Working in Harmony
By Sisseline Lovejoy & Zoe Maderas
Voices blend as the absence of background music makes more space for their harmonizing. Albany High School’s acapella group, Vocal Soul, is made up of 16 singers in the choir program.
They perform a variety of genres, from pop to holiday classics. Members learn more about harmonies and different vocal techniques.
“Vocal Soul has taught me a lot about being part independent and working with the group to be as cohesive as possible,” senior June Ritzman explained. Ritzman has participated in choir for six years and is a member of Chamber Singers, an audition-only choir class as well as Vocal Soul.
Vocal Soul is also an audition-only group. During auditions, choir teacher Kate Huizinga looks for students who can handle the demanding work of the choir group.
“The audition process consists of students singing a short a cappella solo and vocalizing. I then test if they can sing an exercise in harmony with me. I look for students who have strong solo voices and belts,” said Huizinga.
Huizinga has facilitated Vocal Soul for the past three years now.
“Ms. Huizinga is a fantastic director and I’ve learned so much from her, not just about vocal technique but about collaboration and working with the group,” Ritzman shared.
This year, Vocal Soul participated in a competition for the first time. Although they didn’t place, they got to talk with the judges after, and learn specific techniques.
“Our first ever competition was in January at the Folsom Jazz Festival. I’m a huge fan of jazz and I had a scatting solo, so I was very excited but also very nervous,” Ritzman said. “When it didn’t go the best that it could’ve, I was upset at myself about it. I think others felt similarly but it was a great learning opportunity, and I hope they go back next year with some more experience on their side.”
One thing members enjoy is the community the group has created.
“In the two years I’ve been in [Vocal Soul], I feel like the dynamic has only improved. I feel that since it’s a smaller group that meets outside of class, we have a stronger bond with each other,” said junior Kiana Sipes.
Because it’s a small group, there are more social opportunities.
“My favorite part of Vocal Soul [is] the friends I’ve made and gotten to know better through it,” sophomore Finn Willits-Mussel said.
In order to do their best at a variety of performances, Vocal Soul practices twice weekly and sometimes more.
“We usually spend the weeks approaching the event preparing. We focus on the songs we’re going to perform at the event in our rehearsals and make sure that every measure sounds awesome,” Sipes said.
Freshman Leila Soza Busch is in Treble Chamber and says that Vocal Soul has inspired her as a singer since she joined choir in sixth grade. She plans to keep auditioning until she gets in.
“I think that everyone who auditions really cares,” she said.
Vocal Soul plays an important role in how choir raises money.
“We can also be hired to perform at various events, which helps raise money for the choir program,” Sipes said. “It’s also important that, since we’re being paid for a lot of our performances, we act professional while at the event and make a good impression.”
As the students in the choir program get older, they take on more responsibility, which can be seen in Vocal Soul. “I’ve definitely taken on more of a leadership role in the group, taking charge when Ms. Huizinga isn’t there to lead group rehearsals,” Ritzman said.
The group also has the freedom to make their own decisions.
“Vocal Soul is independent. They can run rehearsals themselves and have a really high level of musicianship,” Huizinga said.
“I am lucky to be able to work with them.”
