SoCal VoCals

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The SoCal VoCals
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genres a cappella
Years active 1995-present
Website http://www.scvocals.com

The SoCal VoCals (abbreviation: "the VoCals") are the first of seven[1] a cappella groups from the University of Southern California. Founded in 1996, this award-winning group comprises between 13 and 19 male and female students[2] who arrange and sing songs from multiple genres, including pop, rock, and jazz. The group, which has released six albums, uses no instruments—only vocal percussion and voices. In 1997, they took first place at USC's Songfest.[3]

The members of the VoCals are hired to perform at numerous gigs each year; past performance venues include the Staples Center, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Rose Bowl, the Los Angeles House of Blues, and the Getty Center. Nicknamed "a party on stage,"[4] the SoCal VoCals are known for their engaging performance style and school spirit (they are the only USC a cappella group to have performed a rendition of the University's Alma Mater).[5]

The group frequently participates in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.

In April, 2008, they took first place at New York City's Lincoln Center as the Grand Champions.[6] The next morning, they were featured on The Today Show.[7]

In April, 2010, the SoCal VoCals returned to Lincoln Center and reclaimed the ICCA title, making them one of only two groups to win that title more than once.

On April 29, 2012, the SoCal Vocals performed in competition at Town Hall in New York City. They won their third ICCA title. They are the only group, in the history of the ICCAs, to win the competition three times. They are also the only group to have won the ICCA title after having lost in semifinals but brought back from the Wild-Card round.

In November, 2009, two current members of the USC SoCal VoCals joined with six VoCal alumni to compete as "The SoCals" on NBC's first a cappella competition, The Sing-Off.[8]

Also in 2010, several members of the VoCals also competed in Season 2 of "The Sing Off" as members of "The Backbeats"

In 2011 Scott Hoying, a member of the SoCal VoCals, lead a team of five people to win NBC's third season of "The Sing-Off" as Pentatonix.

Recordings

The VoCals have released 6 (5 award-winning) albums, "This Ain't No Choir, Babe," "This 2 Shall Rock," "V3: Previously Unreleased," "The SoCal VoCals," "Get In. ROCK. Get Out.", "Unanimous", and their most recent album "Permit to Harmonize," released on March 1, 2013. They have also released an EP consisting of their winning 3 song set from the 2010 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.

Permit to Harmonize

2010 ICCA Set EP

Unanimous

Get In. ROCK. Get Out.

The SoCal VoCals

V3: Previously Unreleased

This 2 Shall Rock

This Ain't No Choir, Babe

Notable members, past and present

External links

References

  1. ↑ Chard, Tea. "Sounds on Campus: Two radio stations, a cappella groups and more aim to please Trojan ears." Daily Trojan. 16 Aug 2006: A5.
  2. ↑ Lin, Judy. "A capella groups attract growing interest." Daily Trojan. 5 Dec. 1997: A1.
  3. ↑ Tang, Lay. "SoCal VoCals win first at 44th Annual Songfest." Daily Trojan. 14 Apr. 1997: A1-2.
  4. ↑ Deelstra, Jacqueline. "USC's A Cappella Explosion." Daily Trojan. 4 Nov. 2002: A7-8.
  5. ↑ Deelstra, Jacqueline. "USC's A Cappella Explosion." Daily Trojan. 4 Nov. 2002: A7-8.
  6. ↑ Payson-Lewis, Dan. "My Real Hollywood Ending." Newsweek. 9 Aug. 2008: 32.
  7. ↑ Dailo, Nicole. "SoCal VoCals take top a cappella title." Daily Trojan. 21 Apr 2008: A1.
  8. ↑ www.nbc.com/sing-off/ 23 Nov 2009
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