On Saturday, April 7, one of Hamilton’s all-female a cappella groups, Tumbling After, took the stage in the Chapel. The chapel was full of friends and some family who came for the Tumbling After & Middlebury Mamajamas Invitational. A cappella invitationals offer the opportunity for student groups, especially within the NESCACS, to share their musical talent throughout the Northeast. Invitationals demonstrate student initiative and passion about music, as well as their desire to share it with others.
Spotted sitting in the pews before they took the stage, Tumbling After was decked out in spring green dresses and adorned with yellow daisies in their hair. Once they went on stage, Julia Carpenter ’18 opened with her solo, “Bad Self Portraits”, by Lake Street Dive. Her strong and clear voice carried and danced across the chapel, setting a solid tone for the rest of the performance. The group then sang one of their classics, “Wisely and Slow.” Hannah Meisels ’18, a senior, followed and serenaded the audience with “Hometown Glory,” an Adele original. After Meisels, the group spiced it up and had two soloists in “What Now”, by Rihanna. The voices of Julia Carpenter and Anna Lyndaker ’21 complemented each other and echoed throughout the Chapel.
According to schedule, the Mama- jamas took the stage after Tumbling After finished their first set. This co-ed group came adorned in unique outfits and stood in a tight circle. Only ten out of their eighteen members were able to travel all the way from Vermont, but they blew the crowd away. Sam Houlihan opened with his solo “Breezeblocks”, by Alt-J, energizing the room and changing the pace of the performance. His facial expressions and vocal control elevated the song’s effect. The next song, “Run to You”, by Pentatonix, was an ensemble that revealed the group’s delicate and angelic tone, as well as their impressive dynamics. Next, Isabel Merrell belted “Bottom of the River” by Delta Rae, demonstrating a strong range and powerful group energy. The last song the Mamajamas sang was a crowd pleaser — “Sunday Candy” by the well-known Chance the Rapper. The performers added their own twist to the song, incorporating two soloists, Thomas Wentworth and Tim Hansen. It was the perfect way to end their set list.
Much to the pleasure of the crowd, however, the performance was not over. Tumbling After took the stage once again to perform four more arrangements. It was alumni weekend on campus, and the a cappella group had prepared accordingly. Two of their alumni, Catherine Daigle ’17 and Leah Pranschke ’17 joined the group on stage. Although they were not dressed in green, the two recent graduates adorned white baseball hats that read “Tumbling After” in green paint — a nice personal touch. As soon as the alumni joined in the ensemble “Not Ready”, all of the group members’ faces lit up with joy. Next, sophomore Angelica Coutinho sang “Surround Me” by Léon with fresh- man Mian Osumi. Following that, the group sang a quiet, peaceful ensemble called “Parting Glass” that signified that the performance was coming to an end. Senior Audrey Stein challenged the slow vibe, ending the concert on a high note with “I Feel the Earth Move,” by Carole King.
It was a pleasure to have the Mamajamas at Hamilton and perform in the chapel. The concert was a great way to share music, make new friends, and connect over some great tunes.
