Voice of Ravenshaw auditions in progress at Ravenshaw University. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Sept. 8: Becoming a successful singer has always been 24-year-old Y. Deepak Kumar’s dream. And today, he took the first step towards realising that dream by auditioning for Voice of Ravenshaw, the talent hunt contest being organised by Ravenshaw University.

Like Deepak, more than 300 aspiring singers turned up for the singing contest, the auditions of which is being held at the campus radio station of Ravenshaw University, for the first time.

“It has almost been two years since I started taking professional training at the National Music Association here. When I appeared for the auditions today and sang Kailash Kher’s Saiyyan, the other participants appreciated my performance. It made me feel special,” said Deepak, a second-year student of information technology and management.

The purpose of initiating a contest like Voice of Ravenshaw was to identify the budding singers and encourage their talent by providing a platform to them, said Ravenshaw’s dean of students’ welfare Partha Sarathi Mishra. “We want our students to excel not only in studies, but also in other fields of their interest,” he said, adding that a group of students from the university have formed a music band called Sweet Poison, which had received rave reviews from across the state.

Three certified artistes from All India Radio (AIR) were judges in the audition round in which the students were given one minute each to sing any song of their choice.

“We have got an overwhelming response which has motivated us to organise similar contests in future so that our students get the opportunity to showcase their talents,” said Netaji Abhinandan, chairman of Ravenshaw Radio.

The songs of 20 selected students would be played in the music room programme from between 5pm and 7pm, and 8pm and 10pm everyday between September 9 and 15. Of the total 20 selected students, five would qualify for grand finale and record fresh songs.

The winner would be announced on September 30.