The best I’ve seen highlights the very best in collegiate a cappella, as seen in the admittedly biased and limited view of the author.

This time, we share the best collegiate a cappella performance venue I’ve seen

Hosmer Hall at the State University of New York college at Potsdam is an exceptional performance space, and specifically so for a collegiate a cappella competition. It’s spacious enough to accommodate a large crowd, and yet small enough to have a bit of a homey feeling to it. The hall includes elevated seating in the back to make sure everyone can see. There’s a sizeable stage enough stage to accommodate plenty of movement, or creative positioning. The sound is quite good, highlighted by acoustic paneling along each wall. Finally, the hall itself is quite aesthetically pleasing, with a sharp, clean look, highlighted by royal blue and pine coloring. It’s the best space I’ve seen for collegiate a cappella performance.

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Newsline: In case you missed it, USA Today had an article on the recent growth of a cappella in the mainstream. In addition, The Best Week Ever Blog covered the same topic at the end of last week. Be warned, their outlook on a cappella has not necessarily improved since the last time they addressed the topic.

The best I’ve seen highlights the very best in collegiate a cappella, as seen in the admittedly biased and limited view of the author.

This time, we share the best solo I’ve seen in collegiate a cappella.

It has become a cliché in NBA basketball—a vertically challenged broadcaster watches a gifted player soar to the hoop, and throw down a gravity-defying dunk, then comments, “Just once in my life, I’d like to do that.” This line couldn’t help but come to mind, watching University of Delaware Vocal Point’s Alfredo Austin take flight with Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” at 2007 ICCA quarterfinal at Lafayette College. This solo was the perfect combination of silky smooth vocals, stage presence, and a certain it-factor. Simply put, Austin owned the stage, showing a perfect ease and confidence, not to mention the smile of showmanship to help win the crowd to his cause. He rightfully earned outstanding soloist honors for the night, thought the group did not progress to the next round of the competition.

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The best I’ve seen highlights the very best in collegiate a cappella, as seen in the admittedly biased and limited view of the author.

This time, we share the ten best pieces of choreography I’ve seen in collegiate a cappella, in the last three years (Part 2 of 2).

5. “Feeling Good” by The University of Southern California SoCal Vocals, 2008

The movement was inspired here, with some really innovative stuff, highlighted with the entire group forming two lines, which the soloist ran through to wonderful dramatic effect. The movement was just so crisp, and while the sound remained perfectly clean.

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The best I’ve seen highlights the very best in collegiate a cappella, as seen in the admittedly biased and limited view of the author.

This time, we share the ten best pieces of choreography I’ve seen in collegiate a cappella, in the last three years (Part 1 of 2).

10. “Real Good Man” by Drew University 36 Madison Avenue, 2007

This song was a lot of fun to watch, because it was clear that the guys themselves were having fun. Well planned movement here, that built throughout the song, culminating in a finish that saw the group crouch behind the soloist, and the soloist fall straight back into them, only for them to all to rise up together.

9. “Thriller” by The Amherst College Zumbyes, 2007

This was an inspired reenactment of Michael Jackson’s original choreography for this song, that I saw come to life at the 2007 ICCA Finals. Some points off for letting the movement adversely affect the musicality, but points back on for executing the song while having one member dressed in a banana costume.

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First, a programming note: For everyone who has been checking back for the review of the Johns Hopkins quarterfinal, thank you for your patience. We are working on a special co-commentary with a guest writer. The review will be up tomorrow morning. In the meantime, images from the show are available now on our photos page.

Now, on to our regularly scheduled column…

The Best I’ve Seen highlights the very best in collegiate a cappella, as seen in the admittedly biased and limited view of the author.

This time, we share one of the best collegiate a cappella shows I’ve seen

My first ICCA Finals

When I co-founded this blog, one of the first shows I planned to review with the 2007 ICCA Finals. I was pretty excited to see what happened when the best of all regions came together for a show in New York, and let me tell you that I was not disappointed.

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