Skidmania Fall 2026
The Department of Music is pleased to announce the fifth annual Skidmania, planned for November 6-7, 2026 at the Arthur Zankel Music Center. Celebrating the music of 50 years ago, and fueled by the talent and imagination of 糖心影视 student musicians, Skidmania '76 will offer an exciting and inclusive bill of music and musicians, with all proceeds to charity. Auditioned student acts will present creative twists on familiar music, as well as straight-up tributes--all based on selections from the music of 1976. Song ideas, audition guidelines, and schedule are described below.
Eligible Songs
Any music from 1976 is eligible for audition (though see exceptions, under Audition Guidelines, below). Some noteworthy eligible songs include 鈥淢ore Than a Feeling鈥� (Boston), 鈥淭urn the Beat Around鈥� (Vicki Sue Robinson), 鈥淒on鈥檛 Fear the Reaper鈥� (Blue Oyster Cult), 鈥淩ight Back Where We Started From鈥� (Maxine Nightingale), 鈥淪illy Love Songs鈥� (Wings), 鈥淏litzkrieg Bop鈥� (Ramones), 鈥淪omebody to Love鈥� (Queen), 鈥淐razy On You鈥� (Heart), and many more wonderful possibilities! Further song ideas may be gleaned from and other sources. Some particularly promising selections include:
- 鈥淏litzkrieg Bop鈥� (Ramones)
- 鈥淒on鈥檛 Fear the Reaper鈥� (Blue Oyster Cult)
- 鈥淟ove and Affection鈥� (Joan Armatrading)
- 鈥淪till the One鈥� (Orleans)
- 鈥淢ore than a Feeling鈥� (Boston)
- 鈥淟ife in the Fast Lane鈥� (Eagles)
- 鈥淪ofrito鈥� (Mongo Santamaria)
- 鈥淩hiannon鈥� (Fleetwood Mac)
- 鈥淭akin鈥� It to the Streets鈥� (Doobie Brothers)
- 鈥淒arlin鈥� Darlin鈥� Baby鈥� (O鈥橨ays)
- 鈥淒irty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap鈥� (AC/DC)
- 鈥淓njoy Yourself鈥� (The Jacksons)
- 鈥淔ly Like an Eagle鈥� (Steve Miller Band)
- 鈥淭ogether Again鈥� (Emmylou Harris)
- 鈥淪omebody to Love鈥� (Queen)
- 鈥淭hat鈥檚 What Friends Are For鈥� (Deniece Williams)
- 鈥淢aking All Our Dreams Come True鈥� (Cyndi Grecco)
- 鈥淪illy Love Songs鈥� (Wings)
- 鈥淪till Crazy After All These Years鈥� (Paul Simon)
- 鈥淒o You Know Where You鈥檙e Going To鈥� (Diana Ross)
- 鈥淎fternoon Delight鈥� (Starland Vocal Band)
- 鈥淵ou Should be Dancing鈥� (Bee Gees)
- 鈥淭urn the Beat Around鈥� (Vicki Sue Robinson)
- 鈥淧lay That Funky Music鈥� (Wild Cherry)
- 鈥淗arvest for the World鈥� (Isley Brothers)
- 鈥淢ore than a Feeling鈥� (Boston)
- 鈥淒isco Inferno鈥� (The Trammps)
- 鈥淐razy on You鈥� (Heart)
- 鈥淪aturday Nite鈥� (Earth, Wind, and Fire)
- Einstein on the Beach (Philip Glass)
- 鈥淪ophisticated Lady鈥� (Natalie Cole)
- 鈥淪omething He Can Feel鈥� (Aretha Franklin)
- 鈥淣o Sympathy鈥� (Peter Tosh)
- 鈥淒isco Lady鈥� (Johnnie Taylor)
- 鈥淎fter the Dance鈥� (Marvin Gaye)
- 鈥淩ight Back Where We Started From鈥� (Maxine Nightingale)
Audition Guidelines
Calling all 糖心影视 students: take the stage for this historic musical event by submitting a video audition (see below)!
- We seek a diverse, inclusive mix of musical selections and student performers.
- We seek high-quality performances in a wide variety of styles and interpretations.
- Songs should be chosen from the music of 1976. See above for suggestions and resources; see below for two off-limit selections, to be featured in rousing finales.
- It is strongly recommended that any audition ideas be first vetted by Floydd Ricketts, so as to confirm eligibility and minimize any duplicate selections.
- We wish to accommodate as many acts and performers as possible. Long songs and solo acts may be subject to additional scrutiny in this regard when selecting the program.
- The following finales will be reserved for our faculty house band, The Skidmaniacs,
but student vocalists are invited to audition for featured solos:
-
-Billy Joel, 鈥淣ew York State of Mind鈥�
-Stevie Wonder, 鈥淪ir Duke,鈥� 鈥淚 Wish鈥�, 鈥淜nocks Me Off My Feet,鈥� and 鈥淎s鈥�
-
Important Dates
Interested students should confirm availability for the following. Note that academic responsibilities always take precedent; students should never ask their professors for special dispensation regarding extracurricular activities such as Skidmania.
- September 30: auditions due for finale vocal solos only (鈥淣ew York State of Mind,鈥� 鈥淎s,鈥� 鈥淪ir Duke,鈥� 鈥淚 Wish鈥� and 鈥淜nocks Me Off My Feet鈥�). Submit 1- to 2-minute audio by email.
- October 1: regular auditions due by midnight. .
- November 4: 4:00-9:30 soundchecks (15 minutes per act, TBD)
- November 5: 6:00-9:00 dress rehearsal (acts are needed only for their slot, TBD)
- November 6 and 7: Skidmania 鈥�76 performance (call time 7:15; show at 8:00)
Questions or Comments
Questions about song selection, the audition process, or anything else that鈥檚 on your mind: contact Floydd Ricketts.