Emmalisa Horlacher & Corbin Jones

Emmalisa Horlacher, 23, Best College Song Winner, grew up in Utah but spent recent years living in Virginia where she got to tour the Museum of National History displaying the Constitution as well as visit multiple Civil War sites. She is currently attending BYU and is in the process of applying for the Media Arts Program. She is involved in two Art Internships for Future House Publishing company and The Valley New Media Project. She spends free-time doing freelance video editing work for Peter Myers. She loves to write, sing, volunteer and work on creative projects like making pop-up cards and wire wrapped rings.

Corbin Jones, Best College Song Winner: My name is Corbin Jones. I Currently live in Provo Utah, I have lived in Huntsville, Alabama and in the Portland area. I am one of 8 kids and have grown up with a family that are very strong supporters of the constitution. I grew up taking several classes about the founding of the country, and have been a huge advocate for supporting America and the beliefs it was founded upon. I have played guitar since I was fourteen years old and play the piano and ukulele as well. Music is a very big part of my life. I love to play sports, camp, just be outdoors and be with other people. I am a product design major at Brigham Young University. I spent two years on a mission trip for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northern California, serving and teaching people.

Click here or below to watch Emmalisa Horlacher & Corbin Jones’ winning song!

Click here for the lyrics!

Our Interview With Emmalisa and Corbin!

Was this the first time you entered the contest?
Emmalisa: Yes.
Corbin: Yes.

How did you hear about the contest?
Emmalisa: My friend was doing a blog to submit for this contest. He told me about the different categories and I wanted to write a song. So I got my super talented friend Corbin to help me with the music and I’d do focus on the lyrics.
Corbin: My partner that I made the song with told me about it and we entered.

What inspired your work?
Emmalisa: The Constitution. While writing it I listened to an audio reading of the Constitution about three or four times. Then I pointed out specific words and phrases that I wanted to use. I really wanted to express how much I love this document. But the idea that we have to choose it, I suppose that came from my time at Southern Virginia University. In one of my classes we learned about the social contract where it is the people who have to choose to be governed by the laws they are living. That made me wonder, how many people my age have chosen this government or do they complain about having inherited it? Do people my age understand the power they have to change the laws and systems they do not agree with? The four fathers gave us a great legacy, we have to choose to live the legacy they gave us.
Corbin: Emmalisa did most of the lyrics, we edited what she had to fit some fun music that I made and Altered some of the words. Are both love the principles of the constitution and wanted to show that in the best way we could.

What did you learn while creating your entry?
Emmalisa: Ha! I learned how many syllables are in the word tranquility. Trying to fit that word onto a short line was quite the challenge! And of course I got to delve deeper into the constitution and the words it says to the people and the context behind its creation.
Corbin: I learned about some of the patriotic themes that even music that I write can have. I haven’t written patriotically like this and I liked it.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
Emmalisa: I want to share my song with my peers. Also, a leader of my church, Dallin Oaks, recently gave a speech about the U.S. Constitution. I’d like to share that with my friends and family. He shared some amazing things that were very inspiring in support of the document. I want to study his words and apply them by being even more familiar with the Constitution and with how I can contribute to my local government.
Corbin: Maybe show them the song, teach them some, and stand up for what I believe about constitutional rights.

How do your friends respond to history or talking about the Constitution?
Emmalisa: Well, a lot of friends and family also have an appreciation for the Constitution, not quite the same kind of obsession that I do, but at least an appreciation.
Corbin: They love to have in-depth conversations about it. Sometimes we will talk about how our right are being affected in this day and age and use examples of modern situations.

What do you love about U.S. History and the forming of our government?
Emmalisa: Oh man, I think what I love most about U.S History and the forming of our government is the relationship between the individuals and the country as a whole. Each man specifically who went to Congress needed to be well read and familiar with men, passions, and logic. The individual quality of them was expected to be high but that did not determine their stances on specific things. They were each very unique with very specific ideas that all differed. With all those different ideas being contributed, they all still managed to compromise. They compromised! That is incredible that that many people were all able to come to an agreement on the formation of a country that would eventually rise to become a world power.
Corbin: The founding fathers went against the bigger power and sacrificed all for other pole to have freedom and rights.

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
Emmalisa: Mount Rushmore. Never been
Corbin: Mount Rushmore.

Which American historical figure is most influential/inspirational to you?
Emmalisa: George Washington- The dude had an incredible life. He could have been king, but instead he wanted to go back home and go back to the life of a farmer, the life he loved.

Joseph Smith- His influence have shaped religions all over the world. He suffered so much and his influence has helped me learn about Christ.
Corbin: George Washington. He was very proactive and had so much influence. He sacrificed so much for others.

Who is your greatest role model?
Emmalisa: Jesus Christ. I believe in him and in what he did for mankind, for me. I love what he teaches me and how it inspires me to become a better person on a daily basis.
Corbin: General Douglas MacArthur. He did so much in the pacific for us in WW2.

What in your life are you most passionate about?
Emmalisa: My testimony of Christ. I also really love media, specifically kid’s cartoon shows.
Corbin: Music and the people I love.

How do you spend your free time?
Emmalisa: I create stories. In so many different ways. I create stories.
Corbin: I do a lot of product design and I love it a lot. I love sports and music. These take up a lot of my time.

What are your plans for the future?
Emmalisa: I want to create media that helps to bring families together. Specifically things that teach uplifting and inspiring morals. I want to help entertain by bringing healthy positive humor into people’s lives. I have been deeply affected by the media I’ve watched in my life. I hope to be able to affect others the same, in positive ways.
Corbin: Become an entrepreneur in product design and start businesses.

If you could do one super impactful thing to help people, what would it be?
Emmalisa: Teach them their worth.
Corbin: Teach others how to learn. Knowing how to learn new things quickly is one thing I wish everyone knew how to do.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
Emmalisa: Because of how much choice it gives the people. Because of the rights it protects.
Corbin: We have basic rights that can be taken away if we are not careful. We need our freedom and we need to stand for it.

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