Tuesday, Oct 6, 2015
Freshman Jo Panuccio was named champion on Oct. 2
Jo Panuccio was named the 2015 R Factor Champion on Friday, Oct. 2.
Panuccio, a freshman secondary education major with a minor in middle school education, performed a cover version of Labrinth's "Jealous" and his original composition "Lay Next To Me,” which will soon be available on iTunes.
Students Janayla Montes finished in second place and Gabriela Mendoza finished third.
Modeled after the Fox TV show The X Factor, The R Factor gives students a showcase to display their singing and other musical talents while competing against one another.
This year, auditions took place on Sept. 18, with the finals on Oct. 2. Last year’s winner, Milika Griffiths, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater at Rider, is currently making her touring debut with Phoenix Entertainment as part of the ensemble cast of the musical Ragtime.