The Rice University Philharmonics
Programming note: Later this week, we will have full event reviews from the ICCA Midwest and South Semifinals.
The Philharmonics are a top-notch mixed group out of Rice University in Houston, TX. Philharmonics President Allie Janda took the time to answer questions from The A Cappella Blog.
The A Cappella Blog (ACB): What can listeners expect from The Philharmonics' most recent CD, Phils So Good?
Allie Janda (AJ): As one RARB reviewer said, Phils So Good actually does!? The CD has a number of upbeat songs that get you moving, and we believe our interpretation of Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek," among other songs, shows off our excellent tuning and awesome arrangements. Phils So Good goes in a different direction from our previous albums, employing studio effects such as added bass and filters on Britney Spears' "Toxic" and Fall Out Boy's "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs," to name a few. All in all, Phils So Good is the Philharmonics? most inventive CD to date and looks to be the start of a series of new and exciting albums from our group.
ACB: Last spring, your group held an "all-request" concert, with an
all-request contest leading up to it. How would you describe the show and the contest? Where did the ideas come from? How did they go?
AJ:Our All-Request show is one of the most fun shows of the year. We make posters of all the songs that we have learned throughout the year and ask the audience to decide, by who can scream the loudest, what they want us to sing. The contest prior to the show is a great fundraiser for the Phils. We encourage students, faculty, and staff to submit requests for songs for the Phils to arrange, along with a check or some cash. The song with the most funding is arranged, and we perform it at the All-Request concert. Last year's winner was "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. Both the All-Request show and concert have been around as long as I have been a member of the group, so I can't attest to where the idea came from. And how did it go? The show is always a bit rowdy in and of itself, but this year's concert happened to be simultaneously a concert and a release party for our first CD in three years. So that was a great night.
ACB: Describe a typical Philharmonics rehearsal. How often do you guys
practice and what do you do to achieve such success by the time you hit the stage?
AJ: A Philharmonics rehearsal starts with warm-ups, of course! If we?re trying to learn music quickly, we?ll split up into girls and guys for sectionals, and bring it together at the end of rehearsal. When we revisit a piece to polish it, Carmen, our music director, will have us all gather around the piano so she can help make adjustments and give direction. Around performance time, we run through the songs in our performance ?arc?, with the soloist in the center, to practice our stage presence (sometimes in a dance room where there are mirrors). We generally practice three times a week, for an hour and a half each time; however, we may throw in a midnight practice or two prior to an important performance.
ACB: Are there any unique traditions or pieces of history attached to your group?
AJ: The Philharmonics' first musical director was named Phil (and we've had another music director named Phil in the years since), and we're still not really sure whether we're named after him or not...
ACB: How do The Philharmonics go about recruiting new members?
AJ: The Philharmonics have a great relationship with the university, so we often get the opportunity to participate in Rice's recruiting events. One of our most popular concerts is during Owl Days, where high school seniors attend the university and spend a night on campus. Many of the new students cite this as a reason for auditioning. Also, Rice's Orientation Week gives the Phils a number of opportunities to spread the word about our group to incoming students. Fortunately, students interested in a cappella hear about us pretty quickly!
ACB: Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of
The A Cappella Blog?
AJ: Texans love a cappella, too!
You can learn more about The Philharmonics at their official website here.