The group Alienda Folk has been the winning formation of the first Musical Contest of the University of Oviedo and will represent Asturias in the national interuniversity contest of the G9 Group of Universities, which will take place at Pamplona on September 26. The folk music formation, integrated by students and graduates in Industrial Engineering and Musical History and Sciences, won the first place at the contest that took place last Friday at the Theatre of La Laboral.

Alienda Folk is a young formation created in January 2013, led by a student of Industrial Engineering of the University of Oviedo, author of the original songs, violin and vocals. The band is also composed by other five members and has participated in concerts and festivals such as the International Festival of Windpipes of Villaviciosa and the Celta-Rock Festival of Castellón. Alienda Folk competed against other five finalists during the contest: Silvia García, Viento del Norte, Los Collacios, Filanda y Edelweiss. All of them performed original compositions in an open festival that took place in La Laboral before a sizeable audience.

The jury was composed by popular Asturian musicians: Lara Álvarez González (Undershakers and Petit pop), Mar Álvarez (Undershakers, Pauline en la Playa, Petit PopD), Llorián García (Dixebra), Mapi Quintana (solist who has also participated in several projects, including "Blima", "Xota pa tres" and "Aire),  Roberto Nicieza (Australian Blonde, ex-director of Astro records and director Popup records), and Eduardo Viñuela (Wedem and El patio de tu casa).

Alienda Folk will represent the University of Oviedo in the 3rd Interuniversity Musical Contest of the Group 9 of Universities, organized by the Public University of Navarra, which will take place on September 26 in Pamplona. The winner of the national phase will receive €2,500, while the second and third place will receive €1,500 and €500, respectively.

The Group 9 of Universities is a university network integrated by the University of Oviedo, the University of Cantabria, the University of the Basque Country, the University of La Rioja, the Public University of Navarra, the University of Zaragoza, the University of the Balearic Isles, the University of Castilla-La Mancha and the University of Extremadura.

The contest of the University of Oviedo aims at promoting musical creation at the Asturian academic institution, boosting the music made by groups and soloists related to the institution (students, teachers and researchers, and members of the administrative staff).