Vocal Order, Plymouth State University’s Men’s a capella group, placed second in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) at McGill University in Montreal on March 11. They performed the songs “Crazy,” by Gnarls Barkley, “My Life,” by Billy Joel, and “My Hero,” by The Foo Fighters.
Brian O’Shaughnessy, a Music Contract major with an emphasis in conducting, composing and voice performance, began singing in a capella groups at Memorial High School in Manchester and has become the music director for Vocal Order this year. According to O’Shaughnessy, the group may be changing one of the songs in their line-up for their performance at Yale University on March 31 for the Northeast Semifinal level of the ICCA. O’Shaughnessy says they may do this in order to achieve a more cohesive performance. He explained that they are striving to, “make it look more like an entire performance rather than three separate songs.”
Rob Powers, who has been the business manager for Vocal Order for two years, describes himself as a singer who does whatever is asked of him. He says that his favorite experience with the group was their first ICCA Northeast finals competition two years ago.
“We were unknown to any of the perennial competitors and I think that, to some extent, they had written us off,” Powers said. “We went out to a packed house at MIT of about 800, rocked as hard as we could, and had them screaming for more after our set.”
If the group wins the Northeastern division of the competition this year, they will move onto the International division in April and perform at the Lincoln Center in New York City.
“The Northeastern a capella groups are very competitive,” O’Shaughnessy said. Powers added, “Obviously we are in it to win it. But it’s not all about the competition. If we can make new fans and friends along the way, it is worth it all.”
Students interested in seeing Vocal Order perform should be informed that they will be singing with a professional a capella group, Hyannis Sound, on March 30. It will take place in Hyde 220 at 8 P.M. Tickets are $5 at the door or from a Vocal Order member.