Over the past weekend, ETSU had four a cappella ensembles compete in the prestigious International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella competition at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The event attracts hundreds of a cappella groups from across the globe.
Among those that competed in the 8 quarterfinals were ETSU’s Swashbucklers led by Gianni Loepke, Harmonium led by Kaitlyn Hopkins, Ascension led by Thomas Richardson and Greyscale led by Alan Stevens.
“The fact that four ETSU groups were selected to compete is incredible because they all had to submit a video audition just to audition to compete in the quarterfinal,” said Stevens. “All four ETSU groups that applied advanced to the live competition.”
Greyscale took the top spot as they placed 1st in the first event of ICCA South division quarterfinals. The ensembles competed against UT-Knoxville’s Volatiles, UT Singers, VOLT and VOLume as well as University of Memphis’s Resonance. Joining Greyscale in competing in the next round is UT-Knoxville’s UT Singers with Ascension placing third out of the nine groups.
“Last night they demonstrated musicality, professionalism, dedication and hard work,” Stevens said. “They made it clear that the ETSU Department of Music is one of the best vocal music programs in the state and the region.”
The groups were supervised by Stevens, Associate Director of Chorale Activities for the Department of Music and Coordinator of Vocal Music Education.
“People who attend the competition see a twelve minute set from each group, but it takes months to learn the music, memorize the music, create choreography, perfect the choreography, adapt to microphones, and put it all together into a complete show,” added Dr. Stevens. “They schedule late-night and early-morning rehearsals to make it all happen.”
ETSU has competed in the 2018 ICCA competition with previous success with Greyscale’s Rebekah Cormack winning outstanding soloist and Paul Adedokun winning best percussion. ETSU followed up that success with Cormack winning outstanding soloist again for her performance of “Bad Liar,” Kaitlyn Hopkins of Harmonium winning outstanding vocal percussion for the entire set and Thomas Richardson of Ascension winning outstanding arrangement for “Animal.”
“The ETSU Department of Music is truly a family, and that makes this a great place to be as both a student and a faculty member,” Stevens stated. “That strength shows when these ensembles walk onstage, and it made a major statement last night as we swept almost every award!”
Greyscale will move on to the next round of the competition competing in the ICCA semifinals at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina, on March 7. Greyscale will be facing the top two placements from the four other quarterfinals in the ICCA South quarterfinals as well as facing the UT Singers again.
The winner of the ICCA South semifinals will be invited to compete in the finals of the competition currently held at The Town Hall venue in New York City on April 18.
