Aca-what?!
“Aca-scuse me?” There’s an acapella group on campus? That’s right! Junior Lexie Morin decided to form the group last fall semester when she realized there was no choir or singing group at Montclair State University.
“There’s not really any other singing opportunity on campus beside the [music] major or minor and I just wanted a place to feel comfortable and to have other people feel comfortable singing and enjoying music the way I enjoy music,” Morin said.
Leading MSU Acapella with Morin is the president of the club, sophomore Emma Rush. Rush and Morin already knew each other from high school and singing in choirs together. Morin knew of Rush’s passion for music so she asked Rush to be on the executive board with her.
“I said yes because I’m not a major or minor in music; I’m not in any of the gen-ed courses for it. Music is still a huge part of my life so I wanted to continue with it,” Rush said.
The group consists of about 50 students, men and women, who cover mostly pop music with the exception of a jazz song last semester. Their voices range from soprano and alto to tenor and bass. MSU Acapella is recreational and doesn’t compete against other schools like the “Bardon Bellas” or “Treble Makers” in the movie, “Pitch Perfect.” Morin said when they tell students that there is an acapella group on campus, people automatically assume it is similar to “Pitch Perfect.” “We’re such a bigger group of people it’s more of an acapella choir, but a lot more fun than a choir,” she said, giggling.
Their practice starts at 4 p.m. in University Hall every Friday as each member swipes in. The group wastes no time and they start practicing by 4:05 p.m. with an hour and a half of hard work ahead of them. They get in a half-circle formation around their music director and member, sophomore Justin McBurney with his piano. McBurney warms up their vocals and leads them into different exercises with multiple voice patterns containing lip, mouth, and vocal cord movements.
Following their warm ups, they sing the school’s Alma Mater, the school’s anthem, to warm up their voices even more. Then, they move right into practice for their upcoming events. Their last practice consisted of preparations for their flash mob coming up soon on campus. The Acapella group holds a monthly flash mob each semester somewhere on campus. The group confirmed that they drop hints for students and faculty to know where and when to go for “something fun to happen.”
“We typically all go in different areas in our different voice parts and our music director will start us off,” Rush said. “Once he gives us our cue then we get up and we start singing and we go to one area and culminate there and just give the flash mob with our little movements.”
Rush said when the group performed their first flash mob, people were very confused when they started off, but then began taking videos. Some even went up to members afterwards saying how cool and fun it was. “We just leave them with positivity,” Rush said.
MSU Acapella accepts anyone who wants to join whether they have musical experience or none at all. They teach every member about performing and how to read music. Both the Founder and President really enjoy the people involved in the group and of course, the music.
“My favorite part is singing, seeing everyone, and seeing everyone have a good time,” Morin said.
Rush said that since the members of the group are so genuine “just being authentic” with them is her favorite part.
Be on the lookout for MSU Acapella’s flash mobs on campus that can happen on any given Friday each month, you never know…you could end up in the middle of it!
