Exhilarating. Thrilling. Lively. Audience cheers bounced off the walls echoing throughout the room as the Illinois State University Acafellaz took their final bow on the stage.
Founded in 1999, this all-bass a capella group is comprised of 15 talented male singers. Throughout their 20-plus years as a registered student organization (RSO), the Acafellaz have left a lasting impression on the Bloomington-Normal community.
On Saturday, February 25, Illinois State University was proud to host the International Championships of Collegiate A Capella (ICCA) Great Lakes Quarterfinals at the Center for Performing Arts. Sound familiar? This is the same competition from the three-film franchise Pitch Perfect starring lead actress Anna Kendrick.
The Acafellaz was one of four groups representing Illinois State University alongside Secondary Dominance, the Clef Hangers, and On the Brink of Normal. Out of nine groups total, the Acafellaz placed fourth overall.
The RSO spent a total of two months rehearsing three times a week. During their rigorous three-hour practices, they worked on memorizing music, choreography, and microphone technique. Following this, they aimed to improve dynamics with the music and learned how to interact with one another on stage. This created a lively and upbeat presence that enticed their viewers. Not only do the Acafellaz demonstrate an impressive amount of dedication to put together an amazing performance, but they have also developed a bond like no other.
For junior transfer student Zachary Benbow, this is exactly what he was looking for. “If I could describe the Acafellaz in three words it would be close-knit, inclusive, and supportive,” Benbow said. “They created a very welcoming atmosphere, and I was immediately accepted as one of them.”
This past academic year, the RSO accepted eight new members who make up more than half the group. Since they started competing in 2015, the Acafellaz have worked hard to place in ICCA. For the first time in four years, the a capella singers were able to obtain a spot just shy of the top three, an amazing accomplishment considering how much the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on everything.
The Acafellaz official 2023 ICCA set consisted of three songs: “G-Train” by Thirdstory, “The First Thing You See” by Bruno Major, and “Hold On” which is an original by freshman Joe Brune. The uniqueness of his piece following the outstanding arrangements of their first two, produced an impactful performance that gained a thrilling reaction from everyone. In addition to this, the judges recommended the group for three special awards.
Best Arrangement: Joe Brune (“Hold On”)
Best Soloist: Stevie Hines (“G-Train”) and Matthew Shaw (“The First Thing You See”)
Best Vocal Percussion: Noah Frye (“G-Train,” “The First Thing You See,” “Hold On”)
“The choreography came from a lot of my favorite performers like Beyonce, Bruno Mars, and tons of HBCU (historically Black college and university) step teams,” said MJ Shorter. The Acafellaz stage presence brought their singing to life with intricate dance moves and formations that correlated perfectly with each song. “You can tell just by watching them perform how much they love what they’re doing. They had great energy and it rubbed off on the crowd, very exciting to watch,” said audience member Brooke Oglesbee.
Watch the Acafellaz official 2023 ICCA performance here:
Can’t get enough of this charming group? Well, you’re in luck because the Acafellaz will be performing their 2023 ICCA set in addition to 11 news songs at their concert this spring! The date, time, and location are still to be deteremined, but will be announced as soon as details are confirmed. Check out the RSO on all social media platforms to stay tuned for future updates!
