Eastern performers will compete for recording time and a $100 gift card during the University Board’s singer/songwriter competition on Wednesday.

The competition will feature seven student performers and one band at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the 7th Street Underground of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Esraa Odeh, the UB mainstage coordinator, said the musicians will be allowed up to five minutes to perform.

Each group will be judged on creativity, stage presence and vocals.

Merritt Whitley, a senior journalism major, said she is going to participate in the singer/songwriter competition because she has not performed since summer.

“I’m just looking forward to performing in front of people and competing,” Whitley said. “I’m a huge competitor and I’m just looking forward to being a part of the experience.”

Whitley said she will be playing her acoustic song “Lie to Me” based on a fight she had with one of her friends.

Whitley said it was her roommates who encouraged her to participate in the competition.

Jake Schlick, a senior music major, said his band Rio Debut will be performing one of their songs, but has not decided what song they are going to perform.

The group is made up of Schlick, the bass player; Dan Hoffmann; and Thomas Gallaher, drums.

“We have roots in rock n’ roll, and each of us brings a different piece to the puzzle,” Schlick said.

Schlick said they also have influences from jazz, indie rock, hard rock and Afro-Cuban music.

“Overall, our sound is pretty groovy is one word to describe it,” Schlick said.

Alex Hill, a freshman biological science major, said this is the first time he has been exposed to something like the singer/songwriter competition.

“I came from a small town and stuff like this never happens there,” Hill said. “This is really exciting for me.”

Quinn Hussey, a junior kinesiology and sports studies major, said he knows the winner from last year’s competition, Ethan Kinsella, and was encouraged to participate in the contest.

Hussey said this is the first time he has performed in front of a crowd.

“I’ve never really played my songs for anyone, I’m nervous,” Hussey said. “This will help me practice.”

The other competitors are Jamari Ewing, Sherry Gunn and Ethan Kinsella.

Odeh said this is the first time some of these students have performed for a crowd.

Michael Silvestri, a junior business major, said he has been writing since he was 14 and thought he would be good for this competition.

“This is my first time competing in this type of thing,” Silvestri said. “I’ve performed live about six times before, though.”

Odeh said the event will be hosted by Preston Leatherman, a professional performer, who will perform before and after the competitors.

“We want him to share his experiences, not only with the audience, but also with the performers,” Odeh said.

Odeh said while he is performing, the judges will tally the results for the winner.

Hill said he is excited to see what the other bands can do musically.

“It’s an opportunity to see how I compare to other musicians or see how other people compare me to others,” Hill said.

Odeh said students will get to see performers who they see around campus on a daily basis.

Schlick said they hope the audience enjoys their performance as much as they like giving it.

“We’re just another rock band trying to change the world,” Schlick said.

Odeh said she hopes students use this experience in the future.

Hussy said he hopes to get over his nervousness during the competition.

“I always get nervous doing anytime in front of people, so this will help me,” Hussey said. “I need to break free and show what I can do.”

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].