Hamilton students came together in the Chapel on Thursday, April 26 to hear all five campus a cappella groups. Due to the norovirus on campus, many groups were short a few members. For students not staying on campus during senior week, this was the final opportunity to hear the a cappella groups this year. Each group performed many or all of their senior solos, a tradition at Hamilton where each senior chooses a song to sing by his or herself.
Up first was all-gender group Duelly Noted, who performed five senior solos. They began with “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance. Soloist Adam Stern’s strong belt was remarkable. Next, Chloe Keating performed her solo, David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” Keating’s tone was smooth and beautiful. Petra Elfstrom’s senior solo, “Journey to the Past,” showed that Duelly Noted shines when performing musical theatre songs. Elfstrom was impressive as she built up the power in her voice with each of the song’s key changes to a higher register. Next, Duelly Noted performed Caitlin McQuade’s senior solo, “Brave” by Sara Bareilles. McQuade’s gorgeous high range and power on the final chorus of the song were a joy to listen to. Duelly Noted ended their set with “Holding Out For A Hero” by Bonnie Tyler. Soloist Sarah Hoover’s enthusiastic performance filled the chapel with a wonderful energy.
Next to take the stage was Tumbling After, who performed three of their senior solos. Tumbling After began with Julia Carpenter’s senior solo “Bad Self Portraits” by Lake Street Dive. The fun, catchy nature of the song paired with Carpenter’s wonderful alto voice made it an excellent opener. Hannah Meisels’s solo voice on Adele’s “Hometown Glory” was extraordinary. The song showcased her strong lower range in the verses, and her lovely soprano head voice on the choruses. Tumbling After closed their performance with Isabel O’Malley’s senior solo, “Solsbury Hill” by Peter Gabriel. O’Malley’s powerful vocals on this high-energy song were a crowd pleaser.
Up next was Special K. The group performed five senior solos. Special K’s first song was Lily Capstick’s senior solo, “Killing Me Softly” by the Fugees. Capstick’s vocal riffs on the song’s bridge were incredible. Next, Special K performed “The Long Way Around” by the Dixie Chicks. Soloist Anna O’Keefe’s fabulously twangy tone was a perfect match for this upbeat song.
Marina Hartnick’s senior solo, Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain,” showcased her superb lower register and powerful belt. Next was Drey Darnis’ senior solo, “Creep” by Radiohead, a highlight of the night. Darnis’ passion, emotion, beautiful arrangement, and vocal abilities all came together in a beautiful performance. Special K ended their set with Beyoncé’s “Love On Top.” The audience loved hearing this well-known song, as well as seeing and hearing the energy of the group. Soloist Kyndal Burdin’s range and power after the song’s four key changes were beyond impressive.
The fourth group to perform was The Buffers, who sang two senior solos and one group song. Before they started singing, The Buffers all put on plastic gloves, poking fun at Hamilton students’ paranoia during the norovirus outbreak. The Buffers opened with Matt Lebowitz’s senior solo “Keep Me in Mind” by Zac Brown Band. Lebowitz’s passion and strong vocals were wonderful. The Buffers then debuted a new group song, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt. Their performance and the arrangement were stunning. The Buffers closed their set with Chris Lovejoy’s senior solo, Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” Lovejoy’s marvelous tone fit this early 2000’s throwback song perfectly.
Finally, The Hamiltones took the stage to perform all three of their senior solos. They started with Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning.” Soloist Julia Smith’s vocals were particularly gorgeous when the group dropped out at the end of the song and Smith was singing on her own. Then, The Hamiltones performed Annie Sher’s senior solo, “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. Sher’s voice was smooth and sensational. Olivia Melodia’s senior solo, “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys, ended the night. Not only was Melodia’s solo voice impressive, but her arrangement was also intricate and stunning.
Overall, it was wonderful to see Hamilton students put aside their germaphobia to come together to hear an excellent a cappella concert.
