SET UP YOUR TENTS AND MICROPHONES.
[microphone check sound]
CAMPING OUT AT KRESGE AND LOCY
[Kresge Hall sounds]
WAS THE NORM LAST WEEK FOR UNDERGRADUATE A CAPELLA GROUPS. WEEK TWO OF FALL QUARTER IS A CAPELLA AUDITIONS WEEK.
COMMUNICATIONS SENIOR CRAIG CARROLL IS THE NORTHWESTERN A CAPELLA COMMUNITY ALLIANCE DIRECTING MANAGER. HE OVERSEES THE TWELVE DIFFERENT A CAPELLA GROUPS AND HELPED PLAN THE RIGOROUS PROCESS.
[CRAIG] We reserve all the rooms on 25 Live for all the groups for auditions and callbacks. And we send out all the communication to the auditioning, so making the spreadsheet that they sign up on, and distributing the callback lists.
ACCORDING TO CARROLL, ABOUT 250 PEOPLE AUDITIONED THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR’S NUMBERS.
SESP SENIOR YASMEEN MOHAMMED RAFEE IS THE WELLNESS CHAIR FOR PURPLE HAZE, A COMPETITIVE CO-ED A CAPELLA GROUP. SHE SAID PURPLE HAZE LOOKED FOR TWO MAIN THINGS FOR THEIR GROUP:
[YASMEEN] A mixture of vocal blending, like if we have an alto, can they sing along with our altos in the group and how does that sound? And then also social fit. And social fit can look like a variety of different things. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, whatever that might look like, involved in our group in the past and also in the present.
MOHAMMED RAFEE DESCRIBED THE OVERALL A CAPELLA AUDITION PROCESS AS –
[YMR] – rigorous because we asked folks to come in for a time and audition and prepare their own song. And then, if they’re called back, we asked them to then prepare as part of our repertoire. And if they have multiple callbacks, then they might be learning multiple pieces.
KENNEDY NASEEM IS THE WELLNESS CHAIR FOR BROWN SUGAR A CAPELLA, NORTHWESTERN’S SOUTH ASIAN-INTEREST CO-ED A CAPELLA GROUP. AS A SOPHOMORE, NASEEM SAID IT IS INTERESTING TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE THIS YEAR.
[KENNEDY] I feel like I wasn’t a baby long enough, I feel like it was just yesterday that the same thing was happening to me last year, which is kind of crazy. But I think it feels good. Like the people that have come in and been super talented and just like overall seem like really nice people.
BROWN SUGAR DOES BLENDED SONGS, WITH MANY POP VARIETIES AND SOUTH ASIAN SONGS TOGETHER. THIS YEAR, THE A CAPELLA GROUP’S CALLBACK SONG THEY ASKED THE AUDITIONEES TO PREPARE WAS WILLOW BY TAYLOR SWIFT.
[Willow by Taylor Swift]
COMMUNICATIONS FRESHMAN JOCELYN TISDALE PARTICIPATED IN THE AUDITIONING PROCESS THIS PAST WEEK.
AT THE FIRST ROUND OF AUDITIONS, SHE SANG THE SONG:
[JOCELYN] “You don’t do it for me anymore” by Demi Lovato because it’s like a very versatile song. So I wanted to show off all parts of my voice with it.
OF THE FIVE GROUPS TISDALE AUDITIONED FOR, SHE GOT CALLBACKS FOR ALL OF THEM. HER SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND HAD AUDITIONS FROM 6 PM TO 12 AM ON SATURDAY AND 4 PM TO 6 PM ON SUNDAY.
DESPITE THE RIGOROUS PROCESS, TISDALE SAID THE HIGHLIGHT OF AUDITIONS WAS MEETING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
[JT] I walk in and I feel like I’m already like, a part of this group, like in the group, you know, because everyone just gets along so well. So that’s been the highlight is that I’ve just gotten to meet so many people who are radiating really good energy.
AT THE END OF CALLBACKS, CAROLL SAID HE ALSO RUNS THE CONFERRAL, WHERE THE DIFFERENT A CAPELLA GROUPS GATHER, DISCUSS AND DECIDE WHO THEIR PREFERENCES ARE.
NOW, THE AUDITIONEES ARE WAITING FOR THEIR OFFICIAL PLACEMENTS.
[Brown Sugar: “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele Remix]
ACCORDING TO ALL OF THE CURRENT A CAPELLA MEMBERS I TALKED TO, THERE ARE MANY MISCONCEPTIONS OF NORTHWESTERN A CAPELLA.
FOR EXAMPLE, NASEEM SHARED THAT
[KN] Anybody can join Brown Sugar, which I don’t think is pushed out enough. Not everybody in the group is South Asian, but a lot of people have an appreciation for South Asian culture and want to learn more about themselves through singing fusion songs which is what we do best.
AS FOR CARROLL, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF EXTREME MEASURES A CAPELLA, HE MADE ONE THING CLEAR:
[CC] A lot of people like to say that Pitch Perfect is based on Northwestern –
PITCH PERFECT DIRECTOR JASON MOORE BASED PITCH PERFECT ON A NONFICTION STORY ABOUT A FEW DIFFERENT COLLEGE A CAPELLA SCENES. HOWEVER, MOORE ALSO CREDITS HIS TIME STUDYING AT NORTHWESTERN AS HIS INSPIRATION FOR THE MOVIE. CARROLL SAID THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE A CAPELLA SCENE ASSUME THAT
[CC] It must be so cutthroat and competitive.
BECAUSE OF PITCH PERFECT’S PORTRAYAL OF A CAPELLA. THE TRUTH IS THAT
[CC] We’re all just friends because of a capella. And there’s very, very little feeling of animosity between the groups, which I love. I don’t want anyone to have misconceived notions about the vibe and the dynamic of a capella.
[Pitch Perfect song: “Price Tag” Cover]
AS FINAL PLACEMENTS ARE MADE, MOHAMMED RAFEE SHARED HER ADMIRATION FOR EVERY AUDITIONEE WHO WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS THIS PAST WEEK.
[YMR] Taking a risk of being vulnerable and auditioning for an a capella group is an act of courage. And I think that is worthy of recognition. My favorite part of recruitment, truthfully, is seeing who decides to take that risk and audition for us, even if it’s not the right fit.
[Purple Haze: Lady Gaga rendition]
FROM WNUR NEWS, I’M ERICA SCHMITT.
