by Hanna Singh
It was an unforgettable Saturday night at Louisiana Tech’s Howard Theatre for Alyssa Freeman, who was named the winner of second annual Bayou Star Search. Celebrating talent in Louisiana, the event highlighted performers from around the state while raising money for the Louisiana Delta Ballet Company.
With prizes of $10,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, and $1,000 for third, along with a People’s Choice Award, the show boasted a strong field of competition.
Judges included pianist, educator, and artist, Dianna Thacher, award-winning director, Gary Halvorson, and accomplished Broadway performer and former Miss Louisiana, Holli’ Conway.
Freeman took home first place with her performance of her original country song, “Fast Train to Heartbreak”. Second place was snagged by Mr. Taylormade and his band with their blend of blues, R&B, and rock performance. Third place was given to Heka the Maji for his audience involved magic act. The People’s Choice Award was announced as Eli Rogers for the second year in a row for his original Christian song.
Freeman expressed her surprise in hearing her name called as the winner..
“When they called my name as the winner, I was completely shocked,” Freeman said. “I truly wasn’t expecting it, so it took me a second to even process what had happened. Winning was already such an incredible feeling, but knowing I won with a song that I wrote made it even more special. I’m just so thankful for the opportunity and for everyone who supported me.”
Heka the Maji shared his excitement in being announced as one of the winners of the Bayou Star Search.
“It felt amazing,” Heka the Maji said. “I came into the Bayou Star Search confident in what I was bringing to the stage, and I knew the magic was going to connect with the audience. Hearing my name called for third place made the experience even more special. Being able to showcase what I do, represent New Orleans, and perform in front of an accomplished panel of judges meant a lot to me. I’m grateful for the recognition, and this is only the beginning ⎯ there’s a lot more to come.”
Co-Chair of the event, Justin Underwood, touched on the excitement of the event and commended Alyssa for talent and dedication that led to her win.
“Bayou Star Search again showed this is the stage for Louisiana talent to shine” Underwood said. “The caliber of talent from across Louisiana, the energy of the audience, and the incredible support from our sponsors, volunteers, and community made it an unforgettable night and showed us that this event has a very bright future. Alyssa Freeman embodied exactly what Bayou Star Search was created to celebrate: exceptional Louisiana talent, originality, and the courage to share something uniquely her own.”
In an effort to showcase talent from every region in Louisiana, the event brought 20 competitors from all over the state to shine on stage. From New Orleans to Baskin, performers of all types showed off their talents during the competition.
Local comedian Garrett Nelson enjoyed competing in the Bayou Star Search for the first time this year and shared his feelings about working alongside other talented individuals.
“Bayou Star Search was such a great experience,” Nelson said. “It was refreshing to work with artists from different backgrounds and art forms. It made for a very diverse lineup. All of the contestants were extremely talented. I was also very impressed with how smoothly the show ran. This was a huge production with a lot of moving parts, but the organizers and the crew members made the show flow seamlessly. They also made the contestants feel appreciated throughout the whole process. They were very accommodating and made sure everyone was taken care of. I think it’s safe to say that it was a great night for everyone.”
The second annual Bayou Star Search shaped up to be an incredible night with shining stars in every division of talent. From comedy and magic acts to musical and dance performances, there was no shortage of breathtaking stage presence. The Louisiana Delta Ballet intends to bring back the event for years to come, keeping talent alive in Louisiana.
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