A cappella groups accept few new members after auditions

In keeping with past trends, the acceptance rates for University a cappella groups — whose spring auditions concluded this week — were extremely low, though fewer students auditioned for groups in the spring than last fall.

“These small numbers are typical of spring auditions, since a lot of people have already found their groups on campus during the first semester,” Tigertones member Ben McClamrock ’13 explained.

The Tigertones admitted one member out of the 11 who auditioned.

Mark O’Connell ’14, the one accepted member, said he auditioned for four groups in the fall but decided not to accept any callbacks after also being chosen for diSiac Dance Company.

However, this spring, O’Connell decided to audition again and received bids from two groups, including the Tigertones.

Tigertones president Dan Yawitz ’12 said that the audition criteria remained unchanged from those of the fall and that the criteria for selection of new members are relatively similar among all groups.

Desirable traits continue to include quality of voice, dynamic vocal range and the ability to blend well with the current group, Yawitz explained.

Other a cappella groups were just as competitive.

According to Kathy Li ’12, the Princeton Tigerlilies had over 20 girls audition, gave callbacks to nine and accepted one new member.

Shere Khan had 35 students audition. Six received callbacks, and three were given bids.

Some groups chose not to accept any new members. David Simins ’13, the tour manager of the Nassoons, said that the group had ten students audition but extended no callback offers.

“We just didn’t see anyone we wanted to take,” Simins said. “It’s exactly the reason you’d imagine.”

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The audition process for all groups generally consists of a preliminary round followed by callback auditions. In the initial round, singers are asked to display basic vocal skills through singing scales, matching pitches and performing solos before demonstrating their ability to blend their voice by singing with the group.

Later, participants who successfully make it through the first round are further assessed in callbacks, after which a final decision is made.

Timothy Trieu ’14 tried out for three groups and said in an e-mail that, although each advertised that no musical experience was necessary, his auditions required him to match pitches and sing back notes in chords, which might prove difficult for people without musical backgrounds.

Though he was not accepted in a group, he also said that group members created a welcoming atmosphere throughout the audition process.

“Each group had their own way of acknowledging you as you performed — through snapping, or clapping, or cheering — and they were all very engaging,” Trieu said.

After auditions, he also received advice from the members for future auditions.

“While obviously the results weren’t ideal, it was definitely a good experience,” Trieu added.

The Princeton Footnotes declined to comment. The Katzenjammers, the Roaring 20, the Tigressions, the Wildcats and Old Nassoul could not be reached for comment.