The first weekend of Prize Fest has already come to an end and if you weren’t able to make it to Music Prize on Friday and Saturday night or Fashion Prize on Sunday morning, here’s what you missed.
Music Prize
The first Prize Fest weekend kicked off with a lot of noise at the Prize Garage on Friday and Saturday night. Split over the two days, 11 bands battled it out and four of them walked away with cash prizes.
- Audience Choice – Benedetto
- Third Place – Rococo Disco
- Second Place – Octavia the Great
- Grand Prize Winner – The American Hotel System
The American Hotel System is an alternative rock band that hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan with a lot to say. Their exploration into traditional Rock ‘n’ Roll has unleased their own sound that reflects on emotive lyrics, complex structures and a massive live sound that goes beyond the norm. They have opened up for the legendary Bon Jovi and have risen to high acclaim with their 2019 debut album “The Sunken Truth” and have been featured in Relix Magazine, BuzzMusic and LEVELUP.
“What happened this weekend was a connection between people, a connection between resources and the building of something special that will never die,” Founder and Executive Director Gregory Kallenberg said during his speech Saturday night. “So, we raise our glasses to the sky, to a world that needs to hear about Music Prize and all of you and everything that you’ve done.”
Prize Fest 2022:Check out the full events schedule.
Fashion Prize
The first weekend ended with brunch and a fashion show at The Phoenix Sunday morning that allowed five designers the chance to show what they’re made of on the runway. A panel of judges critiqued their work and only one designer walked away with the $5,000 grand prize.
Sophia Omoro (odAOMO)
Dr. Sophia Omoro is a practicing otolaryngologist, a head and neck surgeon as well as a philanthropist, founder of the Blooming Lily Foundation and owner/designer of odAOMO. Omoro was born and brought up in Kenya as one of eight siblings where her father strictly pushed education as the only way out of poverty. Omoro acquired a scholarship that springboarded her journey from Kenya to North America.
Omoro knew from a young age that she had a special life calling and this purpose was three-pronged. Her experiences, hardships and perseverance prepared her for what she now does which is a surgeon by day and a designer by night.
If you missed out on weekend one, don’t worry because you can still get in on all of the Prize action next weekend for Film, Food and Comedy. For more information on those events including purchasing tickets, visit the Prize Fest website.
Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com.
