HPU Vision to host new singing competition
By Emma Ralls
A&E Editor
HPU Vision, a club in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, is hosting a new singing competition called “HPU’s The Voice.”
Riley Manion and Emmy Beck-Aden are the producers of the upcoming talent competition, which is based off the popular singing competition “The Voice” on NBC. Students from all majors were invited to send in virtual auditions through the link on HPU Vision’s Instagram,
@hpuvision.
“After the success of the Election Night Special in the fall semester, our team knew that we wanted to do another large broadcast to bring the campus together,” Beck-Aden said. “We were thinking about creative shows that would get students excited, and we came up with the idea of hosting HPU’s rendition of ‘The Voice.’”
An Instagram post announcing the competition was posted to the account on Jan. 25 describing the competition, how to audition and its deadline. Students interested in applying for the show were asked to send in a one-minute video of themselves singing a song of their choice through the application link.
Manion is the host of “HPU’s The Voice.” He appeared in a video on the club’s Instagram on Feb. 1, outlining the audition process more and giving a slight overview of how the show will run. He also announced that the top eight contestants would take part in filming during the week of Feb. 15. The live show will take place on Feb. 25.
“Because we can’t have a live audience due to COVID-19, we will be streaming the show through YouTube,” Beck-Aden said. “Over the weeks, judges have been working with their teams, each with two performers, after the auditions. In the live show, each team will go head to head in a battle round singing the same song. After the performance, their coach must decide which singer will move on to the final four. After the final four contestants are named, they will each perform their own song.”
But the decision is not entirely in the judges’ hands. According to Beck-Aden and Manion, the audience also gets to help determine the winner. While watching the competition on YouTube, the audience will go to the link in the bio and vote for whichever member of the final four they believe should win the competition.
From the judges and the contestants, to the crew and producers, the show was put together by talented students of HPU. Beck-Aden and Manion agree the best part of working on the show is seeing students come together to make it happen.
“We have communication students working on the production end of the broadcast, but our very talented top eight contestants and student judges have a wide variety of majors and involvements on campus,” Beck-Aden said. “We’re looking forward to everyone, both student and non-student viewers, cheering on their favorite performers and really seeing the HPU community come together for this fun night.”
With the ball in the judges’ and audience’s court, it is really anyone’s competition to win. And according to the producers, that is what is so exciting about the show.
“Although each performer will be extremely talented and the coaches will have all worked to better their team, the ultimate decision of who wins will come down to the fans,” Beck-Aden said. “We are really relying on [the audience’s] excitement and eagerness to watch and vote.”
Students can tune into “HPU’s The Voice” on YouTube, @All Access HPU, on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m.