Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS) and ECMA are proud to
present 'Melody-On-The-Spot: AIRS Challenge' at the 2012 East Coast Music
Awards Conference
via AIRS

(Charlottetown, PEI) - Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS) is pleased to
partner with the East Coast Music Association (ECMA) in presenting the ‘Melody-On-TheSpot: AIRS Challenge’ at the 2012 ECMA Conference in Moncton, NB on April 13th and 14th,
2012.
ECMA artists and interested attendees are invited to join the AIRS research initiative and
participate in the second edition of the exciting ‘Melody-On-The-Spot’: the AIRS Challenge
contest.
‘Melody-On-The-Spot’ is a creative, improvisational contest in songwriting where you have a
chance of crafting a new song ‘on the spot’ inspired by a choice of visual images provided by the
AIRS research team: There’s 1-minute to compose, and 1 minute to sing! A panel of industry
professionals will judge recordings of the songs, and prizes will be awarded to the individuals
with the most creative and entertaining song!
Singer/songwriters and the general public interested in participating in this unique and exciting
AIRS/ECMA challenge are invited to contact Denise Beaton, AIRS representative:
debeaton@upei.ca to book a time to compete and for more information.
The winners from the 2011 Melody-On-The-Spot: AIRS Challenge contest are J.D. Clarke,
originally from West Gore Nova Scotia in first place, Emmy Alcorn of Guysborough Nova
Scotia in second place, and Hughie McDonell of Aylesford Nova Scotia in third place.
AIRS is a seven-year major research initiative aiming to understand individual, cultural, and
universal influences on singing and the influences of singing on individuals and societies. Under
the direction of Annabel Cohen, of the University of Prince Edward Island, it entails
collaboration of over 70 researchers, representing every province in Canada and 15 other
countries on 6 continents, who are sharing their knowledge and expertise from numerous
perspectives, including psychology, musicology, music therapy, education, folklore and
medicine.
April 13th and 14th, 2012
Delta Beausejour, 2nd Floor, Mezzanine A 11:00 am – 4:00 pm