#a capella
New A Capella Groups Roundup
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You might think, with as many a capella groups as Brandeis has, that there would be something for everyone. But all of Brandeis’ a capella groups are specific in one way or another – Voicemale is all male, Company B only sings songs from before 1980, and so on. With so many possible niches to fill, there are always a few left unoccupied.
That may be changing however, as this semester saw the creation of many new groups. Among these are Proscenium and Jewish Fella A Capella. Both groups seek to fill a particular void in the Brandeis a capella landscape.
Proscenium (named after the arch on a stage) is dedicated to the performance of theatrical music. According to co-coordinator Tracey Cohen ‘00, “we are going to be singing songs from both on- and off-Broadway shows. We’re also going to be once in a while singing songs from movies.”
“I’m very into theater and coming into Brandeis I wanted to do shows." Her first year, she had a role in a graduate production of "The Pajama Game." "It was so time consuming. I love singing and acting, but singing is the first of the things I love. [Proscenium] gives an opportunity to sing theater music without all the extra time commitments.”
So far things are looking good for the group. “We had a really impressive number of people come and audition." Look for the group to contain approximately twenty members, male and female. "We’re starting out next semester. Keep an eye out for us!”
Also coming next semester are Jewish Fella A Capella. “I enjoyed singing Jewish music at Shabbos lunch, we liked the all-male sound,” says founding member Dan Victor '01. “It’s nice to get a good group of guys together. My introduction to a capella was all male. Jewish music is my passion. [Jewish Fella A Capella is] a combination of both worlds.”
Jewish Fella A Capella currently have eight members, and have been holding rolling auditions to find three or four more. “The group of guys we have is excellent. There isn’t a shortage of singers, we just need to raise the interest. We encourage anyone who’s enjoyed [singing Jewish music] on the side to give it a shot.”
While the lineup is not yet set, they already have plans to perform in a Brandeis a capella festival, as well as a Brandeis Jewish festival of the arts. They’re also looking for some off-campus gigs, “to get the feeling of performing for someone.”
Both of these groups look to have promising futures in the ever-growing Brandeis a capella scene. And as long as there are niches to be filled, new groups continue to form. But at Brandeis, perhaps the campus activity capital of the universe, we wouldn’t expect any less.
originally written 11/21/99