ICCA Producer and Co-Founder of ICCA Finalists, Noteworthy, Dave Brown

While many of us are excited about this weekend's ICCA Finals, few could be quite as eager to see the show as Dave Brown. Brown is the producer of ICCA's South Region--the man behind the scenes, bringing each of that region's competitions to life. On top of that, Brown was a co-founder of this year's Western Champions, Brigham Young University Noteworthy.

In addition to those resume items, Mr. Brown is on the board of directors for the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America, and is a former ICCA competitor himself, with Brigham Young's all male sensation, Vocal Point. Just days before the Finals, Mr. Brown was gracious enough to answer questions from A Cappella Blog co-founder Mike Chin. The A Cappella Blog is privileged to present the interview below.

A Cappella Blog (ACB): You are one of the co-founders and a former director for this year's ICCA Western Region champions, Brigham Young University's Noteworthy. What motivated you to assemble this group? Can you describe the process of bringing these women together?

Dave Brown (DB): In the fall of 2003, I was performing with BYU's all-male group Vocal Point. A friend of mine, Esther Yoder, thought there should be a group on campus like Vocal Point, but for girls. She approached a couple of us Vocal Point guys to help her create the group. She had big ideas, but didn't really know what to do, so we helped her out: created a little contract, ran auditions, taught them to arrange, etc. We thought it would be such a simple little thing, but the response at auditions time was overwhelming. I guess a lot of people were looking for the same thing, but just no one had started it yet. Esther was director that first semester, then I took over directorial reins the next year. After I graduated the Vocal Point guys have stayed somewhat involved, but the Noteworthy ladies have gained a lot more autonomy.

ACB: For those who have not seen or heard Noteworthy before, how would you describe the group? What makes these women unique?

DB: Nine voices. Extremely tight performing--they're the type of group that polishes the heck out of their performance, both musically and visually. They do your typical Top 40 stuff, and they love the occasional throwback song. One thing that makes them unique is that they've been putting eastern European music into their set, which makes sense from an all-female a cappella historical perspective, but not a lot of groups are doing that. It seems to be pretty well received. But the main thing that makes these ladies stand out is that they perform a lot of spiritual music. Obviously most people are familiar with BYU's affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it happens that all these ladies are Mormon. They work hard to use their musical talents to not only uplift those who watch them, but also share a message about something that really is the focus of these ladies' lives.

ACB: You, yourself, have competed in the ICCAs before as a member of Brigham Young's Vocal Point. How is competition different from non-competitive performances? What did you learn from this experience? Was preparing for semifinals different from preparing for other performances?

DB: The main reason I love competing is that it forces you to polish yourself to a level you might not otherwise try to achieve. I also love feeling that sense of community that prevails at many shows. Going to these competitions also exposes you to what your peers are doing, which may inspire you to do something totally new.

ACB: This is the fourth time in six years that a group from Brigham Young have emerged as the champions of the ICCA's Western Region. To what do you attribute the University's success in this competition?

DB: To begin with, there are like thirty thousand students at BYU, which is a nice base to choose from. Although there are several award-winning choirs on campus, there are surprisingly few a cappella groups, and there are more singers than you can believe. BYU is the type of place where engineering majors sing in the choir. I think in the Mormon Church there's just a strong culture of singing, of developing your gifts as a way of pleasing God. It's very supportive and encouraging. On top of that, Vocal Point has had some tremendous directors, and really stepped it up lately. Noteworthy has learned a lot from Vocal Point, but also from Divisi, Fermata Nowhere, Golden Overtones, and a lot of these stellar western groups.ACB: As the producer for the South Region of ICCA, how would you describe competition in that region this year? Can you give the uninitiated any idea of what to expect from the Sourthern champions, Florida State University's All Night Yahtzee?

DB: The ICCA South region is at its strongest ever. The South, as a region, just doesn't have as many groups as a lot of other regions. However, that's really begun to change, especially with the AACI and SoJam encouraging group development down here. All-Night Yahtzee is un freakin believable. They're so polished, yet they don't look 'rehearsed.' They appear very spontaneous, so every set 'feels' like the first time they've performed it. They don't do the obvious songs that everyone else does either. They'll be strong contenders this weekend.

ACB: As a seasoned competitor in the Western Region, and now the producer for the South Region, what sort of differences can you recognize between the different regions? Are there any noticeable stylistic or cultural differences you could identify between competition in the different areas?

DB: The single biggest difference is choreography. The groups in the south tend to stand around in a semi-circle and sing. The groups in the west are a lot more visually-oriented. I think that visual aspect of the performance is just part of the ICCA culture in the West, and it breeds on itself. So after a few groups started doing it, everyone started doing it. We're starting to see more of it in the South, but that aspect of a cappella performing is in its infancy here.

ACB: For all of our readers who are a part of competitive a cappella groups, who may be wondering how to take that next step to make it to the ICCA semifinals or finals, what sort of advice or words of wisdom could you offer?

DB: First of all, enjoy yourself, and learn from the other groups--it should be fun. Secondly, if you really want to excel in the competition, you've gotta treat it like a competition. Focus on what the judges are looking for, and bring that out. Examine the competition sheet, and see what makes a difference. Go to other rounds of competition, watch the groups that win, and see what they bring that you're not bringing. You must be honest with yourself. Too many groups come in second or third and say 'well, they're just not looking for a group like ours.' That's a lie. The groups that win molded themselves in the spirit of the competition--they knew what the judges wanted and they gave it. It would be ridiculous for a football team to be upset when the referees didn't award points for getting across the fifty-yard line. It's admirable to get across the fifty-yard line, but that's not the criteria for awarding points. So learn what the boundaries of the competition are, and play within those boundaries, while still putting on a heck of a show. And above all, enjoy yourself.

ACB: Is there anything else you would like share with your supporters, and readers of The A Cappella Blog?

DB: I would encourage your readers, especially those who are members of college groups, to get out and experience the a cappella community. It's fine if you want to be in your group just to have a little frat. But if you want to get better and feel the thrill of excelling at what you do, you'll be surprised how many resources are out there--check out CASA, visit other groups' concerts, attend an a cappella festival or summit. There's a lot to learn, and if you dive into the community, you'll enjoy your experience much more.