Meet Three of the Aca-Awesome Teams Competing at VoiceJam Part II

The annual VoiceJam A Cappella Competition on April 5 brings the best a cappella groups from across the country to compete at Walton Arts Center.  We asked each of the six competitors a few questions to learn more about them! Get to know three of these competitors: Final Measure, Decibelles and Remedy. 

Missed the first installment of this blog? Check it out here! 

Tickets to The Edge Effect concert and the VoiceJam Competition are on sale now. Purchase a combo ticket for just $29 and you can see both shows. Tickets are available online at waltonartscenter.org, by visiting the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am–2 pm or by calling the box office at 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am-5 pm.  

Final Measure – University of Houston 

What kind of music do you enjoy singing together/what is in your repertoire? 

We like to sing primarily pop music! Our group sound is very bright and energetic, so it fits us pretty well. Right now, our repertoire consists of some electronic, some pop and indie songs.  

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise?   

Most of our music is notated. This year we’ve done a lot of custom arrangements as well as pieces from an array of different arrangers.  

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it?   

Final Measure was originally named something else actually! But after our first in-person year, we decided to change it up and we took suggestions from all of our current members. This name was born out of the combination of a couple different options, and it stuck!  

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they?   

On all our trips, we usually love to watch Pitch Perfect as our sort of good luck charm! We also have a pre-show ritual that consists of vocal and breath warmup, as well as an energizing chant we do while dancing around. It helps all of us to get hyped to be on stage and connect with each other before we perform!  

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5?   

Some artists that our members love to listen to right now are Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Beyonce and Bruno Mars.  

What does your group like to do in their free time?   

Since the group is composed of a lot of different majors, we all have a variety of hobbies like crochet, playing instruments, reading and baking! After rehearsal though, we enjoy going out to eat, cooking together or playing games like Minecraft.   

Decibelles – Southside High School 

What kind of music do you enjoy singing together/what is in your repertoire?  

We enjoy singing music from multiple genres, but the main style of music that inspired our group to start was barbershop! We really enjoy working through tight harmonies and our first song was a barbershop arrangement of "Dream a Little Dream of Me."  We've been dipping more into the vocal jazz pool a lot lately as well! 

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise?  

 Our group works with precisely noted music. Our group formed around choir - that’s how we all met. We’ve bonded and grown closer together over our love of choir and shared songs that have personally touched us. We hope to share this love and passion with others.  

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it?  

Our name is a fun play on words! We took the word decibel, which is a way of measuring sound, and replaced the “bel” with belles! It’s super fun and girly, just like the music we like to sing! People often pronounce it as Decibel is pronounced, but our name is actually pronounced dec-ee-bell! 

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they?  

Before performances, we like traditional choir room warm-ups like warming up our body first by doing exercises like shoulder rolls, tongue stretches, rolling our head gently, etc. Then sometimes we throw on a good 10-minute Jacob’s Vocal Academy (or sometimes a Cheryl Porter) warm-up from YouTube. We are choir kids at heart!  

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5?  

Personally, I have currently been listening to a lot of Laufey, Faye Webster, Daniel Caesar, Omar Apollo, Chet Baker and a lot of classic vocal jazz albums and bossa nova. I find it helpful to consume old and new interpretations of jazz, preparing my voice and mind to bring color to every song we perform. 

What does your group like to do in your free time?  

A lot of us are involved in extracurriculars like class council, student council, theater, choir and more. We love doing Bible studies, going out to get coffee and just being with each other and creating more of a family feeling.  

Remedy – Argyle High School 

What kind of music do you enjoy singing together/what is in your repertoire?  

We like to sing pop songs! But we will pretty much sing anything. We love to sing together every day and learn new harmonies.  

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise?  

Our group primarily sticks with notated music, and we learn our music by listening to tracks and reading sheet music. Members of the group are also given the liberty to improvise on certain parts - our bass is known to add extra notes or sound effects.  

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it?  

The name Remedy was inspired by the song “Remedy” by Adele. We believe that music can be someone's remedy.   

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they?  

Before every performance as a group, we pray. It’s a good way to calm the nerves and give thanks to the Lord before we go perform.  

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5?  

My top artist is currently Ben Platt. In order after that is punk/rock songs from the Killers, blink-182, Weezer and Nirvana.   

What does your group like to do in your free time?  

We like to eat together at Braum's after performances and play volleyball or go to the mall as a group!  

VoiceJam Festival Schedule   

VoiceJam Kickoff Concert – The Edge Effect 

Friday, April 4 | 7:30 pm   

All tickets are $10   

VoiceJam Workshops   

Saturday, April 5 | 9 am – 5 pm   

VoiceJam Competition   

Saturday, April 5 | 7:30 pm   

Tickets are $27 

One Day Choir 

Sunday, April 6 | 10 am – noon  

Free! Click here to sign up 

The Edge Effect Pushes A Cappella to the Limits

As the headlining concert for this season’s VoiceJam A Cappella Festival, The Edge Effect strives to prove that singers do not need autotune and computers to put on a great show for all ages. Their music is as diverse as they are, offering a wide array of styles and showcasing influences that span decades. The group is taking a cappella to the next level, even causing Harry Connick Jr. to say, “Are you trying to put me out of business? That was really, really, really great!” 

Ahead of their Friday, April 4 performance, we asked members of The Edge Effect to answer a few questions to get more insight into this talented group.  

How did The Edge Effect come to be? 

The Edge Effect was born out of a love for vocal music and years of relationships. We all wanted to create something we could be proud of and that we could grow into something special. Sean, John and Troy were founders of the Las Vegas-based group Mosaic. When they decided to leave the desert, they reached out to Danny who was singing with 42Five (now Voiceplay). Danny knew Karl from the Voices of Liberty at EPCOT center and the group was born. 

The five of you have spent a lot of time together over your years of performing. If you were to give each member a title, what would it be?

Troy would be the “mad scientist,” Danny would be “Mr. Practical,” Karl would be “payday Karl,” Sean would be “the idea machine” and John would be “Mr. Chill.” 

Pick 5 words—that start with the letter ‘E’—that best describe your work. 

Energetic, enthusiastic, entertaining, eclectic, engaging. 

What is the best advice that you have been given; and what advice would you give to aspiring vocalists in the audience?

Be prepared for the opportunity. There is no such thing as luck. It’s cliche, but luck is when opportunity meets preparedness. Our advice to aspiring vocalists is to put in the time. Practice, practice, practice. Learn your craft. Study your idols and put the time in. The time on stage or in the recording booth should be the culmination of all the time you’ve put in behind the scenes. There is no substitution for time and experience.  

Whom do you define as visionary; and why? 

We all have different influences, but we can all agree on Stevie Wonder as being probably the biggest musical influence on all of us (followed closely by Prince). His fusion of R&B, funk, soul, pop, gospel and genre bending style allowed him to create a sound all his own that has influenced generations of musicians. He was so ahead of his time with his use of synthesizers, jazz progressions. Harmonic voicing, and overall song structure. You can listen to his albums from 1973-1978 and they still sound fresh today. 

What is the most rewarding thing about being a part of The Edge Effect?  

Getting to do what we love for a living with friends who have become family.  

What are some unique or memorable experiences you’ve had while traveling around the world to share your music?

We have been blessed to see the world through music. We have been to Barcelona, Sicily, Lisbon, Malta, Chile, Alaska, Colombia, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Honduras, Belize and more. That never would have happened without a cappella! We have sung in cathedrals, theaters, caverns, on beaches, in mountains, near glaciers. It’s been an amazing journey and we can’t wait to see where else music will take us. 

What message do you hope to send the world via your music? 

That we are really all the same. We travel everywhere and the one thing that brings us all together is music. Music is a great unifier, and everyone LOVES harmony! 

Tickets to The Edge Effect concert are on sale now for only $10! Tickets are available online at waltonartscenter.org, by visiting the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am–2 pm or by calling the box office at 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am-5 pm.  To learn more about VoiceJam Festival visit waltonartscenter.org/voicejam.  

VoiceJam  Festival  Schedule   

VoiceJam Kickoff Concert – The Edge Effect 

Friday, April 4 | 7:30 pm   

All tickets are $10   

VoiceJam Workshops   

Saturday, April 5 | 9 am – 5 pm   

VoiceJam Competition   

Saturday, April 5 | 7:30 pm   

Tickets are $27 

One Day Choir 

Sunday, April 6 | 10 am – noon  

Free! Click here to sign up

Meet Three of the Aca-Awesome Teams Competing at VoiceJam

The annual VoiceJam A Cappella Competition on April 5 brings the best a cappella groups from across the country to compete at Walton Arts Center.  We asked each of the six competing groups a few questions to learn more about them. Get to know three of these competitors: VOICES, Green Tones and Volt!  

Keep an eye out for part two with responses from the remaining three competitors.  

Tickets to The Edge Effect concert and the VoiceJam Competition are on sale now. Want to see both shows? Then purchase a combo ticket for just $29. Tickets are available online at waltonartscenter.org, by visiting the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am–2 pm or by calling the box office at 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am-5 pm.  

VOICES – University of Arkansas 

What kind of music do you enjoy singing together/what is in your repertoire?   

We love singing jazz and a cappella music! This semester we are working on many things including a few classic arrangements for “Smile,” “The Days of Wine and Roses,” “This Will Be” and “That’s All,” plus a few original works like “Sleep” by Eric Whitacre, “Never Let Go” by Rob Dietz and “So Much 2 Say” by Take 6.  

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise?   

We do both! Most of the music is learned with notated scores, however, we mix improvision within many of those scores and have opened many of our performances with an improvisational piece.  

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it?   

We took inspiration from the famed New York Voices.   

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they?   

We love to circle up and do a little improv before a show!  

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5?   

Our top five artists are Erykah Badu, Stevie Wonder, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Fleetwood Mac and Emily King.  

What does your group like to do in their free time?   

We like to hike and bowl! 

Green Tones – University of North Texas 

What kind of music do you enjoy singing together/what is in your repertoire?  

We enjoy singing contemporary pop music, but we also try not to let a song’s specific genre limit our choices. When we hear a song, we just know! 

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise?  

We get our grounds on sheet music and then we make it our own to fit our sound.  

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it?  

Green Tones started at University of North Texas, and recently had a 15-year celebration!  

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they?  

Before we hit the stage, we all get in a circle and try to make each other laugh to shake off any pre-show nerves.  

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5?  

Currently I’m listening to Magdalena Bay which has been a popular one in our group! Other than that, some of my personal favorites have been Kate Bush, SOPHIE and the Hereditary soundtrack. 

What does your group like to do in your free time?  

Our group loves to sing karaoke, do fun photoshoots and thrift together! Doing anything and everything together is super fun.  

VoLT – University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

What kind of music do you enjoy singing together/what is in your repertoire?   

Volt specializes in alternative-pop, bringing a fresh twist to songs that aren’t quite mainstream but still feel familiar and catchy. Our past sets have featured artists like Aurora, BANKS and Lizzy McAlpine, capturing an ethereal, moody vibe that creates our unique sound. 

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise?   

We work with precisely notated music. Our songs are arranged by both professionals and by our members. We follow the notated music exactly in our performances!  

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it?   

Our group name was created 10 years ago by our founder! “Volt” was chosen as a tribute to Tennessee’s mascot, the volunteers, which we call the “vols” for short. It also captures the energy and electricity we bring to our music. Like a bolt of lightning, Volt symbolizes power, connection and the electric chemistry that fuels our performances and friendships.  

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they?   

Our pre-performance warm-ups include our regular rehearsal warmups (including our group’s warm-up “Sweetly the Swan Sings”), a shakedown counting down from eight to one and our secret Volt handshake!

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5?   

We listen to a wide variety of music, but if we had to pick our favorites at the moment they would be “Anxiety” by Doechii, anything Hozier or Chappell Roan, “Tattoo” by Loren and the entire Wicked Soundtrack!  

What does your group like to do in your free time?    

Our favorite moments as a group come from the special memories we make outside of rehearsal. Whether it's group dinners at Chipotle, board game nights or weekend hangouts, we love spending time together. We look forward to our annual retreats and holiday traditions, from Halloween rehearsal costume contests to our very own friendsgiving we call “Voltsgiving.” Our bond truly goes beyond just music—it's what makes our group feel like family. 

VoiceJam  Festival  Schedule   

VoiceJam Kickoff Concert – The Edge Effect 

Friday, April 4 | 7:30 pm   

All tickets are $10   

VoiceJam Workshops   

Saturday, April 5 | 9 am – 5 pm   

VoiceJam Competition   

Saturday, April 5 | 7:30 pm   

Tickets are $27 

One Day Choir 

Sunday, April 6 | 10 am – noon  

Free! Click here to sign up 

Meet Four of the ACA-Awesome Teams Competing at VoiceJam

The annual VoiceJam A Cappella Competition on April 13 brings the best a cappella groups from across the country to compete at Walton Arts Center.  We asked each of the eight competitors a few questions to learn more them! Get to know four of these competitors: The Amateurs, Green Tones, Vocal Point and Final Measure! Want to read more? Check out our second installment here!

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for part two with responses from the remaining four competitors. Tickets to the Take 6 concert and the VoiceJam Competition are on sale now. Want to see both shows? Then purchase a combo ticket for just $29. Tickets are available online at waltonartscenter.org, by visiting the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am–2 pm or by calling the box office at 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am-5 pm. 

The Amateurs – Washington University, St. Louis 

What  is in your repertoire? 

We don't have a specific genre or theme that we stick to. Our repertoire is specific to the current iteration of the group but we often leans towards pop, some R&B and jazz pop. Some recent songs we performed at our concerts have been “Bass Song” by Eryn Allen Kane, “Lacy” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Georgia” by Phoebe Bridgers and “Pretty Please” by Dua Lipa.  
Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise? 
We work with precisely notated music and we also sing arrangements exclusively composed by members of our group. Any member can arrange and it is highly encouraged - we even hold arranging school/support sessions for new arrangers to get advice on their work from our music directors! 
How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it? 
The Amateurs was formed in 1991 by a close-knit group of friends. Fun fact, it used to be a band with instruments, but it slowly developed into an a cappella group. The name "The Amateurs" was picked because of the definition of an amateur: someone who does something because they love it. Of course our motto is "do it because you love it.” 
Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they? 
We have the same set of tongue twisters that have been passed down for years! We will not start a rehearsal or prepare for a performance without reciting them. We always pair them with corresponding hand movements that have developed over the decades. 
What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5? 

Yebba, Beyoncé, Eryn Allen Kane, Hozier and Phoebe Bridgers. If the list could keep going, Lana Del Rey, SZA, Ariana Grande and Noah Kahan. Everyone's taste is so diverse, and we love sharing new songs with one another. 

What does your group like to do in their free time? 
In our free time, you will find us hanging out around campus, having movie nights, board game nights, picnicking in Forest Park in St. Louis and spending time together as roommates. 
 

Green Tones – University of North Texas 

What  is in your repertoire? 

Our repertoire opens with “Intro” by Orion Sun, then “Alone” by Heart and closes with “The Neighborhood” by Grace Enger. 

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise? 

We primarily work with notated music because we try to have original arrangements ready at the beginning of the semester that already consider our group's current structure and sound. With that being said, we try not to limit ourselves and we improvise/change certain vowels, phrases and dynamics as needed. 

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they? 

Typically, our pre-show ritual is to set the intentions of the group's goal and perform accordingly. Nothing crazy, just a reaffirmation that we are a group and we are there to be the best we can be. 

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5? 

All our members are unique and listen/sing all different styles of music. Whether it be our beatboxer's love for death metal or our music director's love for Lizzy McAlpine, choosing a top five would be impossible! 

What does your group like to do in their free time? 

In our free time we love to talk and catch up! We all have busy schedules and are hard at work on the days we can meet, but when there is free time, we love to joke around. It's a large group with so many different, fun personalities, the conversation topics are endless! 

What’s one thing you want people to know about your group?  

One thing we want people to know and see within our performance is how dedicated we are to our craft. We all love music and a cappella is another outlet to show and express that love. With every performance or recording, we hope to show the passion we have as a collective for music and making art. 

 

Vocal Point – University of Delaware 

What  is in your repertoire? 

For our set, we will be singing a mashup of “Tongue” originally performed by Maribou State (feat. Holly Walker) and Loïc Nottet’s “Million Eyes,” “Medusa” by Kaia Jette and Hayley Williams’ “Simmer.” 

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise? 

Our group only works with notated music. We have a wonderful arrangement team that consists of current members who arrange our music every semester. Additionally, we have a huge library of past songs that Vocal Point has sung. 

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they? 

Before competitions we have a tradition called “VP letters.” Each member writes a personalized letter to someone else. On the day of competitions, we give our letters to each other and it is so special! Having a personalized note of encouragement, happy memories and inside jokes from every current member brings the loving energy of Vocal Point to maximum capacity and makes us feel so close. It reminds us why we do what we do with the people around us and creates an infectious energy that cannot be duplicated. 

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5? 

“Harley's in Hawaii” by Katy Perry, “Me and Your Mama” by Childish Gambino, “Clarity” by Zedd, “777” by Silk Sonic and “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse. 

What does your group like to do in their free time? 

We come from a wide variety of majors including education, chemical engineering, music and criminal justice! Between us, there are lots of activities we like to do, including stand-up comedy, fishkeeping club and improv. Others like to write original music, read books and advocate for social justice causes. As a whole, we love to sing together and hang out. A Vocal Point staple is traveling to the rope swing & ropes course on a hiking trail near campus!  

What’s one thing you want people to know about your group?  

We are very passionate about the music we make, both on the stage and in the studio. Check out our latest EP, “Collision,” on all streaming platforms! 

 

Final Measure – University of Houston 

What is in your repertoire? 

Our repertoire is slowly expanding to any genre! We mostly work on pop, R&B, a bit of country and electronic dance music!   

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise? 

Final Measure typically works with precisely notated music. The group comprises members with various backgrounds and majors, ranging from business, acting, vocal performance, marketing and more. Most of the group members have experience in precisely notated music, such as musicals, show choir and semi-professional chorale.

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they? 

Our group has various warm-ups, ranging from breathing exercises to movement routines. During our competition season, we typically go backstage about two to three groups before our performance. This allows us to project our full power within a certain time frame, helping to avoid putting too little or too much strain on our voices. We start with scales using various vowels while stretching, focusing on maintaining breath support and engaging our core muscles. Then, we do a whole-body shakedown followed by a brief yoga session to increase the group's awareness of their bodies. As part of our ritual, I usually give a pre-game speech followed by an “I feel so good” chant. 

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give use your top 5? 

In terms of my personal preferences and listening to some of the group members' favorites, there's a couple of bangers in there. These are artists such as Chloe x Halle, Renee Rapp, Jung Kook, Lawrence, and Rihanna.  

What does your group like to do in their free time? 

In our free time, we often have groups going out to eat after a productive rehearsal. We also enjoy organizing themed parties and going out for karaoke nights on campus. Additionally, we like to do mini performances in our free time, not only to maintain our performance repertoire but also to keep our voices fresh. 

What’s one thing you want people to know about your group? 

Final Measure is a student-led and founded group that began in 2021. Over our first three years, we have won various awards, including runner-up for best soloist, best vocal percussionist and more. We are a competitive a cappella group that also enjoys having fun with others who share the same passion.

VoiceJam Festival Schedule  

VoiceJam Kickoff Concert – Take 6  

Friday, April 12 | 8 pm  

All tickets are $10  

VoiceJam Workshops  

Saturday, April 13 | 9 am – 5 pm  

  

VoiceJam Competition  

Saturday, April 13 | 7:30 pm  

Tickets are $27  

Meet Four of the ACA-Awesome Teams Competing at VoiceJam Part II

The annual VoiceJam A Cappella Festival on April 12-13 brings the best a cappella groups from across the country to compete at Walton Arts Center.  We asked each of the eight groups who are competing a few questions to learn more about them! Learn more about PFC, Voices, Volt and Trillium below. Missed the first installment of this blog? Check it out here!

Tickets to the Take 6 concert and the VoiceJam Competition are on sale now. Want to see both shows? Then purchase a combo ticket for just $29. Tickets are available online at waltonartscenter.org, by visiting the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am–2 pm or by calling the box office at 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am-5 pm. 

PFC – MacArthur High School, San Antonio 

What  is in your repertoire? 

“Through Me” by Hozier, “Here” by Alessia Cara and “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence & The Machine. 

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it? 
PFC (Premiere & Final Cut) were originally two separate groups. One of the groups, Final Cut, was a barbershop group and Premiere was an all-treble group. They merged in the early 2000s, and over time the group has evolved into the PFC we have today! 

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they? 
One of our pre-show rituals is the “Hokey Pokey” which has been a tradition since before any of us knew what PFC was. Another ritual we have is that all our members wear a gold glitter stripe on the left side of their face. This has been a tradition ever since 2020, PFC wore it at the International Competition of High School A Cappella and performed a set that meant a lot to us all.  

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5? 

Some of our favorite artists at the moment are Noah Kahan, Fleetwood Mac, Taylor Swift, Infinity Song and Sammy Rae & The Friends. 

What does your group like to do in their free time? 
As a high school group, a lot of us are the busiest we have ever been, but that doesn’t stop us from making time to hang out as a group! Half of our high school career has been spent goofing off in the back of the choir room with each other. Outside of school, PFC loves to watch movies, eat (A LOT), thrift and cry together. (In fact, we have had the nickname “people frequently crying” in recent years!)  

What’s one thing you want people to know about your group?  

The special thing about PFC is that our priority is our audience and what message we are sending them. We embody intense emotions and stories through song, healing ourselves along the way, and knowing that someone in the audience needed to hear our message too. We hope our audience leaves our performance knowing that there is hope and feeling empowered. The art we create together is so sacred to us, and on top of that, WE SOUND GREAT! 

Voices  – University of Arkansas 

What  is your repertoire? 

This semester we are working on many things: a Duke Ellington medley, “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart,” a couple of Jacob Collier pieces, Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque,” Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies,” “Smile,” Santana’s “Yaleo” and Take 6’s “So Much 2 Say”. We’re also keeping a couple of pieces from Fall 2023 such as Highline’s “How High the Moon” and “The Nearness of You” by Norah Jones. 

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise? 

We do both! Most of the music is learned with notated scores, however we mix in improvision within many of those scores and usually open our programs with an improvisational piece. 

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it? 

We took inspiration from the famed New York Voices 

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5? 

Our top five artists are Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Daniel Caesar, Samara Joy, and Whitney Houston. 

What does your group like to do in their free time? 

We like to fish! 

What’s one thing you want people to know about your group?  

We are a versatile group of singers. Some of us sing opera, some sing jazz, pop, theatre, folk and many other styles. Some double as instrumentalists. Some of us are music majors, some of us are not. Some of us are graduate students, some of us are undergraduates. What brings us together is our love for singing, harmony, rhythm and the chance to perform with such a small, but powerful group of voices. 

Volt – University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

What  is your repertoire? 

Our repertoire contains a wide selection of genres from alternative to pop to choral pieces.  

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise? 

For the most part our songs are performed as written in the music, but our soloists are encouraged to personalize their part. 

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it? 

Volt was chosen as the name for our group to represent our school by incorporating “Vol” for the Volunteers. The word “volt” was chosen because it displays the idea of constant energy being produced, which was an objective for the group when it originated. 

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they? 

On the day of a show, we always meet up, order food and get ready together. We find it’s a good way to relax and hang out after weeks of intense rehearsals.  

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5? 

Right now, our group members are currently listening to music by Taylor Swift, Lizzie McAlpine, Denzel Curry, SZA and Olivia Rodrigo. 

What’s one thing you want people to know about your group?  

Our group was created so that non-music majors at the University of Tennessee could participate in collegiate a cappella. With that being said, our group is made up of students with all different majors.  

 

Trillium – Dallas/Fort Worth  

What  is your repertoire? 

We will be singing “DID U RLY?” by Sayak Das, a Hozier mashup called “First Light/Who We Are” and “Tears” by RAYE. 

Does your group work with precisely notated music, or do you improvise? 

We mostly work with notated music but we have in the past done self-arrangements as well as improvised harmonies. 

How did you come up with the name for your group? What is the story behind it? 

Our group name is Trillium, it is a beautiful flower with many colors. We really liked the flower and thought it would be a cool name for our group, plus it’s something we haven’t seen in the a cappella sphere. 

Do you have any pre-show rituals or warm-ups? If so, what are they? 

We do box breathing as a group to calm any nerves, as well as some pep talks and occasional dance breaks. 

What songs, artists or genres of music are you currently listening to on your personal playlists – give us your top 5? 

We love R&B and pop, as well as some alternative, “Don’t Lose Sight” by Lawrence, “Something New” by Kristen Cruz, “Flintstones” by Jacob Collier, “Late Again” by Peter Manos and “Change by Djo. 

What’s one thing you want people to know about your group?  

We love having fun and getting to know all the other groups at competitions, our goal as a group has always been to spread positivity within the a cappella community. We also just recently came out with a music video, “bet u wanna” on all streaming platforms and YouTube. 


VoiceJam Festival Schedule   

VoiceJam Kickoff Concert – Take 6 

Friday, April 12 | 8 pm   

All tickets are $10   

 

VoiceJam Workshops 

Saturday, April 13 | 9 am – 5 pm   

   

VoiceJam Competition 

Saturday, April 13 | 7:30 pm   

Tickets are $27  

Get to Know your 2023 VoiceJam Competitors Pt. 2

The annual VoiceJam A Cappella Festival has become a fan-favorite event of the season, hosting an entire weekend of opportunities to experience, learn, perform and compete. The weekend kicks off with professional headliner Duwendé on April 14 and continues with an entire day of workshops for anyone interested in learning more about a cappella.  

The grand finale, the VoiceJam Competition is back and better than ever, bringing some of the best a cappella groups from across the country to Walton Arts Center at 7:30 pm on Saturday, April 15. Keep reading to get to know this year’s competitors. 

A-Side – College Station, TX 

How did your group get started?   

Our group originally started in the early 2000s. While other high schools were focusing on show choir, our choir director, Travis Angel, wanted to do something different. He discovered contemporary a cappella for high school students and loved the challenge and musicality that comes from the genre. Each year a new group is created with new sounds, memories and dance moves.  

What is the musical background of your group?  

Our group is filled with students who have sung in traditional middle and high school choirs, as well as people who played in band and participated in musical theater. Two of our members were named top two percent of bass high school singers in the state of Texas. Our group members also play multiple varsity sports, lead clubs as presidents, help create the yearbook, run the school store, dance professionally, volunteer countless hours and more! 

Tell us about your set. Do you have a favorite part of it to perform?  

Our set is extremely fun to sing. We try to make every element of the music have purpose – the silence is just as important as the singing. We hope to spread a message of hope even through complex situations. Sometimes it takes a twisted journey to get to where we need to be but in the end, we can be thankful for the destination. 

Does your group have any pre-show rituals?  

Other than the freak out and nerves which is universal to all performing groups? While the girls get ready, the guys listen to the entire Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon in the dark while lying on the floor.  

 

Mind the Gap – Eugene, OR 

How did your group get started? 

Mind the Gap was founded in 2007 by a few students at the University of Oregon. Since then, we have been performing at gigs around the Pacific Northwest as well as competing at the national level. We aim to create a fun and welcoming environment to make music together. 
 

Tell us the musical background of your group. 

Our group is made up of all different types of students at the University of Oregon. Although we do have some music majors in the group, our areas of interest span from economics to environmental studies. However, our experiences with music are similar in that a lot of us have grade school choir experience and some of us play an instrument or two. A lot of members have also gotten into arranging pieces for the group which has been super fun as an activity to collaborate and grow our knowledge and experience together. 
 

Tell us about your set and do you have a favorite part of it to perform? 

As a group, we decided on the story and message we wanted to convey through our set, which has really helped us all connect with the music. We’re really proud of what we’ve created together and can’t wait to perform at the VoiceJam Competition in 2023. 
 

Does your group have any pre-show rituals? 

Usually, myself and the music director, Chloe Scheid, will say a few words to the group and give other group members an opportunity to hype each other up. We have a usual set of warm-ups that we run through too. After the show, we always huddle in a circle and express our feelings about the show and chant a phrase relevant to the performance together. Traditions like these affirm our sense of community. 

 

Euphoria – Allendale, MI 

How did your group get started?  

Our group consists of 15 very talented individuals of all voice parts, a variety of majors and varying levels of musical experience. We all come together for our shared love of music and performance. We typically perform pop, indie and rock genres, but we are open to trying anything!  

Tell us the musical background of your group.  

Our set takes the audience on a journey through the response to grief. However, we leave room for interpretation, so anyone can apply the emotions to any particular situation they have experienced.  

Our favorite piece to perform is “Moderation” by Florence and the Machine. We focus on the bounce back that typically happens eventually after a breakup or loss, trying to convince yourself that you are okay. The song is sassy and jazzy and our soloist brings the house down. Overall, our set is reflective and emotional, while still being upbeat and exciting to listen to. We have put our hearts and souls into this set and we are beyond excited to bring it to the VoiceJam stage! 

Tell us about your set and do you have a favorite part of it to perform?  

We always have a group speech, usually our president will speak to get us in the zone. We then have a chant, where we say, "We sing, you listen, we all experience, Euphoria!" It never fails to get us in the performance mindset.  

Don’t miss the aca-spectacular musical showdown. Tickets are $27 plus applicable fees, or purchase a combo ticket to see both Duwendé and the VoiceJam Competition for $29.

Get To Know Your 2023 VoiceJam Competitors Pt. 1

The annual VoiceJam A Cappella Festival has become a fan-favorite event of the season, hosting an entire weekend of opportunities to experience, learn, perform and compete. The weekend kicks off with professional headliner Duwendé on April 14 and continues with an entire day of workshops for anyone interested in learning more about a cappella.  

The grand finale, the VoiceJam Competition is back and better than ever, bringing some of the best a cappella groups from across the country to Walton Arts Center at 7:30 pm on Saturday, April 15. Keep reading to get to know this year’s competitors.  

VIBE – Dallas, TX  

How did your group get started? 

After several years of performing together in college, many of us wanted to continue singing with each other. VIBE was created as an outlet for our artistic needs. As we continued to compete in various competitions, we began collecting new family members from across the country who were equally as passionate about a cappella as we were.  

What is the musical background of your group? 

Our style spans many music genres including pop, soul, indie and R&B. Regardless of the song, we always put our soulful flare on anything we sing. 

Tell us about your set. Do you have a favorite part of your set to perform?  

One of our favorite moments in the set is the “Human Heart” number. It's a gentle and vulnerable reminder that we – as musicians, friends, families, and performers – only have one heart to offer in this life and to make the most of every moment.  

Does your group have any pre-show rituals? 

Before every performance, we start with a group circle offstage where we collectively do a breathing routine to get the nerves in check and to unify with each other one last time before heading out to perform. 

 

Walk the Line – Rockwall, TX 

How did your group get started?   

We already had a vocal ensemble at Rockwall High School but decided to start an a cappella group in 2015. We have competed and attended competitions every year since, including twice at the International Championship of High School A Cappella competition – we won second place last year.   

What is the musical background of your group?  

We love to perform at competitions and festivals. Being on stage is the best part of a cappella. We also love recording our music and are proud to have both albums released on all platforms. We have had a few songs featured on Voices Only and Varsity Vocals’ best of a cappella albums BOHSA albums in the past few years. We’re excited to have our third album come out later this year! 

Tell us about your set. Do you have a favorite part of it to perform?  

Our set follows a love story from the relationship’s conception to its demise. We love performing “Reckless Driving” by Lizzy McAlpine and Ben Kessler because it illustrates the intense, combative perspectives of two people drifting apart. It’s emotionally charged, and our choreography helps tell the story in an impactful way.  

Does your group have any pre-show rituals?   

Before every performance, we set time aside to rehearse our set and then have some circle time together. It's a time for us to connect with each other on a deeper level and talk about anything and everything. We usually start with words of encouragement and gratitude. It lifts us up and puts us in a collaborative state for the day. While getting ready for the shows, it’s also not uncommon for a few TikToks to be made for bonding and community engagement. 

 

Trillium – Dallas, TX 

How did your group get started?   

Our group started as an idea between co-creators Hannah Howard and Wennie Grogan. Towards the end of our senior year, we decided we didn’t want our a cappella journey to end yet, so we decided to create a vocal group based in Dallas, hoping to reach people with our creative play on a cappella and have a space to have fun and create. We got our name, Trillium, from a beautiful flower with many colors, highlighting our group's goal to continue growing together as musicians and pointing to our group motto: “bloom from within.”  

What is the musical background of your group? 

All of our members come from a former high school a cappella group and competed nationally. We are super proud of our group members – they all bring creativity and fun to the group. 

Tell us about your set. Do you have a favorite part of it to perform?  

Our set is composed of three songs, which gradually get slower and show an almost reversed sense of growth throughout the songs. Our favorite song to perform is called “The Intro,” and when you come see us perform you will find out why! 

Does your group have any pre-show rituals?  

Not really any pre-show rituals yet, maybe a small prayer before we go on. 

Don’t miss the aca-spectacular musical showdown. Tickets are $27 plus applicable fees, or purchase a combo ticket to see both Duwendé and the VoiceJam Competition for $29.

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2022 VOICEJAM CONTESTANTS: PART 2

Last week, we brought you a look at four of our talented groups who will battle it out in the 2022 VoiceJam Competition. This week, we want to introduce you to the rest of the a capella groups who will vie for the VoiceJam Champion title on Saturday, April 9!

In addition to the highly anticipated a cappella competition, Walton Arts Center will host a day of masterclasses and workshops. More information about those events is available on our website.

Without further aca-do, here are the final three competitors that are sure to knock your socks off on Saturday.

KeyHarmony

WAC: Tell us about the musical background of your group.

KeyHarmony: We are an all-female collegiate group from the University of Central Florida. While we do all have some sort of musical background, we are not exclusively music majors. Our group has a multitude of majors including education, aerospace engineering and theatre.

WAC: Tell us about the different levels of a cappella experience in your group. 

KeyHarmony: Our group has a range of a cappella experience. We have women who have never done a cappella before and women who have been doing a cappella for up to seven years.

WAC: Tell us about your competition set.

KeyHarmony: Our competition set is a mix of alternative pop and R&B and our set contains three soloists. The theme of our set is moving on from heartbreak and realizing your worth. What makes our set special is that each piece was arranged by our current members.

WAC: Does your group have any pre-performance rituals?

KeyHarmony: Before each performance, we stand in a circle and harness our energy by doing "power poses."

WAC: Tell us about your group’s most memorable performance story. 

KeyHarmony: Our most memorable performance story is winning our first first-place award at SoJam! We performed “Muddy Waters” by LP, “Women (Oh Mama)” by Joy Williams and “Freedom” by Beyonce ft. Kendrick Lamar.

Fifth Measure

WAC: Tell us about the musical background of your group.

Fifth Measure: Everyone in our group has some kind of musical background, whether we’ve taken vocal lessons, grown up doing school choirs, been in theatre, are part of a band or just love the camaraderie of being part of a group that loves music.

WAC: Tell us about the different levels of a cappella experience in your group. 

Fifth Measure: Our group ranges from people who have been part of the a cappella group for almost three years now to people that are doing it for their first year.

WAC: Tell us about your competition set.

Fifth Measure: Our set has a lot of funk to it. It is very upbeat and groovy, but the songs still have a lot of meaning and purpose packed into the lyrics. Our set is special because we have chosen some unique pieces that people wouldn’t expect to hear as a cappella arrangements, and we have a nice selection of one classic song, one popular modern song an unknown song.

WAC: Does your group have any pre-performance rituals?

Fifth Measure: The most important pre-performance ritual is our whole group warming up together. We take the time before going on to really get into the mindset of our performance. It really bonds us together before we go on stage!

WAC: Tell us about your group’s most memorable performance story. 

Fifth Measure: We can’t think of a specific memory but It we all love being around and are very supportive of each other. At the end of the day, this is just fun for all of us and we like working together and sharing the music we make with people!

A-Side

WAC: Tell us about the musical background of your group.

A-Side: A-Side is a high school group. All students have been in choir for several years and are enrolled in both choir and the vocal ensemble during the school day. These students are very involved in the music program. They perform in musicals, many have been in the all-region choir for several years and just this year 4 of the members were members of the Texas All State Choir (a very high honor in the state of Texas). Many are graduating and going on to study music in college.

WAC: Tell us about the different levels of a cappella experience in your group. 

A-Side: The experience of the students in this group is very different. Some have been a part of the group since before COVID-19 and have performed numerous times on various stages for a cappella competitions. Some have been in since COVID-19 and have worked on recording projects and local performances.

WAC: Tell us about your competition set.

A-Side: Our competition set is taking competitive a capella back to the basics; it lets the music speak for itself. It has become a trend to have a consistent theme or story. We aren’t doing that anymore. Each song has a story to be told and they don’t have to coincide. We have two soloists and a featured soloist. Our set is special because we completely stripped the idea who A-Side used to be. We reinvented ourselves and our sound. Mostly importantly, we did it together as a team.

WAC: How did your group hear about VoiceJam? 

A-Side: We have heard about VoiceJam for years but have never had time in our schedule to apply. We decided to do different events and competitions this year and try to do bigger things! Getting into VoiceJam has been such an amazing experience. We have challenged ourselves in ways we never have before and have worked harder than ever. We can't wait to share and learn at VoiceJam.

WAC: Does your group have any pre-performance rituals?

A-Side: Before we compete, the boys always go to a dark/quiet spot to listen to the entire album of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.

WAC: Tell us about your group’s most memorable performance story. 

A-Side: Our most memorable performance has to be getting picked for the wild card performance for Acatex and having to go from soundcheck to performance in less than an hour.

 

Get to Know Your 2022 VoiceJam Contestants

VoiceJam A Capella festival is always a favorite event at Walton Arts Center. We’re so excited to get back to a full-swing, in-person event this year on Saturday, April 9. In addition to the competition, expect a day of masterclasses and workshops that are sure to be fun, educational and aca-awesome!

The headline event is the VoiceJam competition, which sees a cappella groups from schools and communities across the country compete in a vocal smackdown. Keep reading to get to know just a few of our 2022 competitors!

The Ozarks

WAC: Tell us about the musical background of your group.

The Ozarks: Founded during the height of the pandemic, The Ozarks A Cappella is an organization dedicated to providing a unique educational and musical experience for high school students in southwest Missouri. In 2020, we noticed that students were unable to have musical experiences in the traditional classroom sense. We wanted this group to be an outlet and opportunity for any high schooler in the Ozarks to make musical excellence, forge friendships, and grow as people.

WAC: Tell us about the different levels of a cappella experience in your group. 

The Ozarks: Our current members are all grades 10-12 coming from nine different high schools in the southwest Missouri area. Three members will be attending the A Cappella Academy this summer in Los Angeles; and one member, Zach Liesen, won outstanding Vocal Percussion at ICHSA quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals last year. This group was recently nominated for two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards for Best High School Solo and Best High School Song. Our directors are/were members of collegiate a cappella groups, The Beartones and Sound Bearrier at Missouri State University.

WAC: Tell us about your competition set.

The Ozarks: Our specialties cover a wide range, but since we have started, we have stayed in the pop and R&B range. In our set we will have three soloists. Emily Jenkins will start our set with a song called “From Fire” originally performed by the artist Perta. Next, Lilly Jackson will solo the song “War In Your Arms,” originally by Australian artist Ben Abraham. Finally, we will close with Michael Thurston soloing the tune “Higher Power,” original performed by Coldplay. There is not a particular theme to our set this year but, in it you can sense the pain that is created when there is lack of trust in a relationship.

WAC: How did your group hear about VoiceJam? 

The Ozarks: In past years our directors attended and competed with the group The Beartones. From that experience we saw how immersive and educational this festival is, and wanted to come back with The Ozarks. Being so close to Fayetteville and NWA we think it is very important to foster the continued growth of a cappella in the region.

WAC: Does your group have any pre-performance rituals? Tell us about them!

The Ozarks: This will actually be one of our first live performances and first live competition ever. So not yet! We were lucky enough to win the International Championship of High School A Cappella in its virtual format last year, and we are looking forward to competing in-person.

­­­­­­­­­­­VIBE

WAC: Tell us about the musical background of your group.

VIBE: We are a supergroup of different collegiate/high school a cappella groups from various regions of Texas. The ages range 17-30.

WAC: Tell us about the different levels of a cappella experience in your group. 

VIBE: We consist of 12 members - some currently active in high school/collegiate programs, others continuing involvement through festivals/competitions. Most of our members have competed in the Varsity Vocals ICCA/Open finals, been featured in a national Cheerios campaign and recorded for Patti LaBelle’s Christmas album Home for the Holidays.

WAC: Tell us about your competition set.

VIBE: We have no theme for this set - we sing what we love. We are passionate about creating a series of magical moments that we can invite the audience into. Our style lends to the pop/R&B sound, and we love to travel the decades with our song choices. For this set, we will feature a powerhouse trio for our middle piece and a mesmerizing showman for our finale.

WAC: Does your group have any pre-performance rituals?

VIBE: We LOVE a show circle! Feeling that sensation together right before heading out on stage is so special. We remember why we love what we do and promise each other that we’ll enjoy the next few minutes as we leave it all on the stage and create new memories for years to come.

WAC: Tell us about your group’s most memorable performance story. 

WAC: Definitely performing at Carnegie Hall for the 2018/19 Varsity Vocals Open Finals. Such a humbling experience being on a stage with so much rich history.

Green Tones

WAC: Tell us about the musical background of your group.

Green Tones: Green Tones was founded in 2008 as a contemporary a cappella group at the University of North Texas. Green Tones has evolved since then to become more than your average collegiate a cappella group. The group now gigs across around the DFW area, competes in competitions nationwide and produces professional-level content.

WAC: Tell us about the different levels of a cappella experience in your group. 

Green Tones: A portion of Green Tones members were heavily involved in high school a cappella -- competing in competitions like ICHSA and TVAC -- but for some of the group's members, Green Tones is their first step into the a cappella world. Green Tones cultivates an environment for each individual musician to constantly flourish and effortlessly evolve.

WAC: Tell us about your competition set.

Green Tones: Our set, entitled "The Eden Project," represents the duality of man and the human experience. Each song illustrates a unique, complex emotion. The group's first song, "The Feeling," represents a detached, escapist state. "All My Life" represents the chaotic confusion of overwhelming emotions. The closer, "Flesh and Bone," represents the acceptance of maturity.

WAC: How did your group hear about VoiceJam?

Green Tones: In our last competition season, Green Tones competed in VoiceJam 2019.

WAC: Tell us about your group’s most memorable performance story. 

Green Tones: In 2020, Green Tones had the exciting opportunity to open for Pentatonix and Jay Leno at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie, TX.

 Essence

WAC: Tell us about the musical background of your group.

Essence: We started as a student group about five years ago. After we all graduated, it took about two years for us to decide to try again and now we are a community group. What brought us back together was really just going out in the world and realizing that what we had was a super experience and we weren't going to replicate it with anyone else.

WAC: Tell us about the different levels of a cappella experience in your group. 

Essence: Our levels of experience are generally very similar. Some of us have about one to two years difference of experience on each other. But as far as a group, what we’re doing now has us all on the same level, it seems.

WAC: Tell us about your competition set.

Essence: We currently have five soloists all at different parts of the set. Our set is created of three songs from three separate genres. I think that really is a good example of the sort of group we are. We collect all sorts of styles, stories, and songs to make a performance that may be unpredictable or surprising. Our direction is to hopefully highlight the growing pains that come with being a young adult and maybe some of the first times we've ever had to figure things out truly alone. Our music now revolves a lot more around the struggle of having to fill your own space and figuring out exactly what to do with our new-found freedoms and adulthood. The confusion of isolation, the desire to rekindle, and to concede to the fact that we still need others and make mistakes despite how hard we try to be independent.

WAC: How did your group hear about VoiceJam? 

Essence: This will be some members third time performing in VoiceJam, and others their second time. We all participated in the past as member of Natural State of Mind high school group in one iteration or another.

WAC: Does your group have any pre-performance rituals?

Essence: This specific group of singers hasn't found one yet, but I look forward to seeing what that might be. It's a new era for us with a new temperament of people