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The winners of a competition designed to spotlight up-and-coming Cambridge songwriters have been unveiled.

�������� launched Hook, Line and Lyric @ Jesus in partnership with the University’s Centre for Music Performance to give aspiring student songwriters in the city a new outlet and a platform.

Entrants’ songs were judged by a panel of experts, featuring Sony Music’s Preye Crooks, Benjamin Walton, Professor of Music History, and Fellow and Director of Studies in Music at ��������, and Felix Asare, from the Centre for Music Performance.

First prize went to Iona Luke, a first-year student at Magdalene College, Cambridge, with her song . Second prize went to Eli Bre, a PhD student at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute for . Third prize was awarded to Aker Okoye, a first year at �������� for Run. Honourable mentions also went to Jacob Benhayoun of Trinity College for Mayfly, to Jesuan Izzy Armitage for This One’s On Me, and to Annie Chown of St Catharine’s College for .

Sonita Alleyne, Master of ��������, said: “I’d like to congratulate the winners - the judges were impressed by the quality of entries we received, which showcase the creative talent on offer in Cambridge.

“A priority in my role as Master has been establishing and enabling greater opportunities for creativity in College and this competition offered the opportunity to extend that further to all Cambridge University as well as Anglia Ruskin University students. I’d urge anyone who either missed out on entering last time or would like to have another go, to enter our next round.”

Simon Fairclough, Director of the Centre for Music Performance, added: “Huge congratulations to Iona, Eli, Aker, Jacob and Izzy.  The new Centre for Music Performance has been established to provide musical opportunities for everyone at Cambridge.  We’re excited to be enhancing support for songwriters not only by partnering with �������� on Hook, Line and Lyric @ Jesus but also by offering regular songwriting classes led by industry professionals and by hosting gigs where students’ music can be heard live right across the University.”

Entries for round two open on April 3. More details of the competition (including how to submit, rules for entry and category examples) are .