A cappella group performing on stage
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York University WIBI

Interviews

Since forming in 1988, York University's mixed group, WIBI, has turned plenty of heads, performing throughout Canada and the US, and having its work featured in a Best of Collegiate A Cappella compilation.

WIBI musical director Aaron Jensen took the time to answer questions from A Cappella Blog co-founder Mike Chin.

A Cappella Blog (ACB): What can listeners expect from your most recent recording, 20/20 Hearing? How would you describe the CD?

Aaron Jensen (AJ): A wide variety of musical styles hand-picked from over three years worth of repertoire. Some top notch vocal virtuosity. Masterful, yet tasteful engineering by WIBI alumni Art Mullin. A few surprises: random solkatu, ground shaking low-end, and if you synch up our record with the movie "The Wizard of Oz" they line up in the most astounding way!

ACB: How have new members Bronwyn Caudle and Dylan Hillyer meshed with the group? What do these new members add to the mix?

AJ: Bronwyn and Dylan have already proved themselves to be superstars of the highest caliber. In more specific terms, Dylan offers a healthy chock of facial hair to the mix, putting the rest of us men to shame. Bronwyn delights and dazzles with her oh so endearing Maritimer lilt. She is also an A-1 knitter, not a stitch dropped!

ACB: WIBI is known for its outstanding educational program, putting on clinics and workshops in the community and at nearby schools. How would you describe these experiences? What does WIBI offer? What those in attendance get out of the programs?

AJ: Over the years we have offered ourselves in a number of capacities; hosting vocal workshops, beat-boxing forums and open rehearsals. Flexibility and willingness to cater to the interests of those in attendance are key to what has come to be affectionately known as the "True WIBI Experience."

ACB: Having traveled to and competed at a variety of locations, what would you consider to have been WIBI's most memorable performance away from York University?

AJ: Last year, we took a trip down to Montreal. Not wanting to separate the group en caravan, we rented a "Love Bus" complete with faux-fur interior, disco ball and leopard print as far as the eye could see. I think we all gained something profound from that experience. Earlier in the year we opened for the legendary Canadian rock legend Danny Michel with an a cappella rendition of one of Danny's own tunes, "TwoHearts." The crowd didn't know what hit them!

ACB: As a co-ed group, what advantages do you enjoy? What challenges does the nature of the group present?

AJ: For one, we're such a damn handsome bunch, we have the obvious advantage of providing eye-candy for a broader demographic of our audiences. Secondly, having already invested so much time and money into all of those hand-stitched ball gowns and tuxedos for our yearly 'Winter WIBI Wonderland Gala' concert, it would be a shame if they didn't all get put to use.

ACB: Describe a typical WIBI rehearsal. How often do you guys practice and what do you do to achieve such success by the time you hit the stage? Do rehearsals change before a big show? Before you guys go into competition?

AJ: We meet weekly on Wednesday evenings for three solid hours of heavy musical spade-work. I run a pretty tight ship. Very draconian. I have been known to make our singers weep openly. As a warm-up last week we cycled descending tritones. One of the group members (who will go unnamed) had to be lifted out on a stretcher. An old favourite trick is surprising the choir with new tunes the day of the concert. Keeps us on our toes.

ACB: How does your group go about deciding which songs to add to its repertoire? Who is responsible for arrangements?

AJ: One of the things that I feel makes WIBI so special is how many members of the group take a crack at arrangements. Our repertoire is not made up of the musical likes of one or two members, but of the majority of us. This allows us to explore some pretty far-out avenues.

ACB: Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of The A Cappella Blog?

AJ: Visit out website at www.wibi.ca. Purchase an album. Two even.Thanks to all of our faithful supporters!

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