Tag: A Cappellooza

CPB hosts fifth annual A Cappellooza

By Reilly Wright, Photo Editor 

“Carry On Wayward Son” did not need an electric guitar for a memorable solo at the fifth annual voices-only A Cappellooza concert on Saturday, Nov. 4, in Ohio Wesleyan’s Gray Chapel.

Featuring classic rock from Queen to Guns N’ Roses, student a cappella groups from OWU and Wittenberg University as well as the headliner, The Filharmonic, performed.

The Filharmonic, an a cappella group that made NBC’s “The Sing-Off” semi-finals and appeared in the 2015 comedy film “Pitch Perfect 2,” wrapped up the concert. The five-person group has also performed on “The Late Late Show” with James Corden with stars such as Anna Kendrick and Ansel Elgort.

“The Filharmonic was a fantastic group to work with,” said Katy Tuggle, the marketing director of the Campus Programming Board, the OWU student group that organized the event. “In addition to their amazing performance, the group was extremely friendly and full of energy from the moment they arrived on campus.”

After their performance, The Filharmonic members sold merchandise, held a meet-and-greet and had photos with audience members.

“[The Filharmonic] supported our student groups by watching their performances, which I thought was absolutely wonderful,” Tuggle said. “Their participation in the meet-and-greet was also well received and very much appreciated by attendees.”

The student a cappella groups that performed included OWU’s OWtsiders, the JAYwalkers and Pitch Black as well as Wittenberg’s Just Eve and The Wittmen Crew. This is the first year CPB had a cappella groups submit a video of their songs as part of their application to A Cappellooza.

“A Cappellooza has helped Pitch Black prepare for competition,” said Nani Raass, the music director of the all-women group Pitch Black. “We have competed in the past against other colleges and we placed in the top ten last year in our division. Performing in front of a large audience helps our new members, especially with how to handle stage fright.”

With tickets sold to the OWU, Wittenberg and Delaware community, Tuggle said 620 tickets in total were sold, but estimated 750 people were in attendance.

“I would always love to see the continued support from the OWU community and hear feedback on student perspectives of A Cappellooza, including theme ideas for the upcoming years,” Tuggle said.

The BEAT: Committed coming to A cappalooza

By John Bonus, Transcript Reporter

The fourth annual Ohio Wesleyan A Cappellooza showcase is bringing the Grammy-nominated group Committed to perform for students.

The event is being hosted by OWU’s Campus Programming Board and will feature performances of movie theme songs by a cappella groups from OWU, Kenyon College, Wittenberg University, the University of Akron and others.

Committed is a five-person a cappella group that was created in 2003. The members comprise Therry Thomas, Dennis Baptiste, Geston Pierre, Robbie Pressley and Maurice Staple. The group met at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama.

In 2010, Committed won the second season of “The Sing-Off,” a musical competition on NBC. Since then, they have received a Grammy nomination for their rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear,” a track off of their holiday album Home for Christmas.

The name Committed describes the group, the members said. They live their lives committed to God, each other and music.

“With a cappella music, we are literally able pour out our souls in song and express ourselves individually and as a group,” Pierre said.

Winning “The Sing Off” was a great honor for the group and they said it has had an amaz- ing impact on their lives. Thomas described the experience as being “an honor and a privilege,” and that having people know them and their music is surreal.

For part of the show the group got to sing with artist Boyz II Men in front of a live TV audience, which was an opportunity they called life-changing.

“It was such an honor to sing with people that we have looked up to for years and it really was a dream come true,” Pierre said.

A Cappellooza will be took place at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 in Gray Chapel.

“We’re really excited to come to Ohio Wesleyan and bring some great music,” Pierre said.  “Students should be prepared to laugh, to cry, to be excited and overall have an amazing night.”

A cappella singers, fans come together for A Cappellooza

Julia Stone '16 of The OWtsiders, OWU's only co-ed a cappella group, performs at the 3rd annual A Cappelloza hosted by CPB. Photo by Spenser Hickey.
Julia Stone ’16 of The OWtsiders, OWU’s only co-ed a cappella group, performs at the 3rd annual A Cappelloza hosted by CPB. Photo by Spenser Hickey.

On Nov. 7, members of the Delaware and Ohio Wesleyan community came together to enjoy song and laughter at the third annual A Cappellooza.

The event was held in Gray Chapel, with music fans filling the orchestra and balconies.

Organized by the Campus Programing Board (CPB), A Cappellooza brought together groups from OWU, Wittenberg University, Denison University and Akron University.

CPB also hosted a professional guest for the night, a cappella group Street Corner Symphony.

Street Corner Symphony sang Johnny Cash to open their set, a choice that reflected their southern heritage. The group’s band members are all from Nashville, Tennessee.

Senior Miranda Dean said “they sounded pretty Southern.”

Street Corner Symphony went on to invite volunteers from the audience to join them on stage as they sang the theme song from “Fresh Prince of Bel­-Air.”

Oberlin's all-female a cappella group, Just Eve, begins their set. Photo by Spenser Hickey.
Oberlin’s all-female a cappella group, Just Eve, begins their set. Photo by Spenser Hickey.

Compared to last year’s group, sophomore Maddy Bonfield believed that Street Corner Symphony “tried to get the crowd more into it.”

Senior Julia Stone, member of both OWU a capella groups, the OWTsiders and Pitch Black, mentioned that “all the groups are really supportive of each other.”

Bonfield noted that it was “cool to see the other schools…and their fan base.”

After the event, all the groups were invited for an A Cappella mixer at the Peace and Justice small living unit.

Stone said “quite a few [from Denison] showed up and we just sort of improvised music together.”

It shows to the unifying effect that A Cappellooza had on the community.

A Cappellooza returning to OWU for third year

By: Emily Rupp, Transcript Correspondent

Street Corner Symphony is the professional a cappella group who will be performing at this year's A Cappellooza.
Street Corner Symphony is the professional a cappella group who will be performing at this year’s A Cappellooza.

Ohio Wesleyan University will be hosting its third annual A Cappellooza event that will bring a cappella groups from all over Ohio together on Nov. 7 in Gray Chapel.

For the last two years, OWU has brought together different colleges from around the state to have their a cappella choirs perform. Each year has a different theme. Last year Denison, Oberlin, Wittenberg and the University of Akron were present. The same groups will perform this year in line with a 1990’s throwback theme.

Along with the college choirs, OWU will bring in a professional a cappella group to perform. Last year, VoicePlay was booked for the event. This year, The Street Corner Symphony will make an appearance.

The Street Corner Symphony is an a cappella group of six men. They perform all different styles of music and competed in the popular NBC competition, “The Sing­ Off”. They came in second place on season two.

A cappella music has recently become a huge sensation again. Shows like The Sing ­Off have helped a cappella gain popularity.

“I think we need to thank both the explosion of Pentatonix after their win on The Sing Off and Pitch Perfect for the aca­popularity,” Pitch Black member and junior Kelly Summers said.

The response to the film “Pitch Perfect” really sparked an interest in college students.

College groups now continue to show their talents on campus giving students a chance to find their home away from home.

“I absolutely love the fact that it’s made a comeback, because I’ve found a family with my group and love the fact that I am still singing,” said junior Sarah Kennedy, president of OWtsiders said.

Pitch Black and the OWtsiders will be the two groups representing OWU at A Cappellooza.

Both women said the choirs are putting in about five hours of rehearsal a week to put on the best performance possible. They are excited to perform.

“We are extremely excited for A Cappellooza,” said Summers. “It’s always a blast performing alongside other groups from our own university and from other colleges!”

“It is exhilarating to stand on that stage with so many people staring at you and cheering.

I love every minute of it,” echoed Kennedy.