NC/DC returns to campus tomorrow night with the Extreme Finals Round. The top two contestants from Dordt and Northwestern who received the most online votes will compete to win the show and bragging rights for his or her college.
Participants in this final round are required to choose at least one of their songs from a list of the top 100 songs from the last four years, forcing some of the singers to perform songs outside their regular genre.
In preparation for tomorrow night, here’s a peek at who some of the contestants are, how they are feeling and what they love about NC/DC.
The Beginning Stages
Michelle Kistler, a contestant from Dordt College, has been a part of NC/DC for each of her four years at college. She has made it into the semi–finals for three of those years, but never into the last round.
Ana Lucía Demestri, another Dordt student, has been in the semi- finals of NC/DC as well. Ana Lucía’s singing career started at a very young age. She remembers winning her first contest at the age of eight.
Northwestern’s own Nicole Northquest has been singing for years as well. She was involved in her high school choir, church choir and school pop concerts. In fact, she had sung “Love That Will Last” as a junior in high school, before she had ever heard of NC/DC.
NW couple Zachary Borchardt and Kirsten Menchaca, both singers and musicians, thought NC/DC would be a fun challenge to do together. “Well, we both sing, and… we’re pretty cute,”said Borchardt as to why the duo decided to participate.
Kistler, a senior, wanted to leave college knowing that she had done NC/DC and getting that sense of accomplishment. She loves singing and the opportunity NC/DC gives her to practice and perfect her passion.
Favorite NC/DC Experience
Contestants Nicole Northquest, Ana Lucía Demestri and Michelle Kistler all love the backstage experience. Although the Dordt and NW crowds may not mingle much, the contestants from both schools have enjoyed getting to know each other.
David Puruolte, a Dordt contestant who won second place in last year’s competition, has a full band and loves it. Sharing the musical experience has been a major plus for him.
Zachary Borchardt and Kristen Menchaca said their favorite part was picking out their costumes for the final song. Students will have to come to the show to find out what these two have up their sleeves.
Nerves and Excitement: Feelings about Tomorrow Night
Almost all of the contestants had a bit tougher time choosing a song for Saturday’s performance from the Top 100 list. David Puruolte, who normally sings Christian contemporary, is a little nervous about switching up his genre and singing a pop song. Ana Lucía Demestri agrees that she would like to be able to pick her own song, but also enjoys the official feeling of competition that having song limits gives her.
Apart from the competitive spirit, students reap multiple benefits. As Michelle Kistler wisely said: “If I make it, that’s great. If I don’t make it, that’s okay too. It’s been fun.”
Zachary Borchardt and Kristen Menchaca are simply excited for their families and friends to come watch them perform.
“It’s gonna be a party pretty much,” said Menchaca.
In order to find out who gets in and whose voice steals the night, come to tomorrow night’s free show at 10 p.m. in the Bultman Center.