The University of Chicago Ransom Notes

In honor of the 2017 ICCA tournament, The A Cappella Blog pursued short interviews with competing groups to develop insights into why and how groups approach competition, and to get appropriately excited for the tremendous shows ahead of us.

What’s your group name and on what date is your group’s quarterfinal?

We're the Ransom Notes, and we are competing in the Great Lakes Quarterfinal on January 21st at the University of Chicago! 

How long has your group been around? Have you competed before?

We were established in 1991 under a different name, but we became the Ransom Notes in 1997. We have been competing in the ICCA for the last several years.

Why are you competing this year? What does your group hope to accomplish or get out of the experience?

We really love the structure the competition schedule gives to our academic year. We find preparing for the tournament to be an incredible bonding experience and opportunity to grow as musicians. We also love the excuse to connect with groups from other schools and to get feedback on our performance from professionals.

How is your group preparing for competition?

We are holding four rehearsals a week and encouraging each section to meet twice a week in addition to that to work on music individually and polish parts. Some of those rehearsals are devoted to choreo, some are devoted to workshopping solos, and some are standard ensemble music rehearsals. The Ransom Notes also consider intra-group bonding to be instrumental to our performance preparation, so we host movie nights and potlucks during the weeks preceding the ICCA.

If you were to describe your group, or the set your group is planning for competition with just three words, what would they be?

"Fine. Fresh. Fierce." – Katy Perry 

Follow The Ransom Notes using the links below:

Website: www.ransom-notes.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RansomNotesUofC/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Ransom_Notes