Watt a winner for ‘Idol’
SMU Program Council held the second annual Mustang Idolcompetition last night in the Hughes-Trigg Theater. First-yearvocal performance major Bryan Watt, from Thomasville, Ga., won thetitle of Mustang Idol after two rounds of singing.
The 10 contestants, who were narrowed down from 250 students,sang individually for three judges. Five finalists were thenselected to sing again. At the end of the second round, theaudience voted on its favorite contestant. The results were thentallied, and the winner was announced.
The audience was made up of the contestants’ familymembers, friends and SMU students.
First-year Andrea Gulley came to support her friend, former MissTeen Texas, Brittany Wellsfry. “I’m really excited tohear her sing,” Gulley said. “I was like, ‘Whenyou’re famous can I come hang out on yourbus?'”
Some students even made signs to show their support for theirfriends. Hayli Henderson and Catherine DuBord, made hot pinkposters to support semi-finalists Bechir Sylvain and PatRieger.
“I am more excited than nervous; this is all aboutfun,” semi-finalist Monica Herrod said. “Anyone couldend up in the top five; we are all very diverse,” shesaid.
George Gimark, co-founder of KDGE The Edge radio station, singerNancy Moore and T.K. Stillman, last years Mustang Idol winner,served as judges for the event.
“I am not looking for the contestant with just the bestvoice, but someone with stage presence — the person who sellsthe song,” Stillman said.
In a performance much like the opening numbers for the”American Idol” television show, Mustang Idol openedwith all 10 semi-finalists singing and dancing to”Can’t Get Next to You.”
The first performer, Sarah Jobe, a sophomore Spanish andpsychology major from Mesquite, Texas, sang”Fever.”
The judges, like their “American Idol” counterparts,spared no feelings when commenting on the performances.
“An interesting choice, not a lot of vocal range in thatsong.” Gimark said.
Winner Bryan Watt chose Lonestar’s “Amazed”for his first round performance.
“You are very good-looking,” Moore said, “andthat means you have to overcompensate for it by singing from yourheart so that people take you seriously.”
After all 10 semi-finalists had performed, the judges were leftto decide the five finalists while the audience watched a tape ofthe behind the scenes of Mustang Idol. The tape showed everythingfrom the photo shoots and rehearsals, to the performers thoughts onthe competition. During the break, the audience also saw a previewof Program Council’s new show, “Sizzle.”
The judges then selected the five finalists. Billy Lawley, Anna,Brittany Wellsfry, Bryan Watt and Brett Warner.
Watt performed “My Girl,” while first runner-upBrett Warner performed her rendition of Mandy Moore’s”I Wanna Be with You.”
After all the finalists performed, members of Program Counciltallied the votes while the audience watched performances byStillman and the Meadows School of the Arts dancers.
Watt was announced the winner and received a check for $1,000from Jiffy Lube. Warner was first runner-up, Wellsfry walked awaywith second runner-up, Lawley was third runner-up, and Anna cameaway with fourth runner-up.
