NEWS

Nazareth students making music for vehicle ad

James Goodman
@goodman_dandc
Elio Motors prototype three-wheeled car rolls onto campus at Nazareth College in Pittsford on Tuesday.  The appearance was part of an event announcing a partnership between Elio and Nazareth.  Nazareth students will take part in a contest to create the musical score that will accompany an Elio car commercial.

Elio won't be mistaken for an SUV.

The vehicle can hold only two passengers and, being three-wheeled, is technically a motorcycle.

But a prototype of the vehicle, which made a showing at Nazareth College on Tuesday, has plenty of charm.

And it's environmentally friendly, getting 84 miles per gallon on the highway.

Students at Nazareth are competing to have music they composed selected for two, 30-second commercials that Elio will play on its website and popular Facebook page, which has about 278,000 likes. Two of the composition entries that students submit by Friday will be selected for the commercials.

This competition came about because Nancy Strelau, an associate professor in Nazareth's Music Department, contacted Elio Motors, a startup with headquarters in Detroit, about Nazareth students composing the music for commercials. The company eagerly agreed.

"It shows grass-roots involvement. And we're a grass-roots company," said Jerome Vassallo, vice president of sales for Elio.

Elio Motors Vice President Jerome Vassallo helps Carol Andrus of Romulus out of the back seat of his Elio prototype three-wheeled car at Nazareth College in Pittsford  on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015.

Elio must still raise $300 million before the vehicle can be mass-produced for the general public.The stop at Nazareth is one of about 200 that Elio has made since 2013 to drum up support for the vehicle. As it is, more than 46,000 people have signed up to purchase the vehicle —  including Strelau's husband, Paul.

Friday is the deadline for students to submit their compositions — a chance of getting some experience crafting music for commercials. A panel that Nazareth has put together will pick six of the compositionss by the end of the month for consideration by Elio, which will make the final selections — one for each commercial.

Eleven students have already submitted compositions and Strelau expects the number of students to reach 40 by Friday.

Students can submit up to four 30-second compositions. Each one must satisfy the requirement of having a "3" — the number was chosen because Elio has the three-wheels — and an "84" —  a reminder of Elio's good mileage. The instruments used to play the commercial must also fit into the small trunk of Elio.

Kate Watkin, a junior at Nazareth College in Pittsford on Tuesday.

Kate Watkin, 21, a junior majoring in music performance and composition from St. Cloud, Minnesota, is still working on a jazzy composition for a commercial and has already submitted two compositions that are more electronic and a fourth that is more relaxed and cheerful.

"I had to find a way to be inspired," said Watkin, who did so by watching videos about people excited about Elio.

She satisfied the "3" requirement by either using three instruments to perform her compositions or by using triplets in her music  — three notes in one beat, And she met the "84" requirement by having a tempo of 84 beats per minute in her compositions.

Getting the instruments used to play her music into the small trunk of the Elio was not hard because the music was played on her computer, which has music software. "As long as I can fit my laptop into the car, I'm OK,"  Watkin said.

And while the Elio is expected to be priced at $6,800, Watkin is not one who is on a list to buy the Elio if it is marketed. As a college student, she doesn't have that kind of money.

Those who sign up to buy the vehicle — called reservations — must put down a deposit of $100, $250, $500 or $1,000. If they chose to have it nonrefundable, they will get a discount worth half their deposit if Elio is produced, said Vassallo.

"Almost 90 percent of the reservations are nonrefundable. I think that says a lot," said Vassallo.

Elio Motors, which is renting space at a former General Motors factory in Shreveport, Louisiana, hopes to begin production by the end of next year.

Elio is a tight fit for passengers. It is about 32 inches from one side window to the other, but Vassallo noted that the vehicle, which he calls an auto-cycle, offers much more than the typical motorcycle and can reach speeds over 100 mph..

It has a steering wheel, not a handle bar, and automotive controls as well as seat belts.

Dr. Grant Stephenson, 57, a family doctor from Westfield, Chautauqua County, is one those who has made a deposit — and traveled to Nazareth on Tuesday to catch a glimpse of Elio.

"I like the idea of good gas mileage. And I like that it's American made," Stephenson said.

JGOODMAN@Gannett.com



Glen Bodman, Mendon, sits in the Elio prototype three-wheeled car at Nazareth College in Pittsford on Tuesday.  Elio and Nazareth announced a partnership between the popular American startup auto maker and the college.  Bodman, who stands 6 feet, 5 inches, wanted to see how roomy the car was.  "I had plenty of head room," he said.  "A good two to three inches!"