ACB Interview: Bradley University On the Rocks

On the Rocks is a top notch all-male a cappella group out of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. General Manager Kevin McClelland took the time to answer questions from The A Cappella Blog.

The A Cappella Blog (ACB): As an all-male group, what advantages do you enjoy? What challenges does the nature of the group present?

Kevin McClelland (KM): We enjoy the advantage of being the ONLY a cappella group on our campus… it makes us special, unique, and wanted. We also enjoy singing to the ladies… ;-) The biggest challenge is TIME–trying to find a time for all 11 of us to get together and learn some songs.

ACB: How does On the Rocks go about recruiting new members?

KM: This year was the first year the group was an officially registered student organization, so we had our own table at the big beginning of the year activities fair and recruited guys who sang in high school to sign up for an audition time. Also, word of mouth on campus–we get around quite a bit.

ACB: What is the audition process like for your group?

KM: Pretty formal, yet laid back. This year we had guys sign up for a slot, they came in and sang a prepared piece, and then we did a range check, then some tonal memory.

ACB: What drew you, personally, to collegiate a cappella in the first place?

KM: The chance to sing with other guys. I was a big college a cappella fan in high school, and I wanted the chance to sing in a group at college.

ACB: If you could have any contemporary singer join your group to sing the solo for one song, who would you pick and for what song?

KM: Ben Folds–my friend is finishing off an arrangement of “Zak and Sara”… should be killer.

If you would like to learn more about On the Rocks, you can visit them online here.

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