Audiences rave about a cappella's combination of primal vocal power and sophisticated arrangements. "There's something amazing about a successful a cappella group because it's just raw, pure talent and hard work on the stage," says Karey Scheyd '99 of the V-8s. "There's nothing for performers to hide behind; just bodies and voices." For music major Caroline Green '99, a cappella provides "a huge creative outlet." The draw for listeners, she says, is simple: "It's fun, and the shows are free!" Crys Latham '00 of Voices of Faith adds, "A cappella is very different from what audiences are used to hearing, and I think they appreciate the time that's needed to get the right sound. A cappella may seem easy, but it's very difficult."

Campus groups practice up to nine hours a week to perfect their close harmonies and choreography. And that doesn't count the time groups spend arranging their own music. Toni Lundeen '01 says the V-8s develop new numbers "by listening to recordings and picking out the parts," rather than using sheet music or professional arrangers. At MHC, a cappella is totally student-run.

What do they get for all that effort? Applause, adoration, and opportunities to perform with (and party with) singers from other top colleges. "Everyone who hears us says, 'You look like you're having such a good time.' We are, though it's a lot of work," says Fran Blanchard '99 of the M&Cs. Nearly every singer mentions how tightly knit her group is despite the diversity of people in it. "Students working together in a cappella form an incredible bond and have great dedication to one another and to the music," says Ruth Lopez '99 of Voices of Faith. For Vanessa McGovern '02, Nice Shoes "embodies my vision of what coming to a women's college was going to be like: a supportive community where we share a common joy in music and in being feminists."