September 16, 2018
By Samiha Kazi
Lexington High School’s various a cappella groups held auditions in late September with hopes of finding new members. Auditions for the nine a cappella groups were held from Sept. 25 to Sept. 28 after school.
A cappella groups at LHS are student-led groups of around 11-16 members. A cappella group members must be enrolled in a performance-based music class such as chorus, band, or orchestra in order to participate. Throughout the year, a cappella groups meet together multiple times each week to arrange songs with no instrumental music and practice their performances.
Each year, LHS hosts three Jams in the auditorium, where all the a cappella groups get the chance to perform in front of an audience and showcase their musical talent and the hard work they put into their arrangements.
Many a cappella groups earn the opportunity to perform at several gigs held in nearby locations. A few groups are also invited to perform at competitions such as the Wyvern Invitational A Cappella Festival (WIAF), where they compete against other high school a cappella groups all across New England.
At LHS, there are three all-female groups (Guacamole, Euphoria, and Onomatopoeia), three all-male groups (Rock Paper Scissors, Pitchpipes, and The Gentlemen), and three co-ed groups (PB&J, Mixed Nuts, and Noteworthy). Every year, all nine groups recruit new members where they are able to meet other musically interested students through auditions.
“Auditions are one of my favorite parts of the year. We try to make it as chill as possible and try to make it more of a get-together sort of event as opposed to auditions,” Rohan Purandare, a junior and member of PB&J, said.
Before auditions, the members of each a cappella group often pick a theme to help promote their auditions. Using this theme, they post advertisements that are found around LHS to help encourage students to audition.
“We pick a theme for our audition posters by brainstorming together as a group and coming up with fun ideas. We then meet up to take photos and come up with catchphrases,” Ashna Mitta, a junior and member of Onomatopoeia, said.
The students auditioning sing the required audition piece in octets and quartets. Later on in the audition process, individuals are called into rooms to perform their solo piece to current members of the a cappella group.
Current members of a cappella groups urge students interested in music and singing to audition for a group, in order to join a community made up of various types of people.
“I personally joined a cappella because I like to sing. When you join an a cappella group, it’s almost like you join a family. In a cappella, it does not matter who you are because whoever you are, you will be accepted, respected, and appreciated by your fellow members,” Purandare said.
The LHS a cappella program unites a diverse group of students with their shared passion of music.
“I’m so happy I joined a cappella because I love everyone in Ono, they really have changed my life for the better, and I’ve made so many friends through the a cappella program,” Hannah Kim, a junior and member of Onomatopoeia, said.
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