On The Rocks (University of Oregon)

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On The Rocks is a Collegiate a cappella group from the University of Oregon. The group was founded in 1999, the first official collegiate a cappella group in Oregon. It has since flourished into one of the top collegiate groups in the nation. OTR has gained national notoriety through its dedication to quality, ensemble, and above, all, cutting loose on stage. Perhaps most notable is the group’s 2nd place in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella 2003[1], and 3nd place the previous year. OTR has toured on the west and east coast, and also Canada. Recently, the group traveled to Berkeley, CA for the West Coast A Cappella Showcase. Last spring, OTR toured California, performing in San Francisco, San Diego, and Pomona.

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[edit] History

Founded in the summer of 1999 by Peter Hollens and Leo Silva, On The Rocks was the first collegiate A Cappella group in Oregon. Other groups including UO's Divisi, and OSU's Outspoken followed suite.

OTR has established itself as one of the top a cappella groups in the nation. Their current repertoire ranges from contemporary pop to doo-wop classics to holiday standards and the occasional original piece. OTR is mostly undergraduate students and usually consisting of 9 – 12 members. Every fall and spring, an extensive audition process is held to find quality replacements for graduating members in 4 different vocal categories-, tenor, baritone, bass and vocal percussion. Auditioning students are evaluated on tonal memory, solo talent, blending ability and, of course, personality. Once the new members are chosen, OTR can be heard singing every Friday @ 4:00 pm the EMU amphitheater and around the University of Oregon campus at various events throughout the year.

Annually OTR and Outspoken host a benefit concert for a charity chosen by the hosting group. The concert is themed after the football rivalry between the two schools and is generally held in the fall, preceding the civil war football game.

OTR's final concert of the year OTR ITD (On The Rocks - In The Dark) is held the friday before finals of spring term and attracts thousands of students, alumni, and community members to a free concert starting at 11:59 PM. The group runs their entire repertoire to adoring fans.

Aside from hosting quarterly concerts, they have toured the West Coast and have visited the east coast and Canada. They have performed with the professional quartet the Coats and at various a cappella festivals all over the west coast.[2]

[edit] Discography

[edit] OTR (2002)[3]

  1. Center of Attention
  2. For The Longest Time
  3. Romeo and Juliet
  4. Crash Into Me
  5. Brown Eyed Girl
  6. Ave Maria
  7. Change in My Life
  8. Lullaby
  9. I Can See Clearly Now
  10. Down to The River
  11. I Need To Know
  12. MLK
  13. Demons
  14. Insomniac
  15. Mystery Track


[edit] The Backgammon Sessions (2003)[4]

  1. Intro - (Without Your Love)
  2. Without Your Love
  3. Yellow (Selected for BOCA 2004)
  4. Windmills
  5. It's Alright
  6. My Own Worst Enemy
  7. Is This It?
  8. Hear You Me
  9. Street Spirit
  10. I Would Fly
  11. In The End
  12. Peanut Vendor
  13. Mystery Track


[edit] Full Coverage (2005)[5]

  1. Kyrie (Selected for SING 2006)
  2. When My Baby Walks
  3. Somethin' Like That (Selected for BOCA 2006)
  4. Golden Slumbers
  5. Matchbook
  6. She's My Kind of Rain
  7. Halleluja
  8. Disco Inferno
  9. Stacey's Mom
  10. Scrum
  11. Cry Me a River
  12. Let The Words

[edit] The Green Room (2008)[6]

  1. Never Gonna Give You Up
  2. Watching Over Me
  3. Almost Honest
  4. Number One
  5. Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy
  6. Helena
  7. Please Don't Tell Her
  8. Karmastition
  9. Rozy
  10. Happier
  11. Smile Like You Mean It
  12. Lullaby

[edit] References

  1. ^ International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella
  2. ^ On the Rocks - Acappella at the University of Oregon
  3. ^ RARB Review of On the Rocks - OTR
  4. ^ RARB Review of On the Rocks - The Backgammon Sessions
  5. ^ RARB Review of On the Rocks - Full Coverage
  6. ^ RARB announcement of On the Rocks - The Green Room

[edit] External Links