By Becca Eis | Echo
TSO's Student Activities Council will put on their annual MyGen talent show tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. in Rediger Auditorium. One of Taylor's many traditions, MyGen allows students across campus to showcase their musical talents by performing songs written since the year the senior class was born. Before you line up outside tomorrow night, read on below to learn a little about the students performing and what their acts might be like.
"Lay Me Down" by Sam Smith
Group members: Junior YeRam Yun with vocals and freshman David Vabi Hnanga on pianoMusic style of act: Ballad with rhythm and blues elements
Describe your act in three words: Emotional, gritty, raw
What made you want to be a part of MyGen?
"I started doing it since freshman year," Yun said. "I did it the last two times, so why not try it again? It's become my own tradition."
How did you pick your song?
"'Lay Me Down' by Sam Smith one of the songs in high school that made me really emotional because we listened to it before our friend group dispersed," Yun said. "I'm from an international school, so during senior year, we knew that we all went to our separate ways so before that we would sit in a little rice field somewhere at night and lay a blanket down and listen to all these sad songs before graduation, and one of the songs that I really felt relatable towards was 'Lay Me Down.'"
"Ain't it fun?" by Paramore
Group members: Juniors Avery Amstutz, Anna Clemens, Abby Crump, Maddy Prince, Payton Scott and Carly Wheeler (vocals), junior Katie Franz (tambourine/toms), junior Savannah Ireland (viola), junior Mikayla Schultz (electric guitar), junior Katy Sunderland (bass guitar), sophomore Kelsy Upton (drums), seniors Laura Roggenbaum and Emily Sumney (vocals) Olson Assistant Hall Director Shelby DeLay (vocals) and Olson Hall Director Jessie Woodring (piano).Group name: PA System
Describe your act in three words: Energetic, exciting, dynamic
What made you want to be a part of MyGen?
"It came up during our PA training on the bike trip," Schultz said. "It was on the way back to campus; it was late. . . .We were just sitting there, and I was sitting next to our bass player and our main singer, and a lot of them are in chapel bands so they are really accustomed to playing. A couple of us just had an idea of 'Oh my goodness, we should make a band.'"
How did you pick your song?
"During Olson week, when we were just chilling, having fun, we had an open mic night, and then we were just thinking of songs that an all-girl band could put together," said Schultz. "The reason is … 'Don't go crying to your mama,' that part in the song is all girls singing and clapping so we thought we could do it well."
"Heartless" by Kanye West
Group members: Sophomore Isaiah Aubert, vocals and pianoMusic style of act: Pop
Describe your act in three words: Acoustic, rap, singing
What made you want to be a part of MyGen?
"I did it last year, and I just played piano, and it was a lot of fun, and then over the summer I started singing," Aubert said. "I generally didn't want to sing in front of people, but then over the summer, I kind of got over that, so then this year was me wanting to sing and just try it out and perform and see if I enjoy doing that. I've always played piano and that's been fine, but singing is a new experience for me."
How did you pick your song?
"Well, when I was singing over the summer . . . and a little bit of last year too, I would . . . choose random songs and sing them just for fun, and then I learned that one on piano, and then I realized it was actually a lot of fun to sing and that my voice fit it pretty well, so then I learned it, and then I added a little bit of my own stuff, and then MyGen came around, so it's like, 'Eh, why not?'" Aubert said.
Students seeking an entertaining night of music can buy tickets for MyGen for $5 each in the LaRita Boren Campus Center, at the top of the Hudson Dining Commons and at the door.
