58th Annual All University Sing Will Bring Student Talent to the Stage
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The 58th annual All University Sing competition, a Baylor University tradition that allows student organizations to showcase their performance skills, will take the stage Feb. 17 to 19 and Feb. 24 to 26. Each performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Waco Hall on the Baylor campus.
Hosted by the department of student activities, the 20 student groups participating in Sing will perform 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.
The top eight acts will advance to Pigskin Revue during Homecoming weekend next fall.
"Baylor students have always appreciated the rich traditions of the university. Sing is just one of those cherished traditions," said Keith Frazee, coordinator of student productions at Baylor. "Perhaps its emergence as a great tradition is due to the sheer number of people involved, approximately 2,000 participants and 13,000 spectators, combined with the impressive display of talent."
Acts are judged based on entertainment value, choreography, musical quality, theme development and creativity. Judges are selected based on their backgrounds in theater, dance, music performance or student administration.
Audience members attending the first weekend's performances can vote for "People's Choice Awards" by filling out a card enclosed in the program. The categories include Best Vocal Performance, Theme Development, Backdrop, Choreography, Costumes and Music Selection.
The groups performing this year are Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Tau Omega, Baylor Chamber of Commerce, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Chi Alpha, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Omega Tau, Kappa Sigma, Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), National Pan-Hellenic Council, Phi Kappa Chi, Pi Beta Phi, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sing Alliance and Zeta Tau Alpha.
"I'm so excited for Sing this year," said junior Caroline LeVan, production chair for Zeta Tau Alpha. "The level of dedication has really increased this year. It's incredible to see something this big come together through the hard work of students who are also busy with so many other things."
A native of Little Rock, Ark., LeVan has been a Sing chair for the past two years. "Zeta is really going in a different direction," she said. "I hope the act will be well received. Sing is about taking risks with themes, dance and music, and that's what we've tried to accomplish."
Sing began in 1953 as a choral competition. Standing on risers, groups would sing three to four Baylor-related musical selections. Over the years, students began adding costumes, themes and choreography into their acts. By the early 1960s, Sing had begun to resemble what it is today.
"All University Sing has a rich history at Baylor as a tradition lasting almost 60 years," Frazee said. "This history has turned Sing into a generational experience and is unique because, other than Homecoming and athletic events, it is an event that invites the entire Baylor community to participate in appreciating the hard work of the students involved."
Tickets range in price from $14 to $22 for Baylor students, faculty and staff and $14 to $24 for the public. Tickets are available by calling the Bill Daniel Student Center ticket office at (254) 710-3210.
For more information about All University Sing, visit www.baylor.edu/student_productions/sing.php or contact the Office of Student Activities at (254) 710-2371.
Waco Hall is at 624 Speight Ave.
The Bill Daniel Student Center is at 1311 S. Fifth St.
by Susie Typher, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805