The annual singing competition between Northwestern and Dordt begins with the preliminary round tonight at 9 pm in Christ Chapel.
While this is a head-to-head competition between rival institutions, the colleges hold the first rounds separately, featuring only Northwestern students at NW and Dordt students at Dordt.
The first round includes nine singing acts, both solo artists and group performers, and the audience will get to vote six of the nine acts on to the semi-finals. Semi-finals will take place on Saturday, Nov. 10, at Dordt College. This round will feature six of NW’s best acts facing off against six of Dordt’s best acts. Finals will take place just a week later, on Saturday, Nov. 17. Dordt and NW alternate hosting the finals, and this year it is NW’s turn.
Because of scheduling conflicts in the springtime with both Campus Ministry equipment and musicians, former NW student Bethany Muyskens suggested moving this event to the fall instead of holding it in the spring like usual.
After meeting with representatives from Dordt’s activities coordinators, the decision was finalized to hold NCDC in the fall. Dordt was pleased with the switch, as it frees their spring schedule from conflicts as well.
Due to the change in scheduling, Airband will now be held in the spring. This is expected to work better for any theater students wishing to participate in Airband but currently involved with the theater production, The Crucible.
This year, in addition to the switch from spring to fall, the judge selection will be different from former years. One judge will be selected because of their affiliation to NW one because of their connection to Dordt College, and one judge will serve as a “neutral,” unaffiliated judge.
Halfway through auditions, Jonathon Muyskens, main stage events coordinator, was hopeful about the acts from NW.
“I’m pumped,” Muyskens said. “The acts so far have been really good.”
He also noted that many of the acts are soloists instead of group performers.
One of the emcees for this event, Sam Callahan, is also excited to see the preliminary round take place. As a senior, Callahan has performed in NCDC the other three years of his college career.
“NCDC is very near and dear to my heart,” Callahan said.
Callahan, North Suites recycling coordinator, will be co-emceeing with his roommate, Dana Van Ostrand. Callahan and Van Ostrand have big plans to add comedy to the night, but they are choosing to keep their jokes “top secret” until tonight.
“Let’s just say this,” Callahan said. “You’ll get to know Dana and me on a very personal level.”
“The audience will get to see a snapshot of our daily lives,” Van Ostrand added. “It’ll be awesome. Between the great emcees and the nine talented acts, we hope to see lots of Raiders there supporting.”
Callahan and Van Ostrand also revealed their plans to address the quality of Dordt’s new logo.
Because it has been years since a Raider victory when Abbey Slattery won as a freshman, Muyskens has one thing to say about this year’s NCDC competition…
“Let’s kick Dordt’s butt.”
