Business organization hosts annual talent showcase

Akilah Porter

The Collegiate Business Association is hosting its fourth annual hip-hop and R&B talent showcase Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Kiva.

Marcus Henderson, CBA’s president and senior business management major, said the organization decided to include all elements of hip-hop — from music to poetry and dance.

“We felt a creative buzz,” Henderson said.

The organization held auditions for the showcase early in October. Student executive board members used 40-point scorecards to judge each performer on stage presence, confidence, vocal skills and performance style.

Daejah Alexander-Irby, CBA’s programmer and sophomore anthropology major, said she loved all of the auditioning acts.

“The showcase allows creative people on campus have an outlet to display their talent,” Alexander-Irby said.

Alexander-Irby won the 2010 showcase. She said she learned about the showcase last year when she transferred to Kent State and searched for somewhere to perform.

“I didn’t even think I was going to win,” she said.

After the show, she said she wanted to be more involved in CBA, so she shadowed the programmer at the time.

“Now I am planning the talent show that kind of introduced me to the organization in the first place,” she said. “I hope everyone enjoys it just as much as I will.”

Henderson said he thinks the audience will enjoy the show.

“You’re definitely going to get your money’s worth,” he said.

Contact Akilah Porter at [email protected].