Beat-boxers to ukulele vocalist shine at Bob Jones Talent Show

The Upbeats were the overall winner in the Bob Jones Talent Show. (PHOTO/KAYLIE MILLER)

MADISON – Audience members weren’t disappointed with an eclectic array of performers at the Bob Jones High School Talent Show.

The Tri-M Music Honor Society at Bob Jones sponsored the event on April 4 in Zompa Auditorium. The free show was open to all students at Bob Jones.

Tri-M President Shannon Farr spearheaded the idea for the show. Farr realized a talent show would earn performance credits for Tri-M members while offering a venue for Bob Jones’ entire population.

Contestants competed in categories for miscellaneous, individual instrumentalists, vocalists and bands. For each category, the second-place winner earned $50 and first place took home $100, according to Kaylie Miller with “Patriot Pages” (bjhspatriotpages.com).

Among the miscellaneous acts, Julie Cunningham won first place for a hip-hop dance routine. Monday Sanderson delivered spoken poetry to earn second place.

Pianist Tina Tian was first-place winner among individual instrumentalists. Second place went to David Mok, who also played piano.

For the vocalists, Samantha Stratton sang and played ukulele to receive first place. Second-place vocalist Vanessa Cardwell sang an original song and accompanied herself on guitar.

Tatonka earned bragging rights as top band. Negative Basket was in second place.

Playing all original music, The Upbeats were the talent show’s overall winner. Band members are James Eaton, lead guitar and vocals; Aaron Barr, drums; Sam Benefield, guitar; and Marty Fore, bass.

The Upbeats prepared for the talent show “jamming out in a basement. Their style is described as coffee-house rock, but they claim just to be good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll,” Miller said.

Tri-M Music Honor Society is an international organization that recognizes secondary students for academic and musical achievements. Students have chartered more than 5,500 Tri-M chapters, which are affiliated with the National Association for Music Education.