After 54 singers auditioned, 15 made the cut and finally three finalists stood alone in the spotlight. Following much preparation and practice, the singers walked across the lighted stage knowing the moment their mouths opened, the judges would be watching.

This was the scene of Marcus Idol, taking place in the auditorium Oct. 5. The judges on the Marcus Idol panel and the show’s audience members after much deliberation and voting, awarded Autumn Langston with first place, Leanne Halliburton with second place and Robin McGhee with third place.

The crowd rose in a standing ovation after Langston sang “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston.

“I heard it, and I immediately loved it,” Langston said.

Initially inspired by her parents, Langston has been singing ever since she was a young girl. Music icons like Stevie Wonder and Jill Scott continue to motivate her.

“[Jill Scott] is really good at telling stories when she sings,” Langston said.

Her voice lesson teacher urged her to try out for the competition.

“It felt really good because I could see my family right in the front,” Langston said.

For Leanne Halliburton, this was her third year of trying out for Marcus Idol. Although she made it last year, she got sick and was not able to compete. This was her second chance. She chose to sing “Get it Right” by Lea Michele.

“It was a song that I could really connect to the lyrics with and could put a lot of emotion into it,” Halliburton said.

Halliburton said she loves the experience of performing, but after the song when she was waiting to find out the results was when the butterflies came in.

“It was kind of nerve-racking because I wanted to place, but whatever the result was going to be I was going to be happy because I got to perform,” Halliburton said.
Halliburton started singing when she was 3 years old and has been singing ever since.

She said she now looks up to her singing idol, Carrie Underwood, for her amazing talent and good morals. But singing for Halliburton goes beyond looking up to talented celebrities and winning competitions.

“It inspires me. It just motivates me, and it’s always been something that’s always been a big influence in my life,” Halliburton said.

Robin McGhee said singing has been a passion of hers ever since she started singing in fifth grade.

“I’ve always loved performing in front of people, and it feels great to go up there and sing,” McGhee said.

She views Marcus Idol as an opportunity for her to sing and has been in the competition every year. She said she didn’t even think she would place this year, but ended up getting third place for the second consecutive year. For this year’s competition, after hearing “Hundred Years” by Five for Fighting in a Rooms-to-Go, McGhee said she thought it was a cool song and immediately it was the one she would sing.

“When I’m performing it’s like I’m hearing the words the first time ever… and I actually get a lot of meaning from [the lyrics],” McGhee said.

Choir directors, Jason Dove and Wesley Davis inspire McGhee in her singing with their talent and work with the choirs. Inspiration from her choir directors and her success in Marcus Idol has added to McGhee’s love for singing and performing experiences.

“Everyone tries to find a way to express themselves and [singing] is the way I found to do it,” McGhee said.