Top 3 in Voice of Granbury auditions honed skills in karaoke

Fear, adrenaline and excitement are just some of the many emotions performers experience right before stepping foot onstage.

Hearts start to race, palms start to sweat, stomachs plummet and feelings of nausea overcome many as the curtains part and a blinding spotlight shines down onstage — forcing all eyes in the room to focus on one person: you.

The 12 contestants who took the Granbury Live stage on Sept. 16 during the Voice of Granbury audition night likely felt at least some of those symptoms of stress to one degree or another.

After a single performance by each contestant, the audience voted on their favorite by using the “Voice of Granbury” tokens. Then the top six performed a second song.

The contestants took the audience back in time by performing rockin’ renditions of songs by Elvis Presley, country music stylings by the “King of Country,” also known as George Strait, and the “hippie” and blues stylings of Janis Joplin.

Another round of voting took place, and the top three performers were selected: Gina McGilberry in third place, Ken Sapp in second and Chad Swanberg first.

All funds for audition night and future competitions will go toward the Granbury Kiwanis Club.

GINA MCGILBERRY

McGilberry, 61, recently moved to Granbury and works for UnitedHealthcare. She and her husband, John, have one son and two grandchildren.

“The first time I sang, I was 15 years old in junior high at a talent show,” she said. “I sang ‘Fire and Rain’ by James Taylor; that's how old I am. I was scared to sing in public for a long time. I just didn't think I was good enough or had self-conscious issues, and then, probably by the time I turned 30-something is when I grabbed a microphone at karaoke and just got hooked.”

McGilberry was a karaoke disc jocket for 14 years and has sung at many weddings and funerals. Her love for music comes from her mom, who was an opera singer and piano player.

“It's nerve-wracking to get up there, but it's also a challenge and it's exciting so I love doing it,” she said. “It's turning the fear into adrenaline and putting it to use."

Aside from singing, she enjoys hunting, gardening and hosting family events.

KEN SAPP

Sapp, who came in second place, is a Texas native. He was born in Fort Worth and worked as an insurance executive before retiring 20 years ago.

“I spent that time pursuing charitable endeavors and things of that nature, trying to enjoy retirement. What do I do for a living? I just live,” he said, chuckling.

Sapp, 76, has been singing for 50 years, getting his start in the church in a gospel quartet and the church choir before transitioning to karaoke. He said the first time he sang karaoke publicly was at the State Fair of Texas.

"One of the awesome things about karaoke is that in my opinion, there are no bad karaoke singers, because anybody that's got the courage to get up there and put themselves on the microphone and sing, you've got to appreciate that.”

Sapp also got the opportunity to perform the national anthem for the Fort Worth Brahmas hockey team and at a Texas Rangers baseball game.

Sapp used to be a professional public speaker, so he wasn’t exactly nervous that might perform poorly during his performances. Instead, he was worried that he would forget the lyrics.

“There was a very small screen (with the lyrics) that you can see with a telescope in the room. I am a competitive person by nature; I didn't want to lose. I was nervous, not because I was going to do it poorly. I was afraid I might forget the words,” he said.

Sapp said singing has always been his joy since childhood and serves as a way of communicating his emotions through religious, patriotic and country music.

“For me, music is a release of your inner expressions, and I always did it for fun. I still do it for fun and actually, when I was asked to compete in the ‘Voice,’ I didn't want to do it. But the encouragement of my wife — who basically blackmailed me into doing it — was the first time I'd ever really done it for anything than just pure joy,” he said.

He lives with his wife, Sharon, at Rolling Creek Ranch near Granbury. They collectively have six children and nine grandchildren, with one more grandchild on the way.

His hobbies include mountain hiking, travel, maintaining his 3.5 acres, playing pickleball at the Hood County YMCA, and singing, of course.

CHAD SWANBERG

Swanberg came in first place during audition night, and the Louisiana native seemed stunned to say the least.

“I really wanted to make the second round,” he said. “That was my goal. I just wanted to sing two times.”

And Swanberg definitely got his wish.

With an MBA from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Swanberg left his job as a football coach and athletic director and entered the financial services industry.

The 39-year-old moved to Granbury in 2018 and quickly found his niche, performing at various karaoke venues, although he had never sang in public until he moved to Texas.

“I grew up a preacher's kid so I was in church choir and then I went to a Church of Christ high school, and they don't use music so in chapel, we would all sing acapella,” he said. “I moved to Granbury and met some people and they said, ‘Hey, we’re doing karaoke tonight. You ought to come.’ So, I got up and sang and they were like, ‘Man, you’re pretty good.’ That was the first time I ever realized that I could actually carry a tune.”

Swanberg is currently the director of Swanberg Christian Ministries. For his hobbies, he spends time at Lift the Bar Fitness, Harbor Lakes Golf Course, and, obviously, at several local karaoke venues.

The next competition will take place on Jan. 20, 2022, and each of the top three contestants from the opening audition are ready.

Swanberg, who will have his next birthday five days before the contest. He said he is looking forward to “celebrating his 40th birthday by singing again” and “learning new songs.”

“I heard everybody (sing) before me and they were just phenomenal, so to make the top three out of that group of people is overwhelming. I don't feel that I'm worthy of it really, because there were just so many that were so good. It was a blast last night and I have no doubt that it will be a blast in January,” he said.

As for Sapp, he’s ready to have a second chance at the competition.

“I was in the finals last year, but I got COVID, and I didn't get to compete last year,” he said. “I am sure that there’s gonna be some very good people there, and I'm just honored to be there. I'll do my best and however it comes out, well that's how it comes out.”

McGillberry is excited to represent the Kiwanis Club because her parents were big supporters of the club in Dallas when she was younger.

“I'm still reeling,” she said, adding that Event Director Matt Mills had said, ‘Don't get discouraged if you know somebody who doesn't sing as good as you made it past you.’ That's not what this is about. It's about raising money, and so that's what we had our mind set up for. It was very shocking and it’s exciting to be where I am for sure.”