Live at the Apollo: Students showing off skills

USI students showed off their talents while singing, rapping, dancing and playing with Trix Stix at Live at the Apollo this weekend.

Jesse Hebner, a member of the community, said he came to see Blended Society, the band that played between acts and intermission.

This was Hebner’s second year coming to Live at the Apollo and he said he plans to come again next year.

Hebner said the atmosphere is good for people to show off their talent.

Judah Hebner, singer for Blended Society, said it’s “neater” than other performances because they get to do things “on the fly” between acts, and it was fast-paced and laid back.

“I liked being up close and personal to the acts,” said Theo Akai, junior biology major and member of Blended Society. “That was pretty fun.”

He got up close and personal when singer Alaisha Johnson-Rhone went up to him and grabbed his hand while she sang “Mercy” by Duffy.

Junior accounting major Aaron McCullough won many girls’ hearts that night by reading a poem he wrote to show women their worth.

Jessie Ricketts, junior public relations and advertising major, said McCullough was her favorite performer, and he made every girl in the room swoon.

Jesse Walker Bush placed first with his stand-up comedy act.

“(Winning first place) was exciting,” said Bush, senior creative writing major. “It’s always good to hear what you’re doing has paid off.”

Elijaih Tiggs, junior public relations and advertising major, rapped “Jesus is the Truth.”

Tiggs said his favorite thing about performing was getting the opportunity to share the gospel of Christ, show what he gets excited about and have fun.

Tiggs said he will continue to perform as long as God continues to use him because it helps spread the message of Christ.

Kacheyta McClellan, Multicultural Center assistant director, said he believes it was a successful Apollo and there was a lot of diversity represented.

“There is a lot of talent at USI, and the judges did a marvelous job selecting the winners,” he said.

The Multicultural Center will “most likely” continue to charge admission to Live at the Apollo to keep the crowd in line with the fire code. There were more people in attendance than projected, but the crowd was not as big as last year’s crowd, McClellan said.

McClellan said his favorite thing about Live at the Apollo is seeing the students’ happiness when they win. He said that is why there are so many categories, so more people can walk away winners.

“Another favorite part of mine was watching my son get on stage and dance while the band, the house band, was playing,” McClellan said. “I don’t know what song they were singing, but my son liked it a lot and got on the stage and he danced and everybody clapped for him. … That was pretty cool.”

Individual Rhythmic Interpretation winner:

1st place Bre’Auna McCoy

Individual Lyrical Interpretation winners:

1st place Racia Murry

2nd place Alaisha Johnson-Rhone

3rd place Haley Pierce

Individual Artistic Interpretation winners:

1st place Aaron McCullough

2nd place Briante Melton

3rd place R.C. Lehman

Group Lyrical Interpretation winners:

1st place Quiet Spirit (Nyasha Shaw, Tori Beasley, Monique Darden, Faith Page and Ashley Smith)