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Singing sensation

Morgan Rossi can add this title to her freshman-year resume: Marquette Superstar. She recently belted and crooned her way to a winning finish in MUTV’s American Idol-inspired contest. “I was shocked and absolutely stoked,” says Rossi, a Barrington, Ill., native majoring in corporate communication. “I couldn’t wait to call my mom and dad.”

The third annual Marquette Superstar competition required contestants “to sing their way into the hearts of both the judges and the Marquette community.” The student judges from the Diederich College of Communication chose a dozen contestants during auditions in February and then kicked off two would-be Superstars each episode. Along the way, Marquette students cast 2,153 votes for their favorites, including 1,171 votes to decide the winner. This season attracted the most voters and largest live turnout, says Theresa Kennedy, MUTV’s entertainment director and executive producer of this year’s show.

Rossi decided to audition at the urging of her friend Morgan White, another Superstar finalist. But it was hardly Rossi’s first time on the stage. She fell in love with singing during the second grade. “I used to be obsessed with the movie The Wizard of OZ, mostly because I loved the song Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” she says. “I secretly watched that part of the movie over and over again until I memorized all of the words, and then decided I was going to sing it in our school talent show. It was then I realized how much I loved performing.”

She got serious about her vocal training during high school, and through various choirs, has sung at the White House, the Vatican, the Joffery Ballet in Chicago and a world-renowned classical competition in Italy. At Marquette, she sings in the Liturgical Choir and The Gold ’n Blues a capella group.

But Marquette Superstar has been one of her favorite experiences thus far. “The best part was just getting the chance to perform,” she says. “We recorded in the studio every Tuesday night, and it was so awesome using the equipment and working with all the people that run MUTV. I loved being able to hear what the other contestants’ song choices were each week and what stylistic choices they took when performing it. I really learned a lot from them.”

Rossi’s contest selections included Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips and I’ll Be by Edwin McCain. A music minor, she hasn’t ruled out pursuing music professionally. “Rumor has it that next year will be the last season of American Idol, so maybe I’ll try out for that,” she says. “Who knows.”

Listen to a clip of Rossi singing.