Best of Best ends showcase season
By Courtney Drake
Staff Writer

ISSUE: 04/18/07 > A&E > Best of Best ends showcase season

It’s that time of year again when all of Belmont University’s showcases have come to an end…all, that is, except for the Best of the Best showcase, which will be Saturday, April 28 at 7 p.m. in the Curb Event Center.

Once again, the best talent at Belmont will be represented in one night, representing five genres. This year, the performers are Brooke Annibale, winner of the Other Showcase, Justin Wilson, winner of the Country Showcase, Kassi Konz, winner of the Christian Showcase, Future, winner of the Urban Showcase, and Sophia, winner of the Pop/Rock Showcase.

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“I didn’t expect to win the Other Showcase, and now to [be in the Best of the Best] is really awesome,” said Annibale.

And the five performers aren’t the only ones who will be featured at the showcase. In addition, five songwriters who won the Writer’s Showcase Series will be performing as well, including Rich Ramsey, Seth Jones, Alvin Love, Stephanie Lambring and Colleen McCarron.

“It’ll be an experience to get on stage with multiple genres,” said Justin Wilson, who has been in the Country Showcase three times but will take the Best of the Best stage for the first time this year. “But, I feel privileged to get up there with a set full of talented people.”

Besides the varying performers, the set-up and production of the show also promises to be different than what it’s been like in the past.

“It will be like a retro awards show,” said Chris Trump, producer of the Best of the Best Showcase and president of Belmont’s Showcase Council. “There will be more lighting rigs and two mini, custom stages to showcase writers.”

The Best of the Best Showcase is the only one put on by the Mike Curb College of Music Business that does not have a winner.

“There are so many genres, it would be hard for a judge to pick a winner without discriminating against another genre,” said Trump. He added that one focus of the show will be to “honor the people who made the show possible,” hence the awards show influence.

While there is no winner, Wilson is still looking forward to getting exposure and building a fan base. Plus, according to Annibale, there will be something to suit everyone’s taste at the showcase.