Wee Wan, James Capps and Jeff Enoch don’t have million dollar contracts or stretch limos yet, but it’s only a matter of time, according to Miriam Anderson, adjunct professor of voice at Campbell University.Extremely enthusiastic about the talent of these students, Anderson is eager to let the rest of the world it in on.”These guys certainly have star quality,” she said. “All three are really putting Campbell out there.”Wee Wan, a senior mass communications major from Ipoh, Malaysia, is a budding pop star in his country. He just cut a demo single, and a song he composed for a Malaysian talent competition similar to “American Idol” placed him in the top 50 finalists. He wrote the song, “The Light,” for Malaysian pop singer Michael Wong’s international fan club and was invited to Wong’s press conference. “I was sort of ‘discovered’ at the press conference,” said Wan. “I want to return to Malaysia and pursue a career as a TV host, singer, composer—all of that.”Wan became a composer because he loves music and writing. “Basically I combined the two, melody and words, as a way of sharing my thoughts with people. That’s the way I like to express myself,” he said.Wan appreciates the one-on-one instruction he received from Campbell’s Fine Arts Division. “The lessons and the environment are really good,” he said. “There are lots of opportunities for exposure and interaction with other students. Music is all about interaction with people.”Lanky James Capps could pass for a younger version of country music artist George Straight. Capps’ clean-cut appearance and “Aw shucks” style make him a natural for the country music stage. A junior mass communications major who grew up singing and playing acoustic guitar with his dad and brothers’ country /blue grass band, Capps is a traditionalist who likes the melodies and lyrics of artists Randy Travis, Johnny Cash and Alan Jackson.”I’ve been playing and singing since high school,” he said. “It’s been more of a hobby than anything else.”Within the past two years, Capps’ uncomplicated style and mellow voice have gained regional notoriety, however. He has been a featured performer on the “Country Music Showcase,” sponsored by Johnston Community College, and has made dozens of appearances at community events such as Harnett County Relay for Life.”If I could make a living making music, that’s what I’d love to do,” he said. “Just making people feel good, that’s what I really enjoy.”The father of two small children, senior theatre major Jeff Enoch plans to move his young family to Orlando, Fla., where he has just been signed to a six-month contract with Walt Disney World. Enoch will play “Bloat the Blowfish” in “Finding Nemo,” the new Disney musical eventually headed for Broadway.”My six-year-old daughter is in a great school in Apex,” Enoch said. “I hate to uproot them for such a short time.”The job could lead to roles in Disney productions in New York, however. Once Enoch works professionally, he can receive his Actors Equity card and possible entré into New York theatre.”It’s a great stepping stone,” he said. “I love acting.”Enoch, who has the title role in the Campbell University production of Moliere’s “Scapin” and played a leading role in “Suessical,” has been acting since he was in the fourth grade.”I played the interjection in the ‘Missing Parts of Speech’ play and I fell in love with theatre,” he said.Enoch stayed involved in theatre through high school, but married and helped put his wife through nursing school working as a pharmacy technician. He came to Campbell planning to attend pharmacy school, but when he was cast in a Campbell musical, his plans changed.”I saw that they were doing ‘Into the Woods,’ and it all came back,” he said. “My love of theatre all came back.”After graduation in May, Enoch and his family will relocate to Florida. After that, who knows?The Campbell University Division of Fine Arts offers a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Studio Art; a Bachelor of Arts in music with concentrations in music education, church music, comprehensive, composition or piano pedagogy; a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Christian Ministry.Photo Copy: From left, Wee Wan, Jeff Enoch and James Capps.
Will they be our next superstars?