What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1463527
APRIL 3-9, 2022 WHAT'S UP! 5 Vote For The Voices A cappella competition back on WAC stage MONICA HOOPER NWA Democrat-Gazette W hether you sing or only wish you could, the VoiceJam A Cappella Festival is music to the ears as it returns in person this year to the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. The "aca-awesome" tradition was virtual last year due to the pandemic, but on April 9, the day will be filled with workshops by professional a cappella performers before competitors from across the country flex their moves and intricate vocal harmonies on the Baum Walker stage. The annual festival is produced by the Walton Arts Center in partnership with Vocal Asia Festival, an Asian a cappella competition founded by Clare Chen in 2010. "Chen wanted to create a premier a cappella festival in the U.S. and connect it to the broader world of a cappella, and approached Walton Arts Center with the idea," says Sara Jones, learning programs and festivals specialist for Walton Arts Center Jones says that "she wanted to give back to the community that has given to her and so she wanted to do that in the realm of a cappella arts." Around the same time that the festival was founded, a cappella began to evolve with the help of popular shows and movies like "Glee" and "Pitch Perfect" as well as the success of the a cappella quintet Pentatonix. All of that combined keeps audiences coming back to Walton Arts Center year after year. "To be able to get to come and see it performed live and vote, which you know — everybody loves 'The Voice' and 'American Idol' — to get to watch and vote on an element of it, I think all makes a really fun night out, and it's a really affordable ticket for something like that," adds Jennifer Wilson, public relations director for Walton Arts Center. Fifth Measure from Houston High School in Germantown, Tenn., promises "our set is special because we have chosen some very unique pieces that I don't think many people would expect to hear as a cappella arrangement." (Courtesy Photo) See VoiceJam Page 6 MEET THE COMPETITORS The Ozarks Ages 15-18 Springfield, Mo. "We were inspired to start this group and make a cappella when we saw a vast majority of students in our area be without music during the pandemic. It was our goal to create a space for them to continue to grow as musicians. We are taking this goal of musical excellence forward to today and hope to continue to educate students and push them to become better people and musi- cians." KeyHarmony Ages 18-24 University of Central Florida, Orlando "As a group full of many different backgrounds and majors, it's amazing to be able to come together for the purpose of creating music. It's such a new medium for a lot of us, so the idea of growing and learning with each other has created this bond with our group that is unforgettable." VIBE Ages 18-30 Dallas "To create a moment of magic that not only touches the ears of the audience but also the hearts of our members. We've become a family through this art form. The memories created on a stage and in rehearsals are what bring us back year after year." Essence Vocal Band Community group Jacksonville, Ark. "We collect all sorts of styles, stories, and songs to make a perfor- mance that may be unpredictable or surprising. Our direction is to hopefully highlight the growing pains that come with being a young adult." Fifth Measure High school group Germantown, Tenn. "Our set has a lot of funk to it. It is very upbeat and groovy, but the songs still have a lot of meaning and purpose packed into the lyrics. I think our set is special because we have chosen some very unique pieces that I don't think many people would expect to hear as a cappella arrangement." Green Tones Evolved from college group University of North Texas, Denton "Green Tones' set, titled 'The Eden Project,' represents the duality of man and the human experience. Each song illustrates a unique, complex emotion." They competed in VoiceJam in 2019. A-Side A&M Consolidated High School College Station, Texas "Our competition set is taking competitive a cappella back to the basics: letting the music speak for itself. … Our set is special because we completely stripped the idea who A-Side used to be. We reinvented ourselves and our sound. Mostly importantly, we did it together as a team." FAYETTEVILLE