Procter and Gamble’s fifth annual Sing Off opened the company’s 2016 ArtsWave Corporate Campaign on February 3 at its corporate headquarters in downtown Cincinnati. The Sing Off featured seven choirs comprising P&G staff members from different departments, all competing to land a coveted spot in the CincySings Semi-Finals.

For three years, CincySings has leveraged the power of the arts to create community. The sing-offs that lead up to CincySings have become a staple at some of the region’s largest businesses, including P&G and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Building on Cincinnati’s rich choral history, CincySings raises support for the arts in our community and builds connections among coworkers.

P&G’s Sing Off featured CincySings host Drew Lachey presiding over the morning’s festivities, with a panel of local guest judges including: founder and artistic director KellyAnn Nelson of Cincinnati’s Young Professionals’ Choral Collective (YPCC); assistant program director and on-air host JonJon from radio station Q102; Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s producing artistic director D. Lynn Meyers; and Phil Duncan, P&G’s Global Design Officer and the 2016 P&G ArtsWave Campaign Sponsor.

  
The Core Four and Phil Duncan perform.    Emcee Drew Lachey, host of CincySings.
 
         Team Fabric and Home Care.                               Team Legal Notes. 

The Sing Off began with campaign sponsor Phil Duncan and his backing band of fellow P&G staff members, the Core Four. Duncan sang about his love for the arts in Cincinnati and ArtsWave, and the necessity of supporting ArtsWave. Under Duncan’s leadership, the P&G Corporate Campaign is aiming to raise $2 million.

P&G teams included Fabric and Home Care, Legal Notes, The AcroHymns, One Quality Assurance, BFF, Straight Talk and Voices of Destiny. Each group rehearsed and performed a rendition or medley of songs in a fast-paced competition that covered the musical gamut, with pop hits and Broadway show tunes alike dazzling the several hundred-member audience of P&G staff members, ArtsWave partners, invited guests and the panel of judges.
   
          Team AcroHymns.                                            Team BFF. 
 
               Team Straight Talk.                        Team One QA (Quality Assurance.)

The idea that lives are changed by the inclusion of and exposure to art was repeated throughout the Sing Off, with pre-recorded videos from team members highlighting their personal experience with one of the five goals in the ArtsWave Blueprint for Collective Action. Voices of Destiny was asked how the arts have helped deepen their roots in the community, and staff member Lesia Riddick answered:

“My involvement with the arts was very impactful on my transition to the Cincinnati area. Some of the first connections I made were taking classes at the Cincinnati Ballet and Contemporary Dance Theatre. I continue to be involved in the community by being a dance teacher at my church…being a member of the Cincinnati Black Theatre Company and I also perform at various events in the Cincinnati area. I love being in a community where I have easy access to Broadway shows, (and) all types of music and art.” 

 
Team Voices of Destiny, with Lesia Riddick performing a contemporary routine. 

Team Voices of Destiny as they accept their first place trophy and advance to the CincySings Semi-Finals in March. (Image courtesy Bertha Davis) 

Riddick performed a short contemporary routine, accompanying Voices of Destiny’s rendition of Joyful, Joyful. Voices of Destiny was declared the winner, with the Fabric and Home Care team as runners-up. Voices of Destiny head to the CincySings Semi-Finals on March 20 at the Jarson Kaplan Theater at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door the day of the event.

CincySings returns to Music Hall, hosted by Drew Lachey, on April 13. Tickets start at $20 and are on sale March 1. For more information, visit http://www.theartswave.org/discover/events/cincysings.