54th Annual All University Sing Competition Brings Student Talent to the Stage

by Jodi Cunningham, student newswriter, (254) 710-1961

The 54th annual All University Sing competition, a renowned Baylor University tradition that allows student organizations to showcase their musical talents and dancing skills, will take the stage Feb. 15-17 and 22-24. Each performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Waco Hall.

Student groups participating in Sing are responsible for creating an original seven- minute act with a theme of their choice. While Baylor provides general guidelines, students are challenged with producing their own acts and taking into account such factors as vocal performance, choreography, backdrop and set design and theme development.

Sing acts will be judged on their level of creativity, entertainment value, choreography, musical quality and theme development. The judges, who come from across the state of Texas, are selected on the basis of their backgrounds in vocal performance, dance, theater or student services. Each act will be reviewed by four different judges per performance.

The People's Choice Awards also will allow audience members to pick their favorite acts in the categories of best vocal performance, theme development, backdrop, choreography, costumes and musical selections. Audience members attending the first weekend's performances can cast their votes online.

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. "People from all over the United States have at least heard of Sing at Baylor. Although many universities have their own versions of amateur shows similar to Sing, the quality of the individual performances make Sing at Baylor unique."

According to Mike Reimer, coordinator of special performances, this year's production of Sing will feature 19 performances and 20 group participants. Alpha Delta Pi will be returning to Sing after a six year absence and Lambda Chi Alpha will be returning to Sing after a three year absence. In addition, Pi Kappa Phi will make their Sing debut.

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 Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Omega Tau, Kappa Sigma, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Chi, Pi Beta Phi, Pi Kappa 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 $16-20 for the general public. Tickets to most performances sold out in record time, causing an additional performance to be added on Feb. 22. Tickets to this performance are available through the Bill Daniel Student Center ticket office, which can be reached at (254) 710-3210.

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