Songfest

Songfest, The University of Toledo's second longest standing tradition, began in 1937 as an outdoor singing festival to promote unity among Toledo's fraternities.  A group of six fraternities sang old college songs on the lawn behind University Hall at the first Songfest.  This musical tradition has brought together both campus and community through a night of entertainment. Originally sponsored by the Interfraternity Council (then called the Panhellenic Council), Songfest began as a men's competition and was part of the annual May Day Celebration. In 1940, a women's competition sponsored by Peppers women's honorary was created.  The competition consisted of sororities and one independent group performing choral arrangements.  Songs were assigned to the groups and the members of each choir wore identical robes.  The men and women's Songfests existed as two separate competitions for many years . In 1948, the competitors were moved to the Peristyle at the Toledo Museum of Art and remained there until the 1960s.  The competitions were then held at various locations around campus including the Field House, the Student Union Auditorium, and Doermann Theatre.  In 1980, Songfest found its home at John F. Savage Hall, which was named Centennial Hall at the time.  The competitions were kept separate until 1965, when eight fraternities and five sororities participated together to form the tradition we now know as Songfest. During the 1970s, many important changes occurred with Songfest.  The transition from the previous choral competition to the current production format occurred in 1972.  In 1975, Blue Key National Honor Fraternity replaced the Interfraternity Council as the co-sponsor of the event.  Coed student organizations first participated in this spring tradition in 1976 with such groups as residence hall, religious and professional organizations. Currently, Blue Key International Honor Fraternity co-sponsors Songfest with Mortar Board National Collegiate Senior Honor Society every spring semester.  Various campus organizations participate in this event by performing song and dance routines that coincide with each year's particular theme. Oftentimes these groups endure intense practices in order to showcase their talents in singing and dancing. Performances are rated based on choreography, originality, harmony, creativity, and costumes. Songfest is also a chance for the University to recognize hardworking, outstanding individuals and organizations with campus-wide awards.  Blue Key and Mortar Board members are have been tapped at Songfest every year since the 1940s. Songfest has continued to expand and flourish since its inception in 1937.