UMSL’s Homecoming Week consists of multiple events that bring the student body together. Along with events such as the Student Wellness Fair and the Chili Feed, our Homecoming Committee hosts Spirit Week, encouraging students to participate in themed costume days. One of the most anticipated events of Homecoming Week is Tritons Got Talent. Introduced last year, it is the most recent addition to the weeklong celebration.
In-person auditions were hosted on January 17 and virtual submissions were open to any prospective performers until January 21. After reviewing the auditions, 10 students are selected. One of those lucky students was Rachelle Martin, who opened the show. After speaking with Martin, it makes sense that she was selected as one of the special few to perform for UMSL students, staff and faculty; she has a history of being a performer.
Q: How long have you been a performer and when did you realize the importance or establish a connection with singing? Was it a moment, a song you heard or someone else who inspired you?
A: I’ve been a performer for as long as I can remember. I generally recall soloing in my church choir and at school as early as first grade. I’ve always been excited by the performing arts, and I’ve always loved to sing. It also helps that I come from a very musical family. Each of my siblings has a musical talent in some form or another, and we grew up in a house filled with music all the time.
Another one of Martin’s inspirations is the iconic album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” She states, “That Miseducation album was everything to me. I’d say it was the soundtrack to my earliest memories.”
Q: Is singing something you can see yourself doing professionally? Why or why not? Have you always held this opinion?
A: It has always been my life’s dream to be a professional musician. It’s the one thing I know I’ll never tire of, and when people see it–when they get to hear what I can do– that energy is priceless.
If Martin’s upbringing in the church choir and love for Lauryn Hill did not already hint at her style, then her response certainly gets the message across. When asked what her preferred genre was she states, “Oh baby, I am soul through and through. I also really love classic jazz records. Specifically, right now, R&B and neo soul are two of my most beloved genres of music. I am the musical daughter of Lauryn Hill, as I said before, as well as phenomenal artists like India Arie, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, etc.”
Q: What has your experience been as a performer at UMSL? Are there lots of opportunities? Do you always perform at the talent shows?
A: My experience has been rather limited. I am a singer with the University Singers, also. That is a campus choir her, and I really enjoy it, but I don’t always get to sing the kind of music that I typically enjoy. That said, when I first heard about the UMSL Homecoming talent show, I immediately jumped at the opportunity, and this year was my second year performing in it.
Q: What are your thoughts on our Performing Arts program? What are your thoughts on UMSL’s Performing Arts culture/atmosphere?
A: I still believe UMSL has a ways to go regarding support of the arts programs. I know multiple talented people at this school, and yet, we only have so many art students. No theatre, no dance. Why not expand? I would also love to see more than just the University Singers choir and the acapella choir run by faculty. More student-led arts programs… more diverse choirs dedicated to different genres. More performance opportunities for those groups. And more vocal music emphasis because I feel as though the musicians have way more opportunities for performance and classes than vocalists do. That said, I’m excited to see what improvements are made because I know we have the potential to grow and become a well-respected and multifaceted university, inclusive of everyone’s interests and talents.
Hopefully, with Tritons Got Talent being implemented in Homecoming Week for the foreseeable future, it will encourage a more expansive effort in the Performing Arts program including theatre, diversity in choirs and support of vocalists.
