Telvin Lewis wins S.M.A.C’s Golden Eagle Idol Wednesday night in Bennett Auditorium. He brought home the gold by singing a beautiful rendition of Sam Smith’s “Not the Only One.”- Kelley Joe Brumfield
Telvin Lewis, a senior entertainment industry major, won the first Golden Eagle Idol Wednesday night at Bennett Auditorium.
“I’m speechless right now,” Lewis said. “It’s been a crazy senior year. Wow, I’m just excited to win.”
Fellow Golden Eagles were in attendance to support the eight contestants competing for the beloved title. Throughout the night, each contestant belted the song of his or her choice proving to the audience immediately that it would be a tough competition.
The competition, emceed by SMAC president Gavin Snyder and “The Voice” contestant Briar Jonnee Blakley, featured two full rounds of intense competition.
The first round consisted of pre-recorded introductions of each contestant, followed by his or her medley. During the second round, Sarah-Bailey Roberts, a senior nursing major, joined Lewis on stage as they battled it out for the title.
One of the most memorable moments of the night was when the two vocalists went head-to-head with powerful tunes in the final round. Roberts chose to sing Whitney Houston’s “I Look to You,” while Lewis went with Journey’s “Open Arms” winning him the show.
“I ended up choosing ‘Open Arms’ because its my mom’s favorite song and I felt it really shows off my vocal range,” Lewis said.
Another entertaining part of the night came when Chaotic Movement dance troupe treated the audience to a performance. The dancers performed several routines to popular hits, providing the competition with a brief intermission.
While the judges deliberated on the finalists of this competitive night, a performance by The Stage Monkeys improv group took place that involved the crowd’s creativity and participation.
The People’s Choice Awards was presented to Roberts, along with the second-place title and a cash prize of $100. Lewis was awarded $200.
Lewis said he plans to gain an internship at Sony Music Label and start a record label.
“I think Telvin won mainly because he’s a vocal genius, he’s very good,” Blakley said. “He’s just talented. It’s a God-given gift.”
