Campus & Community / Magazine Feature

Collegiate a cappella grows in Colorado

The University of Denver a cappella group, Idiosingcrasies, will perform on April 14 at 7 p.m. in Sturm Hall’s Davis Auditorium as part of the Colorado A Cappella Showcase. 

Ivy League schools have long-standing reputations for renowned a cappella groups, which are known for singing without instrumental accompaniment. With a total of 39 unaccompanied ensembles between Harvard, Brown and Yale, that reputation is well earned. But the trend doesn’t stop at the Mississippi River. 

Nearly every major university in the nation has at least one such group, including seven at the University of California-Berkeley and four at both UCLA and the University of Arizona. 

In Colorado, there are dozens of collegiate a cappella groups across the state. This year, to help encourage the burgeoning a cappella scene in the Rocky Mountain region, groups at the University of Denver, University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado College formed the Colorado A Cappella Association (CAA). 

The April 14 event is the association’s inaugural performance, and will feature performances by CAA founders, CU’s Mile 21 and On the Rocks and CC’s Back Row, along with DU’s Idiosingcrasies. These groups are moving away from traditional a cappella music. The Idiosingcrasies perform songs by popular artists like The Fray, Dave Matthews Band, Snow Patrol and Michael Jackson. 

“This show is pop, rock, R&B — exciting stuff,” says Andrew Hoag, Idiosingcrasies member. “It’s definitely not a recital atmosphere.” 

Tickets are $10 general admission, and $5 for those associated with the University. They can be purchased at the CAA Web site or in the Driscoll Student Center.

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