Let the competition begin for Rider’s R Factor; eight finalists
By Sofia Santiago
RED lights lit the Yvonne Theater, illuminating four empty white benches onstage. As the doors opened and the crowd streamed in, the anticipation of seeing the four white seats occupied grew with the crescendo of the dramatic music playing.
This year’s season of the R-Factor competition began with auditions, on Sept. 6, where eight of the 26 acts would advance to the finale on Sept. 12.
The suspense ended when hosts Evan Schwantes, senior data analytics and finance major, and Owen McCarron, senior radio and podcasting major, walked onstage.
Together, they introduced the judges: Justin Guarini, actor and previous American Idol contestant; Brad Fischetti, of the band LFO; Dani Knights, former X Factor contestant; and Nick Barbati, vice president for student affairs and creator of the R Factor.
After each contestant performed, the judges gave them feedback and either gave them a seat, securing them a spot in the finale or eliminated them. When all four seats were filled, contestants could be replaced by another act, much to the audience’s displeasure.
Barbati described the judges’ decision process: “It’s so tough because we each uniquely have different interests and different tastes.”
However, four eliminated contestants, one chosen by each judge, would still have a chance to advance to the finale as “wildcards.” During the week between the auditions and the finale, the judges coach two of the contestants in preparation for the finale.
“There’s an opportunity at the end for someone that we wanted to make a connection with that someone else made a passing decision on,” Barbati explained.
Koryna Jn-Louis, senior music production and arts management major, was one of the wildcards chosen for her performance of “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims. She expressed excitement at the opportunity to work with Knights, the judge who chose her.Auditions were open to all Rider students, regardless of major or experience in music. Edward Ott, freshman biochemistry and business administration major and one of the eight finalists, said the crowd’s energy helped him overcome his nerves during his performance of “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison.
This year broke the record for the number of auditioners. Acts filled out a form online for an audition spot. Priority was given to first-time participants and the maximum number of performers allowed was 30. Those who filled out the form later, or were returners, were put on a waitlist and called in if spots opened.
Lathan Gil, sophomore music production major, was excited when they called him on the morning of the show and asked him to perform.
Another returner, sophomore musical theater major and finalist Finn Alexander, who performed Frank Sinatra’s “The World We Knew.” commented on the differences between his two years on the show.
“It feels like a more comfortable space this time… There was more time given up for technical feedback, which I appreciate,” Alexander said.
Finalist and sophomore music education major Casey Decker was also given feedback regarding stepping out of her comfort zone after her performance of “Part of Your World” by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, a classic from ‘The Little Mermaid’.
By the end of the show, all four white seats were filled and the eight finalists were: Ott, Decker, Alexander, Jn-Louis, sophomore musical theater major Olivia Conti, junior musical theater major Alexis Archer, sophomore musical theater major Jacob Ebert and a trio consisting of sophomore music major Connor Bowden, sophomore music education major Aaron Lynch and sophomore musical theater major Matt Angelaccio.
