OSU students take the stage in ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition

OSU students take the stage in 'Battle of the Bands' competition

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Media Contact: Page Mindedahl | Communications Specialist | 405-744-9782 | [email protected]

While most Oklahoma State University students are hitting the library to study for finals, music industry majors take the stage to learn about all facets of the music industry.

The "Anything but Classical" course at the Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music offers many unique opportunities for students to get involved in producing, performing and writing music. One event that every student looks forward to is the end-of-semester "Battle of the Bands" concert.

This year marked the sixth such competition at OSU and the second time they performed at the Stillwater Community Center. Each band gets 20 minutes to perform cover songs and an original piece on stage. The competition was judged by a panel that included Anne Greenwood and John Drummond this year.

The competition is about more than just the music students play. The event allows students to get a completely immersive experience in the music industry and work on numerous aspects of it. They learn to market their bands, create setlists and plan stage lighting.

"You have to be very flexible and adapt to a lot of situations in the music industry. Because of the lack of job prospects, it's kind of hard to get this specific job that you want at first. You have to have knowledge in all areas of the music industry," junior violinist and singer Cassandra Diehl said.

After Diehl performed with her band, "Oreo Fallout Shelter," she went to sell T-shirts and band stickers to help raise money for their music program.

This semester's bands performed a mixture of rock, punk and R&B songs covered by OSU students playing various instruments. Along with cover performances, each band had to write an original song that was up to win the "ABC Ensemble GOAT Award" for best original song.

Every semester is different for students. They are paired with other music industry majors they may have never met. They may even cover a different music genre they have never performed.

"Last semester, I was in a country band and then this semester was definitely not country. It kind of gives way into every genre and how to play it live and work with people," freshman Savannah Foster said. "We also write an original song, so it's cool to be able to sit down with six other people that you just met that semester and write something that speaks to all six of you."

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