MIA CIECHALSKI
Life & Arts Editor
Photo by ARVIN ZABALERIO | Special to The Leader
Remember the International Championship of Collegiate Acapella (ICCA) competition in “Pitch Perfect”?
Well, guess what? It’s real, and one of Fredonia’s very own acapella groups won.
Dynamic Intonation (DI) went to the ICCA Central Quarterfinal 3 on Feb. 1 and will be advancing to the semifinals on Mar. 22 in Buffalo, N.Y.
DI is the one and only competitive acapella group that SUNY Fredonia has on campus. Following their recent win, excitement filled the room during one of their rehearsals as members celebrated the achievement.
In the weeks leading up to the competition, the group rehearsed tirelessly, fine-tuning their setlist for the quarterfinals paid off.
The process for them to be able to compete at the ICCAs is quite simple. To be accepted to compete in the quarterfinals, you have to fill out an application and then upload a video of your group performing two to three songs, according to Varsity Vocals.
It was a long process for DI to compete at the ICCAs, according to senior BFA acting and writing major Harley Selegean.
However, one of their main goals was to rebuild after COVID-19 happened, said Selegean.
Selegean joined DI in 2021, when all of the acapella groups were trying to rebuild and get back together.
“Our process was really trying to establish ourselves as a group with an aesthetic, and make ourselves known to the world outside of Fredonia,” said Selegean.
Selegean is currently the president of DI and getting to see how it grew and contributed to the group in multiple different ways has been a very fun experience for them.
Getting to win the ICCAs was a very memorable and fun experience for all of the members involved in this club, especially for junior BFA acting major Ryan Okun.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” said Okun.
This was also a very memorable bonding experience for everyone.
“We were doing three weeks of non-stop rehearsals/choreography, practicing over and over and we just got so close,” said Okun.
However, as fun as this process was, there were still some challenges during this experience as well.
Okun said one of the group’s biggest challenges during rehearsals was making sure to stay focused, positive and confident.
“We’re all there for each other though, and we all are each other’s biggest supporters,” said Okun.
While winning ICCAs was a memorable experience for the group, it was also an unbelievable experience for others, like masters student Christian Taber.
“It was something that caught me off guard because there was a lot of really good competition at the quarter final of ICCAs,” said Taber.
Taber said that as each group was being named for third place and second place winners, he first thought they didn’t win this time.
“We tried our hardest and we put a lot of work into it, so I’m super proud of our people,” said Taber.
That moment was also one of the first times in Taber’s life where he physically jumped for joy for something because of how much excitement and passion he felt in that moment.
Not only have the members of DI been so ecstatic about this incredible moment for their group, but the campus has been as well.
Many members said they have been congratulated by many of their classmates and faculty who have mentioned that they can’t wait to see how the semifinals go for them.