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EMMA SCHAIBLE
Special to The Leader
A capella takes “feeling the music” to a whole new level. During a capella, singers create the beat, the rhythm and vocals for a song. On March 12, Some Like it Hot hosted AcaFest 2016 on campus. Six a capella groups each took the stage and dominated the Multipurpose Room of the Williams Center during the two hour acapella performance.
“AcaFest is our big one,” said Samantha Baggatta, a junior communication major who is the president of Some Like it Hot. Baggatta hoped that “the audience [was] excited and star-struck by all of the other visitors.”
The first opening song wowed the audience as soloist Cheyenne Bruyere sang “Same Old Love” by Selena Gomez. The audience jammed to the cool beat and unique style that Bruyere brought to the song.
The only Fredonia all-male a capella group to perform at the event, Much More Chill, stepped onstage and performed three songs. A crowd favorite was “Band of Brothers (B.O.B)” which consisted of great creativity and a sophisticated vibe.
One of the guest performers was the all-female a capella group, Vocal Accent, from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). One of the songs that Vocal Accent performed was “Undiscovered.” The soloist that sang this song conveyed deep emotion while singing each note. Sophomore psychology major Katie Gardner, who is the vocal director of RIT’s Vocal Accent, said she “hoped the audience had fun and jammed with the songs.” When describing Acafest 2016, Gardner stated she “loved having so many a capella groups at once doing all of it.”
When asked what she was looking forward to most about AcaFest, sophomore early education major Elena Pochodylo said “seeing all of the groups perform.” Pochodylo applauds Premium Blend for their version of “Lay Me Down” with soloists Whitney Hackman and Ayden Whitman.
The first song performed by Premium Blend was “Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith. The second song sang by Premium Blend was “Make You Feel My Love,” and the soloist was Emma Hayes. The third song from Premium Blend was “Something’s Got a Hold of Me,” and the soloist was Marisa Rivera. This song had a soulful vibe interlaced throughout each note.
During intermission, there was a beat boxing competition. Each a capella group nominated one person to go onstage and be the designated beatboxer. Each beatboxer was given 20 seconds to showcase his or her talent. The competition was neck and neck between Francesca Gerace from Some Like it Hot and Nathan Guarnere from Much More Chill and Dynamic Intonation.
After intermission, Some Like it Hot opened the second part of the show. Soloists Deanna Civilette and Holly Lang sang the song “Lean on Dream On.”
The Binghamton Crosbys, an all-male a capella group from SUNY Binghamton then took the stage. One of the songs that this energetic a capella group sang was Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and the soloist was Sage Gibbons. The audience clapped along with the beat of the song. Junior architectural history major Colin Roth, who is the president of The Binghamton Crosbys, said that they “love going on road gigs.”
Roth said they “love interacting with other a capella groups, hearing other a capella groups, hearing their style and [were] very interested to see what each groups bring to the table.” Roth hopes that the audience realizes “that a capella is more than what ‘Pitch Perfect’ says about it.”
The newest Fredonia a capella, founded in 2012, is Dynamic Intonation. Dynamic Intonation sang two medleys, which featured top hits from Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson.
The grand finale of AcaFest 2016 was performed by Some Like it Hot. The last song was “Nobody Love” by the renowned Tori Kelly. Jess Pavone was the soloist the last song of the night.
Acafest 2016 was a great performance hosted by Some Like it Hot. All of the a capella groups that performed on stage were truly all wonderful and talented.