A Cappella Groups Perform at Assembly

Austin DeSisto / The Exonian

By SAM ALTMAN, LOGAN LIU and HENRY WISE

      On Tuesday, May 7, Exeter’s a cappella groups performed during assembly, leaving students in awe about how the efforts each group makes, and how those efforts played out on the stage. Four groups performed: Ké Kontan, PEADS, Exeteras, and Sans Hommes. Some of their songs notably included the “Work Song,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and “I’m Just Ken.”

      Instructor in Music and Interim Director of Choirs Jerome Walker commented on his role in preparing for the assembly. “I asked the groups to let me know what songs they would be performing and then I picked the order and other logistical things, but they mostly do it all themselves, including the attire and small details.”

      Many students of different singing groups on campus performed at the assembly. Senior Chris Serrao, a member of Ké Kontan, commented on his song. “We sang an adaptation of ‘Work Song’ by Hozier which we got from the Ohio State University a cappella group. We’ve been practicing it over the past couple of months, meeting once a week. I think what I really appreciate about a cappella is the collaborative nature of it, and it’s something I want to do going into college as well.”

      Upper Rishi Gurudevan, cohead of the Exeteras, discussed his group’s preparation, saying, “We decided we would do ‘I’m Just Ken’ last term because of how much it’s become a staple of pop culture. However, it ended up containing a particularly difficult set of harmonies that we spent a lot of time trying to perfect. Other groups prepared multiple songs this term, but we focused almost completely on this one this term because we really wanted the assembly to be good.”

      Gurudevan continued, “When Evan came out of the audience and started singing the first solo and everyone started cheering, it was a practically euphoric feeling for us. It was incredible to present what we’ve been working on for a whole term and to see an amazing reaction from everyone in the crowd.”

      “I think the Exeteras kind of stole the show with their phenomenal rendition of ‘I’m Just Ken,’” Upper Jacques Leleux commented. “Their passion for a cappella and getting everyone interested in it was really on display when Evan Dierbirg jumped on stage in his Ryan Gosling routine.”

      Senior Alex Rosen echoed this sentiment: “I really liked the a cappella assembly as a whole, but I thought that the ‘I’m just Ken’ song at the end especially was new and exciting.”

      Leleux continued, “I also really enjoyed the pitch-perfect routine from Sans Hommes. I thought it was very creative to bring pop culture into their performance.”

      Prep Jade Yoo agreed, “My favorite part was the mashup that the all-female group did — I loved their choreography.”

      Upper and Ké Kontan cohead Roy Liu, commented on his experience with the audience, “I’m always appreciative of how people react to our performances. You know, assembly is a required appointment, and I’m sure most people have stuff that they need to do, but I’m glad that people make it and that they appreciate the work we put in.”

      “I personally enjoyed the assembly a lot, and it was nice to be able to just relax, be an audience member, and enjoy what all of the groups have been performing for so long,” prep Allen Klingel reflected.

      Most of the songs performed by students wavered from the more traditional a cappella songs. “I think the acapella assembly isn’t really meant to show off musical skill as much as it’s meant to simply be fun,” commented upper Max Mantel. “I think it’s meant to be more of a personal moment with the school, and well-known songs help facilitate that better. Perhaps in a different space, we would try to do something that’s more musically renowned and nuanced, not that these weren’t at all, but the main point was to put on a good show.”

      Walker reflected, “There are a lot of opportunities for faculty-curated music to be put on display, whether that’s music done by students, artists that we bring to campus, or something else, and all of that is great. But I also think what is equally worthy of our attention is work that students do themselves. I think it gives those students in the a cappella groups an opportunity to show off what they’re spending so much of their own time and energy on.”

      “The showcase, in many ways, feels like it’s the pinnacle of what a cappella groups do in a year,” Walker concluded, “I know they had a lot of fun, and I hope it was just as interesting for those watching their peers put themselves out there.”