As said in the truly riveting and powerful film “Pitch Perfect 2”, let’s Talk-apella. You’d be living under a rock if you weren’t aware of the large number of a cappella groups on campus. One might think seven is an excessive number, especially for such a small student body, but the Conn community embraces these groups and their powerful voices with a passion.
The talent, legacy, and absolute commitment to these clubs can all be intimidating for newbies to approach, regardless of one’s skill level when it comes to singing. This enthusiasm is displayed in the intensive audition process amplified by the large number of people auditioning for several groups. Seven groups means seven different musical styles and collective “sounds”, as well as seven different group dynamics between members. For first-years, these can be intimidating groups to audition for.
Olivia Shultz, a sophomore, is the A Cappella Council representative for the ConnChords, an all treble group, and one of the oldest groups on campus. She describes her personal audition experience during her freshman year as “terrifying, because, personally, [she] felt extremely scared of singing alone.”
Auditions themselves typically go late into the night and are just as much about getting to know people and how they collaborate with established group members as they are actual singing.
Since there are so many groups on campus, it seems like it would be impossible for everyone to find a group that fits them, whether that be because of the sheer number of choices, or the fact that every group wants new, talented people to sing alongside them.
When asked if the number of groups was a positive, or if the amount was a cause of any stress, Charlotte Steinhauer, a freshman interested in auditioning replied, “I think it’s good to know that there’s options, but it is a little stressful to, like, try and pick one, you know?”
Now that she’s on the other side of the audition process, Shultz insists that while, “there is definitely some competition there…. there is a right place for everybody and everyone always ends up in the place that’s right for them.”
But that doesn’t mean the process is easy. Natalie Chace, a junior and the president of the ConnArtists, spoke about the process of placing auditionees in each club. “Every year we have Fight Night. Like, it’s literally called Fight Night. It’s not violent, I promise!”
Chace was joking, but the process of Fight Night is actually really important to placing everyone in the right spot and making sure each group is getting what they need. After all the auditionees have displayed their skills and interacted with other singers, two members of every group go to a meeting with leaders of the other groups about who would fit in where. Singing talent, the skill-sets or voice parts each group needs that year, and, as stated by Chace, “vibe,” are all heavily considered when assigning people to groups. These discussions among the representatives of each group can apparently get competitive, especially when it comes to tenors and basses, which a lot of groups are in strong need of.
After all that happens, on the fabled night when the auditionees are chosen and initiated in, members of the groups will come to the doors of those they have accepted.
Schultz describes her experience: “Once I was accepted into the ConnChords, that was one of the best nights of my freshman year. They showed up at my door, and there was a really loud banging, and I was so shocked, I had no idea what was going on. And it was the ConnChords out there and they all stood and sang the initiation song to me and I was so surprised, I could not even say something. But then after that, they brought me along for initiation, and it was so much fun.”
On Sunday, September 10th, anyone interested in a cappella, as well as anyone on campus who wanted to hear some singers, was invited to watch every group perform a song in the chapel, which is where most a cappella performances throughout the year will take place. This gave the auditionees an idea of what a typical performance of every group looks like. Far more than just interested freshmen showed up to show their support of their friends, classmates and performing arts communities on campus arrived as well. The place was packed and you could actually feel the temperature increase as more people entered.
But the large turnout proves that despite the daunting nature of a cappella auditions and general a cappella culture on Conn’s campus, there’s no denying how positive those involved are about it. Shultz says that becoming involved and participating, “has been one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done in my life.”
Auditions are upcoming, so don’t be afraid to give it a shot. As Chace wanted to say to any readers, “Everyone is really excited to meet you!”
