CEE Student Composes Winning Song for the Cal Band

Graduate student Hirokazu Hiraiwa of the Environmental Engineering Program has won a national competition to write a new fight song for the Cal Band. Hiraiwa, who had never composed a song before, wrote "California Triumph" over the summer and beat out 15 other competitors from all over the United States.

"I didn't even decide to enter the competition until five days before the deadline. I was just bored over the summer," joked Hiraiwa, who played trombone in the Cal Band as an undergraduate student. "I don't know if it's just beginner's luck or what."

The composition was selected in a double-blind competition in which members of the Cal Band played all eligible submissions for the band's executive committee and an alumni panel. Neither the band nor the selection committee members knew the identities of the composers.

"We were all very happy when we found out it was Hiro. He is a terrific musician, and we're really proud of him," said UC Berkeley's Director of Bands Robert Calonico.

The Cal Band is now holding another competition to write lyrics for "California Triumph."

Congratulations!

UC Berkeley Press Release About Hiraiwa