By Jelanie Rose T. Elvinia
AFTER TWO YEARS of hiatus, the Valentine Songwriting Competition (VSC) will be back this coming February.
Mark Ian Caballes, music department chairperson of the College of Performing and Visual Arts (COPVA) said that they decided to revive the contest because they simply miss it.
A COPVA student production event, the VSC has stopped because event organizers got busy, especially when they had to transfer from Guy Hall to their new building.
Caballes said that the contest is an activity that sets their college apart from other campus departments and from other schools in the country.
“It is a very unique activity in itself. It’s really wonderful because it doesn’t only tap the talents of COPVA but it also makes you aware that there’s so much talent in the university coming from other colleges,” he said.
Unlike previous VSC competitions, compositions submitted this year will be released to the public earlier and will be heard over local radio stations.
Any SU student enrolled this semester is allowed to join. The contest will be held at the Luce Auditorium.
On the other hand, the fourth Elements Singing Songwriting Camp is back in Dumaguete to train aspiring and professional singer-songwriters.
The camp, scheduled on Nov. 17-21, featured 20 mentors as speakers, lecturers and team facilitators.
They include Armi Millare of Up Dharma Down, Jim Paredes, Gabby Alipe of Urbandub, Ebe Dancel, Gloc-9, Jazz Nicolas of Itchyworms, Jay Contreras of Kamikazee, Raimund Marasigan, Gary Granada, Aia de Leon, Jay Durias, Aiza Seguerra and many more.
According to their website, the Elements Music Camp aims to give participants a “unique artistic experience by bringing together
aspiring and professional singer songwriters to bond and learn from one another.”
It also allows musicians from different genres with different styles and technique to share their experiences and ideas to a group
with similar passion, the website continued.
