A Cappella at Rochester
When I started at Rochester, I was taken aback by how many a cappella groups there are here. I’m not a singer and therefore wasn’t interested in joining one, but I was still curious about what distinguishes one group from another. For those of you who are also wondering this, here is a breakdown of the a cappella groups on campus.
After Hours
- All-gender
- Many musical styles (jazz, rock, pop, R&B, indie)
- Competitive
Reagan Casteel, the musical director for the group, said, “I think we stand out as a group with a very intimate and friendly vibe, which comes from our very close knit relationships with one another, and definitely translates to our music!” For more information about After Hours, check out their Facebook, Instagram, YouTube channel, and Twitter.
Midnight Ramblers
- “TTBB” (tenor tenor baritone bass)
- Lots of pop, as well as some jazz, rock, soul, and more
- Active in the ICCA competition
This group is identifiable by their baseball jerseys. Bryce Davis, the general manager, said, “I think the thing that sets us apart is our high-energy live performances and innovative arrangements. We love to push the bounds musically, while putting on performances that anyone can enjoy.” For more information about the Midnight Ramblers, check out their website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube channel, and Twitter!
Trebellious
- All-gender
- Many musical styles
- You choose whether you want to be involved in competitions or not
Trebellious has options for everybody. If you’re newer to a cappella or don’t want to be as involved, you can join their workshop group, which is open to everybody. It rehearses once a week and performs four songs in their semesterly shows. They also have a teaching group, which is more similar to the other a cappella groups at Rochester in that it has auditions, travels for shows, and competes. The teaching group also performs most of the songs in the semesterly shows. Sarah Cawley, the president of Trebellious, says, “What sets us apart from the other groups on campus is our commitment to opening a cappella to everyone, regardless of experience or skill level.” For more information about Trebellious, check out their website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube channel, and Twitter!
PASApella
- All-gender
- African musical styles
- Noncompetitive
PASApella is a group that believes in cultural exchange through music. They perform music from different parts of Africa both on and off campus, but not competitively as far as I can tell. One of the cool things about PASApella is that it performs songs in a variety of languages! PASApella is part of the Pan-African Student Association (PASA). For more information, check out their Facebook and Instagram!
Vocal Point
- All-female
- Primarily pop
- Competitive
Vocal Point is the only all-female a cappella group on campus. They travel a great deal, including to the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella every other year, during spring break to the likes of Chicago and NYC, and this year they’re planning on going to Canada. For more information, check out their website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube channel, and Twitter.
YellowJackets
- All-male
- Many musical styles
- Competitive
The YellowJackets are the oldest a cappella group at Rochester, and perhaps the most prestigious. They have travelled to many different countries over the years to perform, competed in NBC’s The Sing-Off, created an after-school a cappella program for inner-city kids in Rochester, and won awards in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella in the spring of 2014. For more information, check out their website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube channel, and Twitter.