Free a cappella festival
Brittany Meyer
Contributing Writer
UMBC’s a cappella groups held a free concert at the Sports Zone last week to promote their late fall and winter performances.
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, UMBC’s a cappella groups made free hour interesting with their own singing festival.
The event itself promoted the numerous concerts they will be holding this month. The Stilettos, an all female group, were hosting the festival. Before performances began, Valerie Pasquale, the group’s president, passed out small flyers to the audience promoting their Holiday Madness Concert that will be held on Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. in the University Center ballroom.
Students began to file into the Sport Zone, sitting at the tables and booths as well as standing across the back wall. Those who were eating lunch quickly stopped and turned their gaze to the stage.
The festival began with a performance by the Stilettos singing the top 40 hit, “Chandelier” by Sia. Most of the song choices from the a cappella groups are fairly well known. Following the Stilettos, Pasquale, the concert’s MC, brought the Cleftomaniacs to the stage.
The Cleftomaniacs are UMBC’s first co-ed a cappella group. Their repertoire includes today’s popular hits, old favorites and songs that are a bit lesser known.
The diversity of the campus also shines through in the groups with the new Taal Capella, which is the first South Asian a cappella group at UMBC. This festival was actually their first performance. Their music choices are a fusion of popular top 40 hits and Bollywood favorites. On this occasion, Taal Capella sang One Republic’s “Secrets” and Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors” with a mix of a South Asian harmony.
The crowd really seemed to cheer and swoon when the Mama’s Boys came to the stage. They serenaded the audience with some soulful tunes.
The festival wrapped up with another performance from the Stilettos. Pasquale belted out the words to “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor. The crowd cheered and clapped as the Stilettos sang and danced to this popular radio hit.
Students seemed to really enjoy the festival with all the cheering and clapping that occurred throughout the event. Swathi Prakash, a freshman and mass communications major, said, “Everyone did a really great job. It seemed like everyone worked really hard.”
For more concerts and events from the UMBC a cappella groups, the months of November and December are booked. Come see the Mama’s Boys on Nov. 14, the Stiletto’s Holiday Madness on Nov. 23 and the Cleftomaniacs on Dec. 9. More information about other upcoming concerts and events are listed on their Facebook pages. Save the dates!
