EU’s Got Talent: “EU on the Rise” Showcases Students’ Musical Masterpieces
Featuring a diverse medley of singing and dancing performances, soloists and group acts, covers and original pieces, and a grand prize of $750, Elmhurst University’s Spring 2026 iteration of its “EU on the Rise” talent show proved to be a mesmerizing night for all in attendance.
Hosted in the Frick Center Founders Lounge on Wednesday, April 29, the event featured a total of 10 performances evaluated by a panel of three judges, composed of Executive Director for Inclusion and Belonging Alexander Blumenberg, Vice President of Student Affairs Keri Alioto, and Union Board Vice President Alexander Martinez.
At the end of the night, Sara Pilkati, a returning “EU on the Rise” contestant, took home the first-place prize for her rendition of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” Despite Dion having a voice notoriously difficult to replicate, Pilkati’s performance sent chills across the audience as she hit every high note, low note, even managing to hit the middle C note.
The second-place prize went to Hannah Joyner, a first-year music business and production student who shared her version of “My Future” by Billie Eilish.
The third-place prize was awarded to Miranda Muffler, a business student who had recently transferred to EU from Illinois State University, which inspired her original piece titled “Identity,” which she sang while playing guitar.
“I was a freshman at ISU last year, and as we all know, being freshmen in college can kind of suck sometimes,” Muffler explained to the audience prior to her performance. “So, it was just a rough year, and I was in a rough spot from being a freshman in college, so that’s where this song came from.”
Muffler’s song laments having given up all of one’s hobbies, hopes, and dreams, as well as mourning “miss[ing] out on the memories and good people too” and being at a loss for what to do.
Other performances throughout the evening included that of the SEMFA (Student Entertainment Music and Fine Arts) Session, a quartet comprised of vocalist Elizabeth Acevedo, drummer Nigel Haye, pianist Vicky Palomino, and cellist Alexis Culli. The group also has another band, “A Break for the Blessed,” which made its debut at the annual acoustic music showcase Elmhurst Unplugged in November 2025.
SEMFA’s solemn performance of their original song “To Me” was followed by an electric dance routine from Karina Gutierrez and Italibi Granados, performed to the tune of Zara Larsson’s “Lush Life.”
Gutierrez and Granados were in turn followed by Kenya Padilla Raya, who shared her vocal performance of Latin pop duo Ha*Ash’s “Te Dejo en Libertad,” which translates to “I Set You Free.”
The audience also enjoyed a performance from Madi Sutherland, a recent transfer student from Southwestern Michigan College to EU who is studying music education. Sutherland sang and played guitar for her self-written piece “Father and Friend,” which features lyrics about loving and trusting one’s father, including during times of struggle.
The next performer, Leslie Lopez, offered a vibrant dance routine in which she pulled off twirl after twirl in a flowing yellow dress.
The final contestant to take the stage was TJ Davis, a first-year music performance major who shared his cover of “My Mind” by YEBBA.
A first for “EU on the Rise,” a cash prize was also given in the form of a student choice award, which allowed each audience member to vote on their favorite of the 10 acts. This honor was ultimately awarded to the S#arp Four, a local quartet based out of Elmhurst University.
Founded two years ago in September 2024, the S#arp Four has been learning music from contemporary to barbershop. The four men comprising the group (Ira Cortes, Jack Birkner, John Kasongo, and Armani Smith) won over the audience with their fluid medley of Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
“We’re so incredibly humbled and grateful to be a part of this event,” Kasongo told The Leader after the event’s conclusion.
