Minnesota State University Reporter

Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: Student Life

Media Credit: Raymond Starin Christina Oanes embraces MSU Idol winner Chris West during the finals at the CSU Ballroom Tuesday night.

What does an MSU Idol winner do after a night of crooning his way to the throne? He celebrates with a movie, chips and cheese and a Mountain Dew.

Chris West won the third annual MSU Idol competition Tuesday night at the Centennial Student Union Ballroom with his rendition of Michael Buble's song, "Save the Last Dance For Me."

West, a creative writing sophomore at Minnesota State, dazzled the audience with his fancy, suave footwork on the stage.

"I was definitely nervous," West said. "But I tried to just put that out of my mind when I got up there."

West grew up with a background in music and has been singing since the seventh grade. Both his parents sang in the 3M choir where they worked. They encouraged his talent throughout his adolescence, along with his high school choir director.

It was West's fraternity brothers who encouraged him to try out for MSU Idol since he spends so much of his time belting it out around the house. They finally made him apply for the competition on a dare.

West's own reason for competing: for fun.

"I wasn't expecting to be recognized down the hall or anything," he said. "Personal glory, I guess."

Competition was stiff too, forcing West to earn his title.

"All the contestants did very well," he said. "I wasn't expecting a landslide victory."

The other contestants included: Jade Blekestad, Laura Shanafelt, Karishma Kamath, Seth Flatten, Andy Hanson and Sarah Kellner.

"Personally, I knew five of the other contestants and I knew they had good voices," West explained. "It was just a matter of going up there and having fun."

West plans to continue pursuing music. He's currently in concert choir and will maybe go for Chamber singers, but he just plans to wait and see where the opportunities fall.

"I'd like to continue," said West. "Just a matter of when or where."

As far as the great American dream, the be-and-end-all of singing competitions, the fastest track to a professional career and stardom - a little television show called "American Idol" - West says he wouldn't mind giving it a shot.

"If it ever came to Minnesota, I consider it just for fun," he said. "I wouldn't expect to get very far."

West might want to re-evaluate his chances. Otherwise, when else would he get the opportunity to curl up with a movie, chips and a Mountain Dew?


Leah Christensen is a Reporter staff writer

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