Sol Train: Acasola’s Farewell to Seniors
California State University, Northridge’s premiere a cappella group Acasola bid two senior members farewell at their Sol Train concert May 5.
One of the seniors honored at the concert was execute board member Tiffany Curiel, Acasola’s business manager, as well as the group’s longstanding public relations and branding manager of four years.
“I think Acasola has changed me for the better,” said Curiel. “Back in 2019, I was this little shy hermit, and taking all these positions and taking all these solos, I really grew into myself. I grew into my confidence.”
Acasola is an a cappella group founded in 2006 and has fostered love and diversity for the past 17 years. The group is comprised of CSUN students and cycles through members on a regular basis due to graduations. Sol Train was a concert held at the end of spring semester to commemorate the members leaving to pursue their careers outside of university.
This year, Curiel will graduate with a degree in psychology, which marks the end of her journey with Acasola, as well as her run on the executive board.
“Being on the executive board was a huge responsibility,” said Curiel. “Becoming business manager, I got used to doing a lot of logistical work for the group. It was a lot of learning.”
Curiel’s responsibilities included social media management, social media outreach and being a pillar for the group.
While she left the group as an outspoken figure, she joined in a different headspace, which evolved due to an Acasola tradition, called the Alosaca chant.
“‘Alosaca’ is just Acasola backwards,” said Curiel. “Alosaca is a chant we do at the end of rehearsal or before going on stage.”
The Alosaca chant is designed to bring shy members out of their shell. It is passed down throughout the group by the holder giving it to the member they think could come out of their shell.
“Back then, I didn’t really have a voice,” said Curiel. “For the last four years, I have been doing the Alosaca.”
While Curiel might be leaving the group, she is excited to join the ranks of Acasola’s alumni.
“We have a great alumni community,” said Curiel. “I am excited to be a part of it.”
The other senior who joined the alumni community after Sol Train was Ashley Luk, the group’s music director. Luk had also been a member for four years and grew her skills within the group.
“I have learned a lot of rehearsal techniques in my time being music director,” said Luk. “It’s given me a lot of experience in dealing with people and learning a rehearsal flow.”
As music director, Luk arranged songs for her fellow members and taught them, which informed her degree in music education, as well as her teaching credentials. Teaching takes agency, which Luk recalls gaining during her tenure as music director.
“I definitely developed my assertiveness and ability to direct people and not be afraid to direct people,” said Luk.
Under her instruction as music director, as well as Curiel and other executive board members’ leadership, Acasola placed third at the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella quarterfinals.
At Sol Train, the group performed songs from past lineups, as well as the competitive set that placed at competition. Of the performance’s set, Luk arranged “Only Girl,” “Cuff It,” “Skate” and “Don’t Leave Me Lonely.”
Acasola is the first a cappella group to be founded at CSUN and the members feel empowered to carry on the group’s legacy.
(Click here to see a timeline of Acasola.)
“Being an a cappella group from CSUN is such a special thing,” said Luk. “I feel privileged to be the ones to continue a cappella here and grow it even more.”
Both Curiel and Luk look forward to the future of the group and have faith in the members. While Sol Train might have been their last performance with Acasola, their memories and impact live on.
“This group of people is so talented,” said Luk. “It feels like all the hard work has finally paid off.”
