Lily Cone Becomes First Ever UWG Idol

Abbie Klein

UWG has always been a school full of a diverse student life. All students here come from different backgrounds and possess numerous different strengths that can help bring us together as a community. 

This year, UWG’s Student Musician’s Collab (SMC) celebrated musically gifted students by giving them a chance in the spotlight in the first ever UWG Idol. The singing competition started with auditions in late October and finally crowned their first ever winner on Nov. 18, Lily Cone. Cone is a talented student with a strong voice who decided to continue her education at UWG after finishing her service in the U.S. Navy earlier this year. 

“I feel so humbled and grateful,” said Cone. “We had an extremely talented group of people competing and I’m so thankful for everyone who showed up to the shows and voted. This is absolutely a core memory for me.” 

Cone was one of nine competitors. While all competitors were equally talented, each had individual strengths in different music styles which made the competition even more exciting and competitive. Despite their stylistic differences, all competitors shared a deep love and passion for music.

“Music has always been a huge part of my life,” said Cone. “I think it connects people in ways we couldn’t do without it.

“Growing up I was always running around singing. I did a couple musicals in high school and sang in the school choir for a couple years, but nothing like UWG Idol,” continued Cone. “When I joined the Navy I sang cadence for my class in A school, so I feel like I’ve carried music with me in all my experiences. It gets me through everything.”

Cone’s background in musical theater shined in her vocal performances, specifically in the second round of the competition where she sang “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid, which won her a spot as a finalist. 

Her confidence on stage and her vocal projection would’ve made anyone think that Cone has gone her entire life performing in front of an audience. In reality, this was a totally new experience for her. 

“Singing for a live audience isn’t something I normally do,” said Cone. “The occasional karaoke performance, singing in the car, just average experiences with singing prior to this. 

“I also mentioned earlier that I had some small roles in my high school’s musical productions, and that was around 7 years ago,” Cone continued. “I was on active duty for four years, so my timeline is a little strange. I’m so glad I put myself out there and participated in UWG Idol, it has been extremely rewarding.”

SMC’s mission is to connect students who have a deep passion for music. Whether that be through creating music or listening to it, the goal is to make a powerful connection through music. This is a goal that Cone has dreamed of and was able to achieve through UWG Idol.

“UWG Idol was an amazing experience. I’m walking away from it with confidence not only in my vocal talent, but my ability to connect with people,” said Cone. “I’ve always said that the kind of music I want to make is music that makes you feel something. 

“That final performance, having the judges tell me that it made them emotional was an insane moment for me,” continued Cone. “I think that’s the ultimate goal of any musician, to connect with people and make them feel something, just creating that shared experience.”

While being the first ever UWG Idol is enough of a prize as it is, Cone also walked away with a $400 cash prize. This was, of course, the cherry on top of the experience. Cone shared that she planned to use the prize money to pay her bills, but save some for her dog as well.

“I have a very spoiled dog, Nugget, who I’m sure will reap some of the benefits,” said Cone.

The SMC plans to make the UWG Idol an annual competition for UWG students. All students are welcome to audition and share their talent with fellow music loving peers.

“Just go for it,” said Cone. “Beyond the musicality, you’ll meet a wonderful and supportive group of people. I’m a firm believer that everyone should get to experience being up on stage like that at least once in their lives. It’s terrifying and exhilarating and also completely freeing.”