La Grange music major Michael McInerney wins first place in Apollo Live talent competition at College of DuPage

College of DuPage student Michael McInerney, a first-year music major from La Grange, earned first place for his energetic rendition of Elmore James' "Dust My Broom" at the third annual Apollo Live! student talent competition, held March 9 at the McAninch Arts Center on the Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.

The second place award went to first-year vocal performance majors Miray McElroy, Haley Mae Mott and Morgan Mott from Lombard for their stirring cover of "Halo" by Beyoncé. Second-year theater secondary education major Caryna Martinez Rios from Addison took third place for her English/Spanish version of "Unsteady" by X Ambassadors.

Winners were selected based on a variety of factors, including choice of selection, presentation, talent and skill, enthusiasm, presentation and audience participation.

Additional exceptional performances included second-year hospitality management major Ariana Diaz (Winfield) singing "At Last" based on Etta James' well-known interpretation of the song; third-year pharmacy major Irvin Alexis Gonzalez (Woodridge) playing electric guitar to "How Could I" by Cynic; first-year music education major Josh Gumina (Woodridge) playing piano and singing his original song "I Wonder, You Wander;" second-year business major Jessica Hoyle (Glendale Heights) playing guitar and singing her original song "Public Restroom Blues;" first-year music major Jared Jackson (Wheaton) performing a dance-step combo to "Kaboom Pow" by Nikki Yanofsky; first-year music major Emma Lee (Batavia) singing "My Funny Valentine" by Richard Rogers; and second-year business major Sarah Vinet (Cannes, France) singing "Creep" by Radiohead.