The a capella group Southside Boys (pictured above) performed alongside Hips ‘n Harmony, Between the Lines, Exit 8 and Emmelodics on Saturday Oct. 20. New members sang for the first time for Fallcappella (Sophie Yeomans/staff photographer).
All five of Geneseo’s spectacular a cappella groups came together in Wadsworth Auditorium on Saturday Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. for a night full of harmonies sans-instruments. For the small fee of $5, students, faculty and other supporters of the arts were granted admission to Fallcappella.
The concert featured intricate vocal arrangements from Hips ‘n Harmony, Between the Lines, Southside Boys, Emmelodics and Exit 8. Each of the five groups present at Fallcappella performed a total of four songs in front of a large and supportive audience.
The crowd at Fallcappella was extremely engaged with the performances. In addition to applause, several audience members could be seen with posters and cardboard letters to support their friends and family members.
In accordance with tradition, the all-male group Southside Boys kicked off the concert by singing The Nylons’s 1991 song “Good Old A Cappella.” This song featured solos by communication major senior Jordan Hecht, psychology major junior Jack Grant and biology major junior George Perdomo.
Several Southside Boys alumni joined the current members on stage, exemplifying the lasting connection that a cappella creates.
For some members of a cappella, such as theater and physics double major junior Eric Leary, this was their a cappella debut. Leary is a member of Between the Lines.
“My group is really supportive, really nice, just wonderful people,” Leary said. “They make me feel wanted and included and all that good stuff.”
Leary specifically credits BTL music director junior Trevor Greco for encouraging him to audition. He also appreciated Greco and BTL president senior Gabrielle Owen for being a constant source of support.
For biology major junior Claire Prunier, Fallcappella was not her first performance with Emmelodics. She has been a member since her freshman year and is currently the musical director of the group.
“The best part about the first concert of the year is always seeing every group perform with their new members for the first time,”Prunier said. “It’s very cool to see how groups of students who have been singing together for years change and grow into new styles of music.”
Both of the sets featured two songs from each group. Leary’s personal favorite song was Between the Lines’s arrangement of Rihanna’s 2016 hit “Love on the Brain.”
“Love on the Brain” was arranged by pre-biology major sophomore Raphael Elmasri and featured a powerful solo by pre-early childhood education major senior Tayler Nguyen.
Many of the a cappella groups decided to debut senior songs as well. These songs each feature a senior soloist.
Senior songs were preceded by speeches from other members praising seniors for their individual contributions to the group.
Fallcappella concluded with Between the Lines performing Owen’s senior song, “I Love You Always Forever.” This particular version was arranged by Owen and Emily Hurlbutt ‘18.
The next a cappella concert will be held on Dec. 10.