Polyphony

Bringing together leaders from Rochester Institute of Technology’s Eight Beat Measure, Vassar’s Devils, and UCLA’s Pitch Please, we discussed how each campus is handling the pandemic, and what that means for collegiate a cappella groups. How do you keep music going while responding to the emotional and safety needs of the group’s members? Do you scale things back or just charge forward? We talk about all the approaches in this episode!

From choruses to quartets, from distancing to virtual rehearsals – we covered it all as we sat down with Tony Colosimo of First Take, Better Together, and the Alexandria Harmonizers; Lindsay Chartier-Holdeman of Titanium Quartet; and Tessa Walker of Hot Pursuit. Each brought a different perspective – from taking a breather right now to being busier coaching and directing than ever. How is the barbershop community finding its way through this pandemic era? We found out!

We had a great time comparing notes with Port Washington HS’ Dennis Gephart, Nathan Hale Arts Magnet’s Lisa Marien, and Valley Central Middle School’s Justin Glodich. We started by talking through the abrupt end to last year, and how that impacted summer plans – then moved on to look at how things are going now, and the strategies that each educator has found to adapt their programs and keep a foundation for moving forward.

We were delighted to sit down with Peter Huang of MIcappella, Jon Smith of The Swingles, and Lorenzo Subrizi of Rebel Bit to hear about how each group (and each part of the world) is making their way through this pandemic era. We talk about adapting concerts and shows to an outdoor or virtual presentation, finding alternative ways of connecting with the community, and when it might be time to hit the road again.

We brought together a cappella sound engineers Mel Daneke (Viridian Productions), Alex Green (Plaid Productions), and Charlie Friday (Clear Harmonies) to talk about how their day-to-day has changed. What are they focusing on right now? How can the pandemic be an opportunity – both for aspiring and successful engineers as well as the groups that might want to use them? A freewheeling conversation about sound is on the way!

Marty Monson (BHS), Gine Deaton (CASA), and Brody McDonald (AEA) sat down with us to talk about how their groups are making their way through the pandemic era. We talked about how they are re-focusing on some new priorities and initiatives, what the roles are for such organizations right now, and how they’ll move forward in the next year or two.

Annette Philip, Sean Gerrity, and Mark Megibow joined us to talk about life during COVID. We talked about the initial fallout – including being in the middle of a cruise ship gig when things started happening, then turned to how these groups are continuing to create, innovate, and serve their communities. With ideas, stories, and fun, this is a jam-packed episode!

In this episode, we start by looking at competitions with Amanda Newman of Varsity Vocals (ICCA, ICHSA, AcaOpen) and Aditi Molly Bahnja & Selima Ahmed (All-American Awaaz) – how can they work in a pandemic era when groups often can’t even rehearse together? We then turn to festivals and talk with Vocal Australia’s Amelia Alder and SING! Toronto’s Dylan Bell & Suba Sankaran about how they’re adapting in the current season as well as seasons to come.

It seems like, at long last, awareness is finally growing around issues of race, class, and discrimination particularly in the US. A cappella both includes and reflects broader society, so it’s no surprise that we have plenty of work to do in our own communities. This episode, we talk with Jasmine Barnes of HALO, the first Black barbershop quartet to win internationally; Isaiah Hawkins of State of Fifths and CASA; and activist Bryan Guffey about where some of the landmines are, how we can all work to improve the community, and the places to start.

Accent is a group with members from France, Sweden, Canada, UK, and the US – so they’re no strangers to remote rehearsal. Pro group Six Appeal brought on two new members from other parts of the country and met in person for the first time only days before a Disney Cruise gig. Northern Blend brings together over three-dozen women from around a region who balance singing with regular daily lives. Each group has a different perspective on remote rehearsals, and how they’re each keeping their communities strong when they can’t get together. We talk about it all on this episode of Polyphony!