Students Belting a Bruno Mars Tune, Senior Wows Judges on NBC’s ‘The Voice’ Stories You May Like Cornellian Crossword: ‘Water World’ Why Your Thanksgiving Turkey Has a Cornell Pedigree Remember Arriving on Campus? Now, Move-In Is a Major Event Last Call member Adi Arora ’26 earned raves from stars John Legend and Kelly Clarkson for his rendition of ‘It Will Rain’ By Melissa Newcomb After his bravura performance on NBC’s reality competition show “The Voice,” Adi Arora ’26 garnered praise from two of the celebrity judges: famed singer-songwriter John Legend and Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson. “I loved your tone—I loved the way you slid out at the end of it,” Legend told him. “It was just so poetic. It just made me know that you are someone who really thinks really consciously about your tone. And I really felt like with this performance every note counted.” Broadcast in early March 2026, Arora’s rendition of Bruno Mars’s “It Will Rain” featured well-executed falsettos that often evoked Mars himself—a compliment that Arora has received more than once, thanks to his bright, high-pitched voice. “Well, you can sing some Bruno Mars,” Clarkson marveled. “That’s a tall order.” On the show, aspiring singers audition for three judges: Legend, Clarkson, and Adam Levine. For the first round, a “blind audition,” the judges start by facing away from the stage. Danny Ventrella / NBCOne of Arora's promo shots from the show. But throughout a song, they can opt to turn around and look at the performers—as both Legend and Clarkson did for Arora—signaling that they want to recruit that singer for their team. (If none of the judges turn, the contestant is eliminated.) Their mission: to create a team of singers who, through talent and mentorship, can win a competition against those of the other judges. Arora ultimately chose Legend as his coach—in part due to the star’s similar background, having also attended an Ivy (Penn) and sung in an a cappella group. Arora's crowd-pleasing solo. In fact, Arora had previously performed “It Will Rain” on the Hill with his own a cappella group, Last Call, which he joined his freshman year. “I used to feel like I had to perfect every little thing, but I’ve realized it’s not that big of a deal,” Arora observes, chatting with Cornellians a couple of weeks after his TV debut. “What’s important is that you give the audience a captivating performance.” I used to feel like I had to perfect every little thing, but I’ve realized it’s not that big of a deal. What’s important is that you give the audience a captivating performance. A computer science major in Arts & Sciences who grew up in suburban New Jersey, Arora recently completed a yearlong term as music director of the all-male Last Call. A friend convinced him to try for "The Voice,” which receives tens of thousands of applications each season for its few dozen contestant slots. Stories You May Like Cornellian Crossword: ‘Water World’ Why Your Thanksgiving Turkey Has a Cornell Pedigree ProvidedArora (front and center) performing with Last Call. Given those long odds, he figured nothing would come from it—until he got a text from the casting director while sitting in class. During his performance of “It Will Rain” (which was recorded in front of a studio audience in summer 2025), he had some supporters in the wings: his mom and Last Call alum Bruno Cucchi ’25. Arora had previously performed “It Will Rain” on the Hill with the Cornell a cappella group Last Call, which he joined his freshman year. His success with that song moved him into the next round, in which two singers from the same team perform together, but just one advances. Arora’s duet with a female teammate—“Just Give Me a Reason” by P!nk—featured beautiful harmonies and high notes that garnered applause from the audience and praise from the judges. A duet had Arora both teaming up with and competing against a fellow singer. But only one of them could continue in the competition, and Arora wasn’t chosen. “It’s always impressive to me when guys have that kind of range,” Legend said afterward, “and you really do have just a beautiful voice, and it does sound effortless.” It’s always impressive to me when guys have that kind of range, and you really do have just a beautiful voice, and it does sound effortless. Celebrity judge John Legend While the decision ended Arora’s time on “The Voice,” he’s continuing to sing on the Hill with Last Call. And his band, Sonder—which plays pop, funk, rock, and R&B—was chosen to compete in the annual Big Red Battle of the Bands, held in Bailey Hall in March. “I’ll be graduating soon, and I definitely want to have a job that aligns with my degree and gives meaning to my education,” Arora says. “But now that I’ve had this amazing opportunity, I don’t think music is something I’m willing to give up—so I want to manage both.” Top: Arora sings “It Will Rain” on "The Voice." (Griffin Nagel / NBC) Published March 23, 2026 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Ask the Expert The ABCs of C-A-Ts Campus & Beyond Wynton Marsalis Returns to Campus, Continuing Cornell’s Decades-Long Jazz Tradition Campus & Beyond Meet the University Architect