By: Allie Monical
The only first-year student in the competition had all odds stacked against her, but Brianna Dice prevailed. The nerve-wrecking experience was worth it: now she is the Voice of Western.
After weeks of hard work, night in and night out, and competing for the top spot, the $1,000 prize now belongs to Dice.
Emotions ran high as the 18-year-old sung with passionate high vocals to secure her win. She stated that she had grown up in a family household and was inspired by her mother to sing. She has been writing her own music since she was the age of 10. She listens mostly to Adele and Alicia Keys, but much of her inspiration for singing had come from her mother.
Her mother would be a key part of her success as she was in the crowd cheering her on, not only as an alumnus of Missouri Western, but as a proud mother.
She also stated that she was giving her cash winning prize to her mom because she wanted to be responsible with the money and to not spend it on expensive clothing wear.
At the age of 14 she went to audition for the X-Factor before the TV appearance. She was ultimately booted out, but now with the experience and confidence plaguing her, she hopes for more than just a backstage appearance.
Throughout the whole competition, the judges praised her for singing with passion and “sort of a chip on her shoulder,” as she was the only freshman standing.
Although Dice is young, experience is on her side. Dice was on her show choir’s school as an alto, thanks to her deep voice.
Dice is a psychology major, and after winning the Voice of Western, she has been thinking about studying musical therapy to combine her two passions.
