulate her dance and violin skills, Ms. Paypas said that she was inspired by Lindsey Sterling and she watched her progress through America’s Got Talent. Franky always loved dancing and violin, but she originally never incorporated them together. The first time she combined them both was when she participated in a benefit concert in eighth grade. She was originally supposed to play a Michael Jackson medley on the violin, but her mom suggested it would be even better if she danced to the piece. She made sure to master the dance and piece separately and then combined it after she felt that she could do it in her sleep. Certainly, this has paid off as the audience was amazed by her energetic performance and she received thunderous applause.
Gloria Oh (sophomore, biology) stated, “I have heard various opinions about this year’s talent show, but I personally enjoyed every performance and I commend each participant for having the courage to perform and dedicate their time despite the stress of school and the pandemic.”
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.