Every semester, hopeful and passionate student musicians audition for Chico Unplugged at Madison Bear Garden for two Thursdays in a row.

Last Thursday was the Winner’s Showcase where the competition’s winners perform their songs.

“Some soul, some folk, a little hip-hop and plenty of love songs are played,” said Vincent Cammarota, the host of Chico Unplugged this year.

After working at our college renowned KCSC radio station, Cammarota expanded his horizons by joining School of the Arts Productions. The group provides musical hookups for instruments when potential winners participate in the competition, but no a cappella is allowed in this competition.

Cammarota said that Chico Unplugged has been around for five years and that the winners all get to record in a professional studio on campus. The judges are a mix of KCSC, and music professors contend with who the six winners are throughout the two Thursdays.

All the songs performed must be original in both lyrics and notes. Both weeks held had artists that captivated the audience.

The six winners showcased their best work at The Bear.

Many nervous artists are debating whether or not to participate in Chico Unplugged, but it seems to be worth it.

SOTA really helps these “artists in our community to showcase their talent and for music lovers to discover local artists” said Vineetha Ramesh, the public relations coordinator for SOTA.

To learn more, contact SOTA through their website or Facebook.

Rebecca Norton can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_arts on Twitter.