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***image1***Galen P. Morris is the second Army KMC family member in two years to win best in show at the Installation Management Activity-Europe’s Stars of Tomorrow competition held Aug. 21 in Katterbach, Germany.
“It’s fabulous that two KMC Onstage volunteers have won the Europe-wide competition for the last two years,” said Laurie Ellington, 415th Base Support Battalion KMC Onstage director. “Our community’s participation in these competitions has only been in the past couple of years, and it’s like a sleeping giant has been awoken. There’s a great pool of talent here.”
Best in show is awarded to the highest scoring contestant regardless of the category. Last year’s winner, Christopher T. Sears, who at that time was also an Army KMC family member, had taken first place in the Vocal Soloist Self-Accompanied category, and Mr. Morris won in the Male Vocalist category as well for best in show.
“I’m extremely excited about this win, as I was pitted against some of the best talent in armed forces Europe,” said Mr. Morris, who was in KMC Onstage’s spring production of “Godspell.”
Mr. Morris sang “Purple Rain” by Prince for the IMA-E competition and at the Area Support Group competition held Aug. 6 at the Escape Club in Darmstadt. He won first place Male Vocalist category at that ASG level, which advanced him to the IMA-E level.
“That song has always been a crowd-pleaser for me,” said Mr. Morris, who first sang in front of an audience when he was 4 years old. “People typically don’t expect that song to be covered well, and when you nail it, the transformation is really fun to watch.”
Right before the Stars of Tomorrow contest, Mr. Morris was busy winning third place in the 26th ASG Better Opportunities for Single Servicemembers Idol finals July 9, 16 and 30 at the Henry Patrick Village Pavilion in Heidelberg.
“I’ve sang all my life, ever since I’ve had the ability to put words together, but these competitions have really given me the opportunity to work on my showmanship, which is vital to communicating the song,” he said.
Fresh from his wins, Mr. Morris is currently putting together a demo tap for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe band.
“I hope to audition and eventually get a slot in the Air Force rock band as a vocalist, but whatever happens, I intend to keep growing and improving,” he said.
