The RIT Sing-Off 2011
On Friday, October 7, 2011, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) played host to its first Sing-Off-based competition, appropriately titled The RIT Sing Off.
The event featured three competing groups. Before we get to the review, a quick summary:
The Competitors:
RIT Vocal Accent
RIT Brick City Singers
Fredonia Guerillas
Host Group:
RIT Eight Beat Measure
Judges:
Mickey Hamilton
Mary Beth Cooper
Katie Riegal
When I arrived at RIT for the event, I was surprised to see how full the venue was. Granted, this was a free event for faculty, staff, and students, but without much promotion, the show drew in approximately 400 people. I showed up a little on the later side, but was able to see the stage without a problem thanks to Ingle Auditorium’s stadium seating. In addition, I’d like to point out that this event was unique to me in that it was the first a cappella competition I’ve attended that was interpreted for the hearing impaired. Methinks this is because RIT has the world’s largest technical college for deaf students (NTID).
The first group to take the stage was Vocal Accent. The group was comprised of thirteen females wearing a mixture of black and purple apparel. They began their set with “King of Anything” by Sara Bareilles, which I think was a really good song choice to be sung a cappella, especially for an all-female group. Group members formed a small semicircle around the soloist and swayed their shoulders, hips, and knees to the beat. The soloist was simply OK. There were some parts that were a bit out of tune and I thought the vocals in general could have been a little louder. However, this could have been the result of many possible factors.
Vocal Accent’s second song choice was Jordin Sparks’ “One Step at a Time.” Again, this was an appropriate selection for the group. The arrangement of group members and general movements throughout the song did not change much from the first song. However, the backing vocals were much fuller this time and the vocal percussion was well executed. Unfortunately, I still felt like the soloist could have been a little more pronounced.
For their final song, the group sang Sublime’s “What I Got.” While normally I don’t advocate that single-gender a cappella groups choose songs that are traditionally sung by the opposite gender, Vocal Accent pulled it together and gave what I believe to be their best performance of the night. There were two soloists throughout the song, both of which were in tune and easy to hear. The vocal percussionist was extremely into the song and delivered a strong performance. The group concluded their set by collectively and vibrantly singing the chorus of the song – all in all, a good way to start off the competition.
Judges’ Comments:
Mickey said the group brought him into the story, but to make sure they bring everyone in by increasing the energy level.
Mary Beth said she loved the lavender colors the group was wearing. She thought the soloists could have been a little louder and offered up a tip to hold the microphone closer to their mouths. She also mentioned that it’s tough to be the first group to perform, and working through the sound issues is, in part, why. Lastly, she agreed with Mickey that the energy levels could have been raised to enhance their performance.
Katie said the group’s sopranos were fantastic. She also said that the first song was a little rushed and that the group should make sure to take their time. Along with that tip, she, like the other two judges, recommended that the girls exude more energy.
Next up were the RIT Brick City Singers (BCS). This group of fourteen males arrived on stage looking like what one judge described as a bunch of Crayola crayons. The guys had on black shoes, slacks, and ties, as well each with a uniquely-colored button-down shirt. Personally, I like uniformity without uniformity, and this seemed to fit the bill.
The Brick City Singers began with “Dreaming of You” by The Coral. This song came together nicely for the group. First, it’s not an incredibly slow song (which I discourage groups to start off with), and I believe it helped the audience get involved and remain interested. Second, the fullness of the backing vocals and clear “wah wah” syllables made for a great sound to support a strong solo. My only gripe with the performance (and the show up to this point) was the minimal use of choreography.
The group continued their set by singing Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose.” One thing I alluded to in the first song’s review is the importance of keeping the audience engaged. For a slower song, the BCS did just that. This is the type of song that really enables a group to showcase their chops, and perhaps more so, their vocal control. Leading up to certain parts of the song (e.g. “My power, my pleasure, my pain…”), the group got progressively louder, then progressively softer. In addition, there was a sense that each member was singing with passion.
For their last song, the BCS performed “Every Time We Touch” by Cascada. Much like the group shifted from soft to loud in their second song, they transitioned from a slower to a quicker tempo with grace during this one. During some of the fast parts, group members began fist pumping, stomping their feet, and one member even ripped off his tear-away pants. Visuals aside, the soloists were excellent – in tune and clear. The backing vocals were powerful when they needed to be and reserved when appropriate. This was the most energetic song of the event so far, yet it ended in the slow manner in which it started.
Judges’ Comments:
Mickey said the group has warm sounds and great dynamic movements. He said they told a story and mentioned that the group could go even crazier with the third song.
Mary Beth said the order of songs, the precision of solos, and the group dynamics were all great.
Katie commented that third song was “fun,” especially the removal of the pants. She also said the first song felt like it was being sung just to her. However, she did express some disapproval of the group members’ shirt colors, calling them “distracting.”
The third and final competing group to perform was the Fredonia Guerillas. This sixteen-member group arrived on stage wearing black pants and a shirt and tie combination with a mixture of blue and black colors – it reminded me of the Penn State University a cappella group, Shades of Blue. In any event, this was another case of uniformity with uniqueness, and it worked for the guys.
The Guerillas began their set with Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy.” Although this wasn’t my favorite song choice, the group definitely had some fun with it. All of the members started out in a huddle, sung the syllables “dah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah,” and quickly began to spread out across the stage. From that point on, it looked like every member was in his own world – the soloist was intensely filling his role, singing, spinning across stage, and even jumping and kicking his legs up at one point; the VP was slightly off to the side fulfilling all of the percussion needs of the song; each of the remaining members had his own way of performing the song, which included head bobs, hand movements, and foot tapping. Despite the disparate nature, each part came together nicely.
For their second song, the group selected “Broken” by Secondhand Serenade. I think this was smart of the Guerillas to use this song second – not only does it require a wide vocal range, but the group decided to utilize a duet, which I think kept the audience interested. Moreover, both singers sang with conviction, which was demonstrated through their facial expressions and passionate mannerisms. The rest of the members were also absorbed by the song as they exerted powerful backing vocals while swaying back and forth in a semicircle around the two singers.
The final selection of the night was “Toxic” by Britney Spears. The group started out in two lines on the stage, heads down. As the song progressed, various heads popped up and members sang their syllables. Choreography included shifting back and forth, bringing one foot up to the other; crouching down and around to make a circle; and finally stomping and clapping toward the end of the song. This was definitely the most movement I’d seen all night. The soloist, who was one of the two from the previous song, pulled the song off surprisingly well for singing the opposite gender. The backing vocals remained full throughout and there was no question the group members were enjoying themselves every minute of the performance.
Judges' Comments:
Mickey said he felt violated. He loved the way the group staged everything and felt the performance was well balanced. He suggested that the group not sway as much during the second song. He concluded by saying everything was sung very well and there was a lot of good blending.
Mary Beth said the third song was incredible but a little bit disturbing. She liked how everyone stayed in their instrument and was in formation. She also enjoyed the partnership between the members in the second song.
Katie said the group was so strong and that the interaction between the members was great. She loved the high tenors, but said they caused the baritones to get a little lost in the second song.
As the judges went to deliberate, 8 Beat Measure took the stage and sang several songs. However, after they had completed their intended set with the judges nowhere to be found, a standard a cappella time-killer ensued: the beat box competition. All of the vocal percussionists were invited to the stage to show off their skills and impress the audience. Each of the three performers put his own spin on the drum solo, which turned out well, and I was happy for opportunity to witness their skills outside of the context of a song. When the judges did return, there were few surprises in the results, and I get the sense everyone went home happy.
It’s a lot of fun to hear several collegiate a cappella groups perform. Each has its own style, sound, and choreography. What’s nice about the timing of this event in particular is that a cappella enthusiasts can get a glimpse of new talent that has entered into the arena. My hope is that this event will be put on again next year and that more groups decide to compete.
You can check out a full video of the show online here.
The next a cappella event to attend, if you’re in the Rochester, NY area, is 8 Beat Measure’s Acappellaween, featuring The Cornell Touchtones and University of Rochester After Hours.
ACB Picks for the Night
Overall Placement:
1. Fredonia Guerillas
2. RIT Brick City Singers
3. RIT Vocal Accent
Official Results
Overall Placement:
1. Fredonia Guerillas
2. RIT Brick City Singers
3. RIT Vocal Accent
Outstanding Soloist: Josh Wilmot
Outstanding Choreographer: Mark Cataldi
Outstanding Arrangement: Jon Brennan for “Every Time We Touch”
Outstanding Vocal Percussion: Jackie Steciuk