Amazin' harmony hits a high note

This weekend, two groups will perform concerts featuring tunes by Fiona Apple, Sarah McLachlan and Phil Collins - all without any musical instruments.

A far cry from the average person singing in the shower, the a cappella groups Amazin' Blue and Harmonettes use their voices to create melody, harmony, bass and percussion. The groups will bring their unique vocal arrangements of popular songs to Rackham auditorium tomorrow and Sunday.

Amazin' Blue, the oldest co-ed a cappella group at the University, boasts 14 members of all ages and schools. Their program selections were simply chosen by listening to the radio, and then were rearranged to be performed a cappella style. The group does all their own arrangements, and any member is welcome to propose a new idea to the group.

PREVIEW
	Amazin' Blue and Harmonettes Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. respectively

"What's really cool is that it's all student-run," said Shana Radcliffe, a third-year Law student and a business manager for Amazin' Blue. "There are 14 people, which means 14 different views and perspectives. When we use all those ideas, we come up with amazing stuff."

Some of their "amazing" creations will debut at their show tomorrow, including renditions of "Cosmic Girl" by Jamiroquai and "Criminal" by Fiona Apple. Each arrangement is easily recognizable from the original, but the group is given a lot of creative freedom in adapting the original for their voices.

Amazin' Blue has taken advantage of that leeway to become recognized as one of the best college a cappella groups in the nation. At the end of January, they participated in the National Championship of College A Cappella (NCCA) semifinals at Smith College, Mass.

The group won first place for Best Overall, Best Solo (performed by tenor Jim Daly, a Music senior), and was a runner-up for graduate student Jeremy Fisher's arrangement of "Time after Time."

This excitement has been the high point of the year for Amazin' Blue, who will travel to New York City in May to compete in the NCCA Finals at Carnegie Hall.

Adding to their achievements, the group also has been featured on every "Best of College A Cappella" CD, which selects groups from all over the country in annual compilation of the nation's best.

In describing the group, Radcliffe emphasized the value of its teamwork.

"The group becomes your family, your best friends," she said. "It's so intensive - we tour, perform, put out CDs, and rehearse together. My best friends from college are from this group."

Another University a cappella group to exhibit both unity and achievement is the Harmonettes, a sub-group of the Women's Glee Club. Like Amazin' Blue, the group is completely student-run and prides itself in many of its own arrangements.

Today, the Harmonettes are traveling to St. Louis to participate in another installment of the NCCA semifinals.

LSA junior and Harmonette Emily Costello said, "I think we feel we've moved on from struggling to learn arrangements to making the music an art form."

After the semi-finals, the Harmonettes must race back to Ann Arbor to perform Sunday's show. The concert will debut some new arrangements, including Dolly Parton's "9 to 5." Some of their old favorites are frequently requested by audiences, especially "Musical Apology," a sassy and sarcastic song from a woman's perspective of a recent breakup.

At Sunday's concert the Harmonettes will host the Dischords, an all-male a cappella group hailing from Michigan State University. The show's theme, "The Dischords are from Mars, the Harmonettes are from Venus," truly demonstrates their lighthearted approach to the music.

"I feel the group has consistently improved through the years, and I hope we continue to do so," said Harmonette and LSA senior Sarah Nickels.

The semifinals competition today will be a good indication of how far the group has come. Both Amazin' Blue and the Harmonettes are enjoying the success and thrill of competition this year. But they say they are glad to have room in their touring schedules to perform at the University for their own student body.

A recent explosion of activity has increased the status of a cappella at the University. "This has been a really exciting winter for a cappella," Costello said, and the excitement continues with the performances this weekend.

Tickets are $6, available at Michigan Union Ticket Office, by calling 763-TKTS or at the door.

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