Events
Quinton Taylor Named 2023 Wake Tech Idol
Student Also Wins Business Pitch Competition
RALEIGH, N.C. (November 17, 2023) – Wake Tech student Quinton Taylor is celebrating after taking home first place in two competitions held Friday night at the Scott Northern Wake Campus.
Taylor, who sang and played the piano, defeated eight other finalists to win Wake Tech Idol, a friendly singing competition that highlights student talent, and received a $2,000 scholarship from the Wake Tech Foundation. Two runners-up, Angie Larmour and Shioh Coley, took home scholarships worth $1,500 scholarship and $1,250, respectively.
Wake Tech students submitted virtual auditions, and the top nine appeared in the grand finale. Judges included radio personality Ron "Big Ron" Huff; Norman Rogers, "Terminator X" from rap group Public Enemy; and Jacqueline Williams Whittenburg, the executive director of The Dereck Whittenburg Foundation for Education, advocating for students pursuing college degrees. The judges chose the top three finalists, and the audience picked the winner.
Taylor also came out on top in a pitch competition prior to Wake Tech Idol for students enrolled in The Business of Music for Entrepreneurs class, a 10-week Workforce Continuing Education course that explores the business of music, including an overview of the music industry along with business models and planning, marketing and promotion.
Four students pitched their ideas for an entertainment business for a chance to win seed money to further their business plans. Taylor, who owns Taylor Music Academy in Zebulon, received a $2,500 grant. He plans to use the funds for new instruments and scholarships for his business, which teaches music and performance to kids ages 5-15. Two other students, Travis Brockington and April Collins, also received grant funds. Collins is also a Business Services assistant at Wake Tech.
Taylor says he will be busy following his two first-place wins. "I am so honored to be part of this college. It is the ecosystem for so many opportunities. I plan to take more classes soon!"
Watch a short video of Taylor's Wake Tech Idol performance and win.
