Growing up in a family of musicians, Thomas Penn never thought of himself as much of a singer. But according to the executives at Infrared Studio Productions in Little Rock — he is one.
Penn, a student at University of Arkansas at Little Rock and husband of OBU student Kristin Penn, agreed to compete in the Great Arkansas Talent Search (GATS), hosted by Infrared, after a slight prompting from his aunt, who has competed in it.
The contest is made up of six different rounds. In the first round of the competition, contestants were asked to sing a cappella. In the three elimination rounds following it, contestants were asked to use a track to accompany their singing (with the exception of the fourth round, when an accompanist was allowed.)
During round five, contestants sang two songs with the Rex Bell trio. Dr. Rex Bell is the executive director of Infrared Studio Productions.
The contest began in July, with rounds almost monthly ever since. And on Oct. 23, Penn joined 17 other contestants in the fifth round (semi-finals) of the fourth season of GATS. The results came in and Penn was named one of the top 10 finalists to compete in the final round on Nov. 10 at the First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.
“The contest is [purely] vocal,” Penn said. “Contestants are judged on performance and overall talent. The winner receives a recording contract with Infrared, a marketing package, a photo shoot [with ShutterTHAT! Photography], a $3000 scholarship and gets to showcase their talent for Virgin Records in Nashville.”
While the results so far have been in Penn’s favor, there’s no doubt a lengthy competition like this has taken its toll on his personal life.
“[The competition’s] been good, but it’s been crazy,” Kristin, a senior music and psychology major, said. “It’s been hard on us balancing school and work and still time for us. We’ll be glad when it’s all over, but I’m excited for him and for us and where God’s going to take us.”
Penn started creating music at a very young age.
“I’ve played in church my whole life,” he said. “My mom and dad got me involved in music at a young age. I played all through high school, playing gigs all across Central Arkansas.”
Kristin said she believes in her husband’s talent.
“It’s a God-given gift,” she said. “He can pick up any instrument, never having seen it before, and figure it out and play it. It’s rewarding to see where it has taken him.”
While Penn did not win the finals, he did win $500 and a chance to work in the Infrared studio.
