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UD students know Nick Cardilino as the director of the Center for Social Concern in Liberty Hall. Visitors to Holy Angels Church know Cardilino as the music leader for the noon mass.

In a few months, students and Dayton residents may know Cardilino's music better than they know him, which he wouldn't necessarily mind.

"I'm a songwriter first," Cardilino said, "In order to pitch my songs, I have to have a really good recording of them first. I'm not a producer, so I can't really pay for singers or anything like that."

For economic reasons, Cardilino sings on his demo tapes, one of which is creating a small sensation on the Internet.

Cardilino is currently in the top 15 competitors for the "It's Where You Live" themed contest sponsored by WKEF (ABC Channel 22) and WRGT (FOX Channel 45). Internet voters will select the winners, and within a month, they'll let Cardilino know if his song made the top six. The winner's submission will be the theme song for WKEF and WRGT's program that highlights different locations in the Miami Valley.

"It's pretty decent exposure," Cardilino said of the contest.

Cardilino's experience with contests began in 2006 when he and producer David Smith wrote "Discover the Way," which won the National Catholic Youth Conference's bi-annual songwriting contest.

For the 2008 contest, Cardilino and Smith wrote "Christ Reigns."

However, this time, their submission got lost in the mail, Cardilino said.

"[The conference] never got it," he said. "But I still liked the song and gave it to this Web site songdoor.com ... who was having a songwriting contest, and we wound up winning in the contemporary Christian category."

Much of Cardilino's music is available on his three CDs: 2000's "The Workings of Grace," 2005's "More" and 2007's "Discover the Way." Cardilino sells his CDs on his Web site, www.nickcardilino.com, but said monetary gain is low compared to what else he gets out of singing.

"I mostly just break even," he said. "I write music because I want it to say something to the people who listen to it whether they're happier, or they're more thoughtful or they're closer to God."

One question remains: If Cardilino could sing a duet with any singer, who would it be?

"Martina McBride," Cardilino said. "She's got just the purest voice, and she could sing just about anything."

Cardilino has earned similar praise.

"Nick is very concerned about our world, social justice and the importance of faith," said Bro. Tom Pieper, who works with Cardilino in Liberty Hall. "[His] songs touch upon these values and make you think."

Emily Strand, campus minister for liturgies, agrees.

"[Cardilino is] one of the happiest people I know," Strand said. "His joy for life is inspired by his love of God and his faith in God's love for the human race. God's love just pours forth in Nick."

Cardilino will perform 7 p.m. Saturday at the Night Sky Coffee House in Troy.

For more information about concert dates, deals on merchandise and the latest news, go to www.nickcardilino.com.

To listen and vote in the "It's Where You Live" contest, go to http://abc.daytonsnewssource.com/sections/contests/theme_song/.