Voices Spring: Annual Wayland College A Cappella Concert

WAYLAND, MA — Three talented college a cappella groups are coming to the Wayland High School Theater to perform at the Spring College A Cappella Concert.

The show, happening on Saturday, April 1, at 7:30 pm., also includes performances by the high school's T-Tones, Muses and Madrigals. Each year, the College A Cappella concerts highlight musical life in Wayland.

A cappella music features fresh arrangements of both classic and contemporary songs performed by unaccompanied singers, though vocalists sometimes emulate instruments. Having experienced a huge surge in popularity in recent years, a cappella attracts the most talented singers on college campuses nationwide, said the announcement.

Featured college groups include returning favorites Berklee’s Pitch Slapped and Tufts’ Beelzebubs. Also, Yale’s New Blue performs for the first time at WHS, featuring Wayland High School alum Anna Lifland!

Pitch Slapped is Berklee’s premier co-ed a cappella group, continues the press release. Founded in 2006, Pitch Slapped has performed in various U.S. cities, including Boston, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, and recently toured as far as China. Their repertoire consists of a variety of styles, ranging from pop and rock to R&B. Pitch Slapped has earned the title of ICCA Quarterfinal Champion every year since 2008. Named one of the top five a cappella groups in the country by USA Today, the group won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella in 2011 and 2014. Pitch Slapped also appeared on NBC's The Sing Off in 2010 and was featured on America's Got Talent in 2015.

From Boston to Buenos Aires to NBC's The Sing Off, the Tufts Beelzebubs have been bringing their motto of “Fun Through Song” to the world since 1963. Through these 54 years the Bubs have stayed at the forefront of contemporary a cappella, releasing award-winning albums, serving as the voices of 'The Warblers' on Glee, and being an inspiration for the movie Pitch Perfect. Despite this, they continue to be a silly, crazy, and fun-loving group of guys and tell us that they can't wait to put on an awesome show for Wayland High School!

The New Blue is Yale University's oldest all-female a cappella group, bringing musical excellence to campus since 1969, the first year Yale admitted undergraduate women. A deep alto bass line, soaring soprano descants, intricate harmonies, and complex arrangements make The New Blue's sound especially distinctive. Powered by a diverse repertoire, from pop to jazz and folk to classic rock, and characterized by award-winning arrangements and a range of unique voices, The New Blue always has a blast!

Priced at $18, tickets are available at Donelan’s, Russell’s Garden Center, and online at the WHS CAPA website. You can also find pictures, videos, and additional information on the concert’s Facebook page. Seats are general admission and doors open at about 7 p.m. The concert will have one intermission with complimentary refreshments.

The a cappella concerts are major fundraisers for the Creative Arts Parents Association (CAPA), the organization that supports all Wayland High School arts, music and theater programs. For more information, to buy tickets, to join the mailing list, or to make a donation, visit www.whsarts.org.

Information and photos submitted, CAPA