The winners of a new competition designed to spotlight up-and-coming Cambridge songwriters have been unveiled.
The Centre for Music Performance partnered with Jesus College to launch Hook, Line and Lyric @ Jesus – a new competition giving aspiring student songwriters in the city a new outlet and a platform.
Entrants’ songs were judged by a panel of experts, featuring Sony Music’s Preye Crooks, Benjamin Walton, Professor of Music History, and Fellow and Director of Studies in Music at Jesus College, and Felix Asare from the Centre for Music Performance.
First prize went to Iona Luke, a first-year student at Magdalene College, Cambridge, with her song Spinning. Second prize went to Eli Bre, a PhD student at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute for Ceasefire. Third prize was awarded to Aker Okoye, a first year at Jesus College for Run. Honourable mentions also went to Jacob Benhayoun of Trinity College for Mayfly, to Jesuan Izzy Armitage for This One’s On Me, and to Annie Chown of St Catharine’s College for Still Wish You Were Mine.
Sonita Alleyne, Master of Jesus College and Chair of the Centre for Music Performance, said: “I’d like to congratulate the winners – the judges were impressed by the quality of entries we received, which showcase the creative talent on offer in Cambridge.
“A priority in my role as Master has been establishing and enabling greater opportunities for creativity in College and this competition offered the opportunity to extend that further to all Cambridge University as well as Anglia Ruskin University students. I’d urge anyone who either missed out on entering last time or would like to have another go, to enter our next round.”
Simon Fairclough, Director of the Centre for Music Performance, added: “Huge congratulations to Iona, Eli, Aker, Jacob and Izzy.
“The new Centre for Music Performance has been established to provide musical opportunities for everyone at Cambridge. We’re excited to be enhancing support for songwriters not only by partnering with Jesus College on Hook, Line and Lyric @ Jesus but also by offering regular songwriting classes led by industry professionals and by hosting gigs where students’ music can be heard live right across the University.”
Entries for the next round of Hook, Line and Lyric @ Jesus open on April 3.
