Name: Jonathan Evans
Hometown: Hong Kong
Year: Steinhardt freshman
Dorm: Weinstein residence hall
Act: Acoustic performance of an original song

What is your biggest inspiration?
I would have to say John Mayer and Ed Sheeran, I’ve always been a huge fan of their music and writing style.

How long have you been performing and what made you interested in performing in the first place?
I have been performing from the age of 8, but I started playing the piano at age four. I guess the Welsh side of my family is really musical and my parents always used to say it ran in the blood, so I sort of followed in their footsteps.

What made you decide to participate in the UVL Prelims?
It looked interesting and my friends were really encouraging, so I thought I would give my dorm’s prelims a shot and see what would happen.

What was the first thing that went through your mind when you found out you were advancing to the finals at Skirball?
I was really excited — I still am! It’s a fantastic opportunity and I’m really grateful to have made it this far. I guess also some nerves — Skirball is a pretty big room to hold with just a microphone and an acoustic guitar.

What would winning UVL mean to you?
It would be an honor, being able to go up against so many talented performers and place highly somehow.

A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Feb. 13 print edition. Bryna Shuman is features editor. Email her at [email protected].