Fourteen students competed at this year’s Cyclone Voice competition, hosted by country singer Lauren Alaina. In case you missed the event, here are a few highlights: 

Brooke Whitney’s passionate performance

The freshman’s rendition of Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel” filled the Great Hall with her powerful voice and wide vocal range. Whitney’s performance brought an new energy that stuck with the show for the rest of the night. 

Nick Pigott comes full circle 

When senior Nick Pigott took the stage, he started his song with a personal story. When Pigott was a freshman, he sang Michael Buble’s “Feeling Good” for VEISHEA Idol, and made it to the finals. However, he was unable to perform the song due to the cancellation of VEISHEA that year. Pigott’s performance brought the audience to their feet, and brought his Cyclone Voice experience full circle. 

Lauren Alaina inspires, entertains and gets emotional 

Before the winners of the competition were announced, host Lauren Alaina sang 4 of her songs, some from her album, Road Less Traveled. Alaina opened up about her family life and her time on American Idol, sharing very personal stories that eventually inspired the songs on her album. Alaina closed her short set with her single “Road Less Travelled”, which hit #1 on the country music charts this week.  

The guys win it all

Out of the eleven girls and 3 guys in the competition, all 3 male participants were recognized when winners were announced. Freshman Tyler Geiger took 3rd place with Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”, senior Nick Pigott took 2nd place with “Feeling Good” and freshman Derek Lutt won this year’s Cyclone Voice with the theatrical tune “Run Away With Me.”