Vocal Point encore
UD's premier co-ed a cappella group advances to international finals in NYC
2:59 p.m., March 19, 2014--For the first time in their seven-year history of competing, the students of Vocal Point have made it to the final round of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) competition after taking home first place in the South Semifinal round on Saturday, March 15, at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
The University of Delaware’s premier co-ed a cappella group was on a high after winning the ICCA South Quarterfinals last month, and brought their best to the next phase of the competition that featured the top two groups from each of the quarterfinal competitions in the region.
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Sponsored by funding from UD’s registered student organization allocations board, the group traveled by bus to Nashville and kept fans updated on Facebook and Twitter, from spontaneous singing on the streets of “Music City, USA”, to news of their performance order (10 out of 10), to their ultimate win.
They earned a high score of 398 points for their performance – which featured the same 12-minute set they performed at quarterfinals – to take the lead over second place Belmont Beltones of Belmont University by 54 points and third place All-Night Yahtzee of Florida State University by 69 points.
In addition, junior Colin Daingerfield brought home the outstanding soloist award for his performance of I Had Me a Girl by the Civil Wars.
“This is such an incredible feat,” said Jon Smith, music director of Vocal Point who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. “Of the over 300 groups accepted to the competition – and there are many applicants that are not accepted – only eight have the honor of competing in the ICCA finals. That is a 2.67 percent chance of getting in each year, and we’ve worked very hard to beat those odds.”
Vocal Point will compete in New York City on Saturday, April 26, at the Town Hall. Tickets for the event, which Varsity Vocals Executive Director Amanda Newman has likened to “the NCAA for a cappella,” have already sold out.
Fans can also attend Vocal Point’s spring concert, which will be the day following ICCA finals, Sunday, April 27, at 3 p.m. in Loudis Recital Hall of the Amy E. du Pont Music Building. Tickets can be purchased at the door and cost $5 for students and $10 for adults. There is a special $2 discount rate for anyone wearing an “I love VP” shirt.
Finally, fans can download Vocal Point’s rendition of Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball on loudr.fm, the first single from their upcoming album, slated for release on April 27 at midnight.
Article by Kathryn Meier
Photos by Evan Krape