Under dim lighting in the underground venue, audience members could hear Courtney Shepard’s acapella voice, singing the Fugees’ version of “Killing Me Softly,” as she walked on stage to kick off her first headlining show.

Shepard, the winner of the EIU Talent Search held in December, performed at 8 p.m. Thursday in the 7th Street Underground.

The show, under Shepard’s direction, was no traditional concert, with opening bands playing their separate sets before the headliner steps up on stage. The performers, including Shepard, singer/songwriters Courtney and Kristen Bosco and three members of Elsinore: singer/songwriter Ryan Groff, pianist Mark Woolwine and percussionist Dave Pride rotated on and off stage in random order to keep the audience on their toes.

“I just decided I didn’t want to do just the traditional set,” Shepard said. “I didn’t want to do what everyone else does. I like to be different.”

Shepard enjoyed being in charge of her own show, which was one of her prizes for winning the talent show.

“It was really nice being able to stay on stage,” she said, explaining that open mic night performers are forced to get off stage so the next performers can get ready to play. “It’s addicting, being on stage.”

Shepard opened the two-and-a-half-hour show with rapper Monty Buckley in a duet, then stepped aside to let Monty perform a short solo set.

Shepard and the other performers did covers by various artists like Incubus, Janet Jackson, Sarah McLachlan, Jewel and Shania Twain. Almost half of the songs performed were original compositions by the artists, including “I’m Sorry,” an original composition by Shepard which she performed at the talent show.

Kaitlyn Kingston, a senior English major, was Shepard’s roommate over the summer.

“We sang together, and I already knew she had a great voice,” Kingston said.

Some audience members were amazed the show was put together so well in a period of only a few short weeks.

“I expected her to be real good, but I didn’t expect her to be as good as she was,” said Tim Lasswell, a freshman communication studies major.

Shepard’s show ended with a guest musician, her brother Geoff Shepard, who drove from Springfield, Ill., to accompany her on the guitar while she sang “Crash” by Dave Matthews Band.

“It seemed like (the audience) really enjoyed it,” Shepard said. “They were with me.”