Thanks to 18 submissions from across campus—including entries by students, faculty and administration alike—the School of Music / Vikes Nation fall Rally Song contest can definitely be considered a hit. And now that the judging panel has chosen the top three songs—submitted by contestants Kyell Erickson, Kevin Grout and Colleen Eccleston—all that remains is to find out who the winner will be on January 10.
“I’m delighted with the quality and creativity shown in all of the entries for the Rally Song contest,” says School of Music director Susan Lewis Hammond. “The three finalists offer up great lyrics and catchy tunes to cheer on the Vikes.” To hear the songs submitted by the top three finalists, just click on their names here: Kyell Erickson, Kevin Grout and Colleen Eccleston.
Get pumped to hear the Rally Song winners! (photo: Armando Tura)
Entries ran the gamut from rap and rock to cheers and chants, and have been culled down to a top-three list of finalists. It’s now up to the judging panel—new UVic President Jamie Cassels, Director of Athletics Clint Hamilton, gold medal-winning Vikes athlete Kendra Pomfret and Lewis Hammond herself—to select the winner at the Vikes Days of Thunder men’s basketball game on Friday, January 10, 2014.
But before the winner is announced, each finalist song will be performed live by top School of Music voice student and rising opera star Josh Lovell, and the UVic Jazz Ensemble, led by Jazz professor Patrick Boyle. Be sure to attend the game to find out who’s going to win an iPad for their original song, and to cheer on your personal favourite. “I can’t wait to hear them live on January 10!” says an enthusiastic Lewis Hammond.
(Click here for the full back-story on the contest.)
Regardless of who wins, the Rally Song contest proved to be an interdisciplinary success, thanks to collaboration between two UVic faculties—Fine Arts and Athletics—that haven’t traditionally done much work together. Here’s to more cross-pollination in the future!