UAB Seeks Composers for Official UAB Alma Mater Competition

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Music is seeking submissions of compositions, including music and words, for an official UAB alma mater. The winning selection will be sung at many of the public events at UAB and a cash prize of $250 will be awarded to the winner.

June 13, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Music is seeking submissions of compositions, including music and words, for an official UAB alma mater. The winning selection will be sung at many of the public events at UAB and a cash prize of $250 will be awarded to the winner.

An alma mater is a song used as an anthem for a college, university or school. Currently, UAB has a fight song, “Blazer Victory”, which is sung and played at athletic events. In the university tradition, an alma mater is usually reserved for more formal occasions and represents the corporate sentiments of both students and alumni.

The deadline for song submissions is 5 p.m. September 1, 2003. To contribute a song for the competition, mail submissions to: Alma Mater Competition, UAB Department of Music, 401 Humanities Building, Birmingham, AL, 35294.

All submissions will be date-stamped; no late submissions will be accepted. For questions or clarifications, contact Jeff Reynolds, D.M.A., chairman of the UAB Department of Music, at (205) 934-7376.

A selection committee comprised of two members of the music faculty, at least one representative of the UAB Honors Program, a member of the English faculty, the dean of the UAB School of Arts and Humanities and one alumni from the public at large will comprise the initial screening committee.

Based upon the recommendation of the selection committee, the top three compositions will be rehearsed and recorded by one of UAB’s choirs. The selection committee, together with UAB President Carol Z. Garrison, will choose the winner prior to October 1, 2003. The winner will be publicly announced and appropriate program credit will be given to the composer each time the alma mater is sung.

RULES OF THE COMPETITION

  • Any student, faculty, staff, alumni or member of the public may submit original poetry and/or music for consideration. However, submissions of words and music together are strongly preferred. An ideal submission would have words and music together and would have accompaniment for piano.

  • Two or more people may work together on their submission (for example, poet and composer). If selected, the cash prize will be equally divided among those who have worked together on the project.

  • The final submission must be legible.

  • By submitting a composition for consideration, all parties agree that UAB may arrange the composition for different types of accompaniment and alter the composition for performance without further permission of the composer or librettist.

  • The melody (and harmony, if applicable) should be easy to sing and learn by a wide audience.

  • It will be the responsibility of the composer/poet to insure that all material submitted is free of external copyright.