09 May 2026
Nurul Juliani, S.Si
Medan, Mei 09, 2026 — A lively and energetic atmosphere filled the venue throughout the SMART IDOL COMPETITION 2026, an event organized by the Public Sector Accounting Student Association (HIMASIK) of the Faculty of Vocational Education at the Universitas Sumatera Utara. Under the theme “Express Your Talent, Inspire Your Future”, this event served as a platform for vocational students to showcase their best talents in vocal arts while expressing their creativity and self-confidence on stage.
SMART IDOL is not merely a singing competition but also a space for developing students’ soft skills. Through this event, students are encouraged to take the stage with confidence, cultivate a competitive mindset, enhance their communication skills, and build stage presence—all of which will be valuable in the professional world.
The competition began with an online audition stage, which was attended by 14 participants from various study programs at the USU Faculty of Vocational Education. From this selection process, 10 participants advanced to the semifinals before the top five finalists were ultimately chosen to perform on the grand final stage. The five finalists were Farhan Bunayah Bestari and Mery Gabriella from the Applied Bachelor’s Program in Banking and Finance, Widayanti Ndruru from the Applied Bachelor’s Program in Public Sector Accounting, Intan Theola Methanoia Silaban from the Diploma Program in English, and Ervan Ariya Sembiring from the Diploma Program in Tourism.
At each stage of the competition, participants faced different challenges from the judges, including selecting songs with a high level of difficulty that tested their vocal quality, singing technique, and ability to connect with the audience. One of the grand finalists, Intan Theola Methanoia Silaban, revealed that the world of singing is nothing new to her. Since childhood, she has actively participated in various vocal competitions because she views singing as a talent that must be nurtured properly.
“Since singing is a talent God has given me, I feel that talent should be used to the best of my ability,” she said.
Intan also admitted that she found the songs selected by the judges—which were considered highly challenging—quite daunting. In one stage of the competition, she had to perform Celine Dion songs like “I Surrender” and “My Heart Will Go On,” which required strong vocal technique and emotional depth.
Although she felt nervous at first while performing in front of the other contestants and the audience, the warm atmosphere created by the organizers and the support from the fans helped the finalists perform with greater confidence. Various entertaining segments and lively interactions led by the MC also contributed to a festive yet family-like atmosphere throughout the competition.
“The vibe of the event was so much fun. The organizers were also friendly and always guided the participants, so I didn’t feel lost during the event,” she said.
Behind the glitz and glamour of the SMART IDOL 2026 stage, the organizing committee also faced various challenges during the preparation process. From internal coordination and time constraints in fundraising to rescheduling the grand finale due to its proximity to midterm exams, these were all part of the event’s dynamics.
However, thanks to teamwork and the spirit of mutual support among the organizers, the entire series of activities ultimately ran smoothly. The organizers’ unity even became one of the most memorable moments during the execution of SMART IDOL 2026.
The grand final culminated in an atmosphere of enthusiasm, with cheers of support from fans who packed the venue. At the end of the competition, Mery Gabriella was crowned Best Performance, while Farhan Bunayah Bestari received the Most Promising Talent award. Ervan Ariya Sembiring took 3rd place, Widayanti Ndruru took 2nd place, and Intan Theola Methanoia Silaban emerged as the 1st place winner of SMART IDOL 2026.
Through SMART IDOL 2026, students from the USU Faculty of Vocational Education demonstrated that the vocational world is not only synonymous with academic competence and industrial practice but also serves as a space for the development of creativity, courage, and artistic potential among students. It is hoped that this event will continue to serve as a positive platform for students to dare to perform, create, and inspire through the talents they possess.
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