The Neelsie was pumping yesterday as Good Hope FM held the Campus DJ Search. PHOTO: Catherine Del Monte
12 Stellenbosch University (SU) students battled it out in front of the mic as Good Hope FM held their Campus DJ Search in the Neelsie yesterday, 30 September.
SU was 4th in line after Good Hope FM kicked off their hunt for the voice at CPUT District Six Amphitheatre in Cape Town on 16 September, continuing to Northlink College in Tygerberg on 17 and 18 September, and CPUT in Bellville on 19 September.
Good Hope FM partnered with MTN Pulse, a platform recently launched targeting the youth to provide these young MTN customers with tailor-made offerings and exclusive content, according to an article in Good Hope FM’s website.
DJ Gremlin from Good Hope FM pumped up the jam behind the mix boards as the contestants warmed up their vocal chords for the first round of auditions.
At 12h55, as the judging panel which comprised Programme Manager Gerard Muller, Marketing Manager Meegan Kieffer, former MFM 92.6 radio host and SU alumna Celest Anthony, and traffic presenter Vicki Mac Callum, issuing their verdict with ‘yay or nay paddles’, Kyeezi, presenter of the Great Drive kicked off the first round of auditions.
During round one, contestants were required to back-announce a song following an introduction of themselves and a live read from a script they had just 10 minutes to practice. Each contestant needed three out of four green, ‘thumbs-up’ paddles to progress to the second round.
Seven of MatieMedia’s own went head to head during the first round with Cher Petersen (25) leading the procession, following in her wake, Mike Wright (23), Lucian Van Wyk (23), Courtney Williams (24), Jessica Josephs (23), Zoe Human (21) and Marecia Damons (21).
“I’m here today because most of my classmates decided to come and audition for the Good Hope Campus DJ Search and I decided, why not also go?” comments an unperturbed Petersen moments before she is called to the podium.
Before the first round, Wright comments that “the job market is so saturated that any possibility and any chance that you have to pierce through and create a chance to be employed in the South African [working] climate, I will grab with both hands. On top of that, it’s gees, it’s fun.”
12 contestants dwindled to seven as Petersen, Damons and Human made up three of the seven finalists who pushed through to the second round, this time required to improvise a hypothetical “hook” — a probing question to engage the audience members. Other finalists included Kofi-Anan Mkumla, Zintle Tunce (20), Axola Mavumbe (26) and Olona Ndzuzu (23).
The seven finalists from left to right: Axola Mavumbe, Zintle Tunce, Kofi-Anan Mkumla, Olona Ndzuzo, Zoe Human, Marecia Damons and Cher Petersen waiting to hear the verdict on who will be picked to represent SU in the Good Hope FM Campus DJ Search. PHOTO: Catherine Del Monte.
The seven contestants lined up, the Neelsie saturated with anticipation as Kyeezi waited to announce the winner of the Campus DJ Search SU auditions…
And it’s official. Marecia Damons had the voice and owned the mic as she was selected to represent SU campus in the Good Hope FM Campus DJ Search.
BA Honours Journalism student and host of the Weekend Drive at MFM 92.6, Marecia Damons (21) receives her prize from Good Hope FM Great Drive host, Kyeezi for being chosen to represent SU in the Good Hope FM Campus DJ Search. PHOTO: Catherine Del Monte.
“I have always been very passionate about people and about radio and that is why I am very excited for the opportunity I have been given to represent SU. I am looking forward to everything that is still to come from this opportunity,” comments Damons.
Damons is now one step closer to winning a spot to train at the 54-year-old radio station, Good Hope FM.
Kyeezi, an alumnus of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is now a presenter of the Great Drive show after he participated in the Campus DJ Search twice.
He wrapped up by throwing in a few words of encouragement for those who did not make it: “If you believe you can do this, you have to work at it, it’s a hustle and you have to train every single day.”
Good Hope FM is hosting their search at UWC today (1 October) and tomorrow (2 October) before ending at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre on Sunday, 6 October in a wild card event. The wild card event allows students from independent institutions the chance to grab a spot in the finals and compete with students from the five selected campuses around the peninsula.