JBU’s Got Talent 2025 was a night to remember, bringing together students, faculty and community members for an electrifying showcase of talent. The talent show was organized by the Student Events and Activities team, hosted by Ethan Campbell and Bailey Macias. The event took place on Feb. 15 in the Cathedral of the Ozarks during Family Weekend, which meant a packed audience with many parents in attendance. Tickets were $1 for students and $2 for general admission, with the grand prize being $300 for people’s and judge’s choice.
“JBU’s Got Talent 2025 was a success. The show takes months of preparation for our SEA team, so it was beautiful to see so many people joyful and having fun at it,” SEA entertainment director Ainsley Lafferty said. “Most of the behind the scenes work consists of auditions, planning the show’s layout, many rehearsals, decorating and encouraging people to come to the show! We had nearly a thousand people packed in the cathedral, and you could feel the audience radiating energy as every act got on stage to showcase their unique gifts. It was an epic night!” she said.
One of the evening’s standout performances came from The Martin Bros, who won the People’s Choice award. Oak Martin, performed a piano duet alongside his brother, John Martin.
“This year’s talent show has definitely been one of the highlights of my time here at JBU. I’m a senior graduating in May, and my brother John is finishing his freshman year, so preparing for the talent show was a fantastic way to get time together before I graduate. The crowd that night was so alive,” Martin said.
Their interaction with the audience was a highlight of their performance that made them connect to them and ultimately win. "As much fun as the audience had, I think me and John had more. After we found out we had won, it meant so much to me how many people came up to us afterward, describing how entertaining our act was. We brought a lot of people joy and that was our goal."
"We spent hours refining exactly what songs we wanted, what little movements would read best to the audience, and how to pace the timing of our act. It was awesome to see it pay off," Martin said. "There were so many incredible acts that night, and we were all laughing before the show about how we should all just be one big act because our talents are so unique and we could make something cool all together," Martin said, referring to the other acts of the night.
Another performance of the night came from freshman Jimena Balandrano, whose act "Jump!" earned her the Judge’s Choice award. Her talent and dedication to the sport of jump rope wowed the crowd.
"Jump rope has been a huge passion of mine, and it means so much to see people appreciate the skill and dedication behind the sport, I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to share something I love with JBU, and I hope this inspires more people to see how exciting and creative jump rope can be!" Balandrano said.
With so many attendees filling the Cathedral of the Ozarks, the energy in the room was palpable. From skillful vocal performances to jaw-dropping dance routines, each act brought something unique to the stage. This year’s show featured a variety of talents, including singing, playing instruments, poetry and even speed cubing.
Whether participants were seasoned performers or first-time talent show competitors, the night was a celebration of creativity, dedication and community. JBU’s Got Talent 2025 proved once again that John Brown University is home to some truly remarkable artists.
Photo courtesy of Ruby Winn
