Sanmai Gbandi | Photographer | Round Up
By Ryan Daugherty
Reporter
Every year, Baylor holds All University Sing for Greek organizations but students not involved in a Greek organization don’t have to miss out – they can join Sing Alliance.
Sing Alliance is a student-run group for students who are not part of a Greek organization.
Their act this year was titled “A Class of Their Own.”
All students are welcome. There is no audition requirement and spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lake Jackson junior Ivana Martinez has been a part of Sing Alliance for two years and said she has enjoyed every bit of it.
“Sing Alliance gives you the opportunity to be part of a Baylor tradition that a lot of people seem to enjoy,” she said. “I kind of wish I did it as a freshman but I got in as soon as I could.”
Sing Alliance has a membership of more than 100 students and several leadership positions.
Baton Rouge, La., senior Claire Clinkingbeard is the president of the group and is the Choreography Chair. She is also a theater performance major.
Alongside Clinkingbeard are four other chairs: Spring senior Kasi Kirksey is the costume chair, Kingwood junior Ryan McMillan is the props and backdrop chair, Rosenberg senior Jason Scott is the administrative chair, and Bloomington, Minn., senior Emma Steincross is the music chair.
All of these people work together to make sure the show is run smoothly and everything goes according to plan.
Being a part of Sing Alliance does not just include performing for Sing. Outside of Sing practice, the organization holds other events such as a Christmas party and multiple formals.
Lake Jackson senior Kevin Ebach is the social officer. His job is to plan the spirit nights, which are theme nights, as well as the formals.
He has been with Sing Alliance for four years and said he has had the time of his life.
“Sing Alliance is a one-of-a-kind organization,” he said. “Although everyone joins for Sing, the friends and the fun you have is what you will remember most. Sing is such a great tradition that Baylor has and Sing Alliance is a great way to experience it if you are not in a Greek organization.”
Martinez said the leaders of Sing Alliance are a huge reason the members are constantly motivated to perform the show as perfectly as possible.
“Our leadership works so well together and you can tell that their relationships are real,” she said. “They spend so much time and effort doing everything for us. Because of them, all the members have worked equally as hard to put us back into that performance.”
For the Sing competition, the top eight teams advance to Pigskin Revue, a performance each fall that displays the top acts from the previous Sing.
Last spring, Sing Alliance did not advance to Pigskin. Although they didn’t reach their goal, Martinez believes this year the group is more prepared.
“Last year you could really tell a difference in opinions,” Martinez said. “There were different groups or cliques in the whole organization and this year we’re all more willing to work with each other and be more together.”
Ebach said he also thinks this year will turn out great as well.
“This year’s performance is going to be energetic, to say the least,” he said. “We want the audience to feel like getting up and dancing with us.”
Martinez said being a part of Sing Alliance is great experience, but it takes a lot of time and dedication.
Practice is four times a week and runs two to three hours each night. He said the practices, although fun, are tough.
“They’re grueling and intense,” she said. “Sometimes we’ll do a move like seven times just to clean it up, but we love it. When it finally happens and that ‘Aha!’ moment comes, we all feel proud of ourselves. The experience is rewarding.”
