All University Sing Competition Showcases Student Talent

by Rebekah Hardage, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

The 55th annual All University Sing competition, a Baylor University tradition that allows student organizations to showcase their musical talents and dancing skills, will take the stage Feb. 21-23 and Feb. 28-March 1. Each performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Waco Hall.

The 17 student groups participating in Sing have created 16 original seven-minute acts with a theme of their choice. While Baylor provides general guidelines, students are challenged with producing their own acts and taking into account factors such as vocal performance, choreography, backdrop and set design and theme development.

Sing acts are judged on level of creativity, entertainment value, choreography, musical quality and theme development. The judges, who come from all over the state of Texas, are selected based on their backgrounds in vocal performance, dance, theater or student services.

Audience members attending the first weekend's performances can vote for "People's Choice Awards" by filling out the card enclosed in the program. Voting boxes will be placed in the lobby of Waco Hall during the first weekend of performances. The categories include Best Vocal Performance, Theme Development, Backdrop, Choreography, Costumes and Music Selection.

Sing started in 1953 as a choral competition. Each group stood on risers and would sing three to four musical selections, one of which had to be an official Baylor song. Over the years, students gradually incorporated costumes, choreography and skits into their acts, and by 1960, Sing had developed into the competition that it is today.

"Sing has really emerged as one of Baylor's greatest traditions," said Brittany Temple, graduate assistant for special performances. "The shows allow the participants to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride as their hard work and hours of practice finally come together in the form of a well-executed act. Sing can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Student organizations participating in this year's production include Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Tau Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Chi Alpha, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Sigma, Kappa Omega Tau, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Chi, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sing Alliance and Zeta Tau Alpha.

All University Sing tickets range in price from $14-18 for Baylor students, faculty and staff and $18-22 for the general public. Tickets to the performances are available by calling the Bill Daniel Student Center ticket office at (254) 710-3210.

The host for All-University Sing will be Blair Browning, a 1995 alumnus and senior lecturer in communication studies.

For more information about All University Sing, visit www.baylorsing.com or contact the office of student activities at (254) 710-2371.