A bubble of anticipation grew as audience members flooded into the Rediger Auditorium. It finally burst when the stage lights came to life and the opening band began to play.
Students anticipate Taylor’s annual MyGen performance throughout the Fall semester. It celebrates music produced within the past 22 years that represents the generation of students currently attending Taylor.
From upbeat pop songs like “Weekend Whip,” performed by Spin Harmony, and “Steal My Girl,” performed by 1West, to enrapturing country songs like “Ends of the Earth,” performed by The Jersey Boys, and “Jersey Giant,” performed by Heartland Calvary, there was something for everyone in the room.
In segments preceding each performance, Meghan Tiemens, a sophomore marketing major, and Solomon Campbell, a sophomore Christian ministries major, took the audience along on their quest to locate the cure for the “freshman frenzy.”
The duo dedicated a lot of time and energy to writing and fine-tuning their script, which paid off when the audience erupted in laughter and eagerly anticipated how the skits would be tied into introducing the title of the next song.
The most fun part was “making it a collaborative effort with everyone,” Tiemens said, but the most challenging parts were “making sure that your jokes are gonna actually land, and appealing to the right audience.”
This year’s theme was “jungle,” which entailed elaborate decorations. From hanging vines and parrots to oversized animals and dinosaurs, the decor showcased the hard work and creativity of the Student Activities Council who makes this tradition possible every year.
Annie Troyer, a senior film and media arts major and SAC member, said her favorite part of preparing for MyGen was decorating because it was fun to get creative when figuring out how to fill and transform the space.
The Lemonheads, performing “Determinate,” opened this year’s concert with Gaby Valdez, a junior vocal performance major, and Gabrielle Hamilton, a sophomore music education major, singing their way up the aisles and onto the stage, where they joined their instrument-playing bandmates.
“It has been so much fun singing with Gabrielle because her and I, since we’re both leading vocals on it, to just have cute little moments where we’re making eye contact or having a connection while we’re singing,” Valdez said. “And also having a full band gives you such a great rush.”
The audience erupted as the singers interacted with those at the foot of the stage, and Gavin Kastner, a senior musical theatre major, blew them away when he left his piano to break out into a rap.
Every year, MyGen performers get creative with the presentation of their selected songs.
Sofa modified the chorus of “Toxic,” giving it a unique sound. Sammy Tunes broke the norm by performing a combination of “Treasure” and “Runaway Baby” with an instrumental riff in between.
Regardless of how they chose to perform their songs, the bands worked diligently to be prepared for both their auditions and performances.
The Jersey Boys succeeded in their audition, no doubt thanks to their positive attitude.
Graceanna Cramer, a sophomore Christian ministries major, said the Jersey Boys viewed their audition as a performance opportunity in which they got to have fun, regardless of the outcome.
“I absolutely love music, and playing for people that desire to hear music and take joy in that also is something I love to do,” Andrew Hibma, a junior youth ministry major, said. “I frickin’ love music.”
MyGen’s finale was PillowPets’s performance of “Mr. Brightside,” to which the audience responded by flooding the aisles, crowding around the foot of the stage, moshing and singing along.
As the band entered into the final chorus, balloons rained down from the catwalk, signifying the end of another exciting MyGen.
“Overall, everyone is very excited and encouraging to everyone who is performing, which is super great, and I feel like it makes the whole experience a lot of fun,” Troyer said. “Everyone normally knows someone that’s in Mygen, so I think it’s a combination of — it gets you that concert feel and a lot of people love the music and have friends in it.”
From music and artistic liberties to comedic sketches and decorations, this year’s MyGen had something for everyone.
