The annual VoiceJam A Cappella Festival has become a fan-favorite event of the season, hosting an entire weekend of opportunities to experience, learn, perform and compete. The weekend kicks off with professional headliner Duwendé on April 14 and continues with an entire day of workshops for anyone interested in learning more about a cappella.
The grand finale, the VoiceJam Competition is back and better than ever, bringing some of the best a cappella groups from across the country to Walton Arts Center at 7:30 pm on Saturday, April 15. Keep reading to get to know this year’s competitors.
VIBE – Dallas, TX
How did your group get started?
After several years of performing together in college, many of us wanted to continue singing with each other. VIBE was created as an outlet for our artistic needs. As we continued to compete in various competitions, we began collecting new family members from across the country who were equally as passionate about a cappella as we were.
What is the musical background of your group?
Our style spans many music genres including pop, soul, indie and R&B. Regardless of the song, we always put our soulful flare on anything we sing.
Tell us about your set. Do you have a favorite part of your set to perform?
One of our favorite moments in the set is the “Human Heart” number. It's a gentle and vulnerable reminder that we – as musicians, friends, families, and performers – only have one heart to offer in this life and to make the most of every moment.
Does your group have any pre-show rituals?
Before every performance, we start with a group circle offstage where we collectively do a breathing routine to get the nerves in check and to unify with each other one last time before heading out to perform.
Walk the Line – Rockwall, TX
How did your group get started?
We already had a vocal ensemble at Rockwall High School but decided to start an a cappella group in 2015. We have competed and attended competitions every year since, including twice at the International Championship of High School A Cappella competition – we won second place last year.
What is the musical background of your group?
We love to perform at competitions and festivals. Being on stage is the best part of a cappella. We also love recording our music and are proud to have both albums released on all platforms. We have had a few songs featured on Voices Only and Varsity Vocals’ best of a cappella albums BOHSA albums in the past few years. We’re excited to have our third album come out later this year!
Tell us about your set. Do you have a favorite part of it to perform?
Our set follows a love story from the relationship’s conception to its demise. We love performing “Reckless Driving” by Lizzy McAlpine and Ben Kessler because it illustrates the intense, combative perspectives of two people drifting apart. It’s emotionally charged, and our choreography helps tell the story in an impactful way.
Does your group have any pre-show rituals?
Before every performance, we set time aside to rehearse our set and then have some circle time together. It's a time for us to connect with each other on a deeper level and talk about anything and everything. We usually start with words of encouragement and gratitude. It lifts us up and puts us in a collaborative state for the day. While getting ready for the shows, it’s also not uncommon for a few TikToks to be made for bonding and community engagement.
Trillium – Dallas, TX
How did your group get started?
Our group started as an idea between co-creators Hannah Howard and Wennie Grogan. Towards the end of our senior year, we decided we didn’t want our a cappella journey to end yet, so we decided to create a vocal group based in Dallas, hoping to reach people with our creative play on a cappella and have a space to have fun and create. We got our name, Trillium, from a beautiful flower with many colors, highlighting our group's goal to continue growing together as musicians and pointing to our group motto: “bloom from within.”
What is the musical background of your group?
All of our members come from a former high school a cappella group and competed nationally. We are super proud of our group members – they all bring creativity and fun to the group.
Tell us about your set. Do you have a favorite part of it to perform?
Our set is composed of three songs, which gradually get slower and show an almost reversed sense of growth throughout the songs. Our favorite song to perform is called “The Intro,” and when you come see us perform you will find out why!
Does your group have any pre-show rituals?
Not really any pre-show rituals yet, maybe a small prayer before we go on.
Don’t miss the aca-spectacular musical showdown. Tickets are $27 plus applicable fees, or purchase a combo ticket to see both Duwendé and the VoiceJam Competition for $29.