Singing Rams music video earns two Telly Awards
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) has earned two Telly Awards for a music video featuring the Singing Rams, the university’s choir.
The video, “Singing Rams Hype Jam,” was filmed and produced by WSSU’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), and features choir members performing an original song.
The video won in two social video categories:
- Bronze Winner: General-Media & Entertainment
- Silver Winner: People’s Telly/Short Form Social
The People’s Telly was awarded as a result of an online vote that ran April 24-May 4.
Other winners in WSSU’s categories included: BBC, Disney Interactive, Kansas State, Dow Jones and CBS Interactive.
“It is incredible to see Winston-Salem State University recognized with such a prestigious award and to have our work judged against a high standard of merit at a national level,” said Jaime Hunt, WSSU’s chief communications officer. “We look forward to continuing to create engaging, high-quality video content that tells the WSSU story.”
The 39th Annual Telly Awards were announced on Tuesday, May 22.
The Telly Awards showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens and “represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world.” The Telly Awards received over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents.
The awards are judged by members of the Telly Awards Judging Council, a group of over 200 working industry who have previously won the Telly Awards highest accolade and have demonstrable expertise in the categories they review.
The song – written by WSSU students Jessica Johnson, Nia Lewis, Rashad Woodard, Lauryn Rainey and Christian Stewart as a class assignment – serves as an introduction to The Singing Rams and focuses on social justice themes, a core part of WSSU’s Strategic Plan.
Antonio Davis ’97, was the lead videographer, producer and director for the video. The IMC project team also included: Kenny Brock ’17, IMC multimedia intern; Garrett Garms ’07, university photographer; Jay Davis, director of media relations; Sigrid Hall, creative director; and Laura Huff, digital communications strategy manager.
The Singing Rams are under the direction of Maestra D’Walla Simmons Burke, director of choral and vocal studies at WSSU.
About Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region and beyond. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment.
