SoCal VoCals

The SoCal 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 has released six albums and is 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, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Getty Center.The SoCal VoCals are known for their engaging performance style and school spirit (they are the only USC a cappella group to perform a rendition of the University's Alma Mater).^[3]

The group's signature achievement is being the first a cappella group to win four titles in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which it accomplished in sequential attempts in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2015.

In April, 2008, they took first place at New York City's Lincoln Center as the Grand Champions.^[4] The next morning, they were featured on The Today Show.^[5]

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, and became the first to have won the title by winning the Wildcard round.

On April 18, 2015, the SoCal VoCals competed at the Beacon Theater to win for the fourth time, claiming the newly-minted trophy and adding to their already-unchallenged record of victories.

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.^[6]

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 six (five 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 three song set from the 2010 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.

Permit to Harmonize

• "Good Luck" (Basement Jaxx)
• "Set Fire to the Rain" (Adele)
• "Hold My Heart" (Sara Bareilles)
• "Tightrope" (Janelle Monae)
• "Kings & Queens" (Thirty Seconds to Mars)
• "Poison and Wine" (The Civil Wars)
• "Heart of the Matter" (Don Henley)
• "Elena" (Kenton Chen)
• "Lady Marmalade" (Christina Aguilera)
• "When We Are One" (Gabriel Mann)
• "What the Water Gave Me" (Florence + The Machine)
• "My Heart With You" (The Rescues)
• "Best Thing I Never Had" (Beyoncé)

2010 ICCA Set EP

• "God Bless The Child" (Billie Holiday)
• "Crazy Ever After" (The Rescues)
• "Living For The City" (Stevie Wonder)

Unanimous

• "Misery Business" (Paramore)
• "Movin' On" (Elliott Yamin)
• "Crazy Ever After" (The Rescues)
• "Feeling Good" (Michael Bublé)
• "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin)
• "Another White Dash" (Butterfly Boucher)
• "Falling Slowly" (Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová)
• "Save Me" (Marc Broussard)
• "Thinking of You" (Katy Perry)
• "Somebody to Love" (Queen)
• "All the Things You Are" (Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein)

Get In. ROCK. Get Out.

• "When I Get You Alone" (Thicke)
• "Alone" (Heart)
• "Love You Madly" (Cake)
• "Love Potion #9" (The Coasters)
• "Don't Stop Believin'" (Journey)
• "Eye in the Sky" (As performed by Gabriel Mann)
• "Since U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson)
• "The Styx Medley" (Styx)
• "Cold-Hearted Snake" (Paula Abdul)
• "Alma Tusk (Live)" (Fleetwood Mac)

The SoCal VoCals

• "Underground" (Ben Folds Five)
• "18 Wheeler" (Pink)
• "Slumber" (Gabriel Mann)
• "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (Marvin Gaye)
• "Today" (The Smashing Pumpkins)
• "Grey Sky Morning (Best I Ever Had)" (Vertical Horizon)
• "Delicious Surprise" (Beth Hart)
• "Don't Worry Baby" (The Beach Boys)
• "Fire In Your Hand" (Gabriel Mann)
• "This Love" (Maroon 5)
• "I Feel The Earth Move" (Carole King)
• "Cherry Lips" (Garbage)
• "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" (Elton John)
• "Pinball Wizard" (The Who)

V3: Previously Unreleased

• "Drive Me Crazy" (Julie Moffitt)
• "Dirt Road" (Gabriel Mann)
• "Otherside" (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• "Leavin' On a Jet Plane" (Chantal Kreviazuk)
• "Breathe" (Faith Hill)
• "Motorcycle Drive-By" (Third Eye Blind)
• "Power of Funk (Power of Love)" (Huey Lewis)
• "To the Wire" (Gabriel Mann)
• "I'm the Only One" (Melissa Etheridge)
• "Only You" (Yaz)
• "Insomniac" (Billy Pilgrim)
• "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Bonnie Tyler)

This 2 Shall Rock

• "Torn" (Natalie Imbruglia)
• "Dreams" (The Corrs)
• "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)" (The Four Seasons)
• "In Another's Eyes" (Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood)
• "Son of a Preacher Man" (Dusty Springfield)
• "Everywhere" (Fleetwood Mac)
• "Hazy Shade of Winter" (The Bangles)
• "I Will Remember You" (Sarah McLachlan)
• "Take On Me" (a-ha)
• "One Week" (Barenaked Ladies)
• "Dreams (Crystal Version Remix)" (The Corrs)
• "The Impression That I Get" (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones)
• "Footloose Medley"
• "Alma Mater/Tusk" (Fleetwood Mac)

This Ain't No Choir, Babe

• "Love Fool" (The Cardigans)
• "Today" (The Smashing Pumpkins)
• "The Tide Is High" (Blondie)
• "Hooked On a Feeling" (Blue Swede)
• "In the Still of the Night" (The Five Satins)
• "Just a Girl" (No Doubt)
• "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Bonnie Tyler)
• "Come on Eileen" (Dexys Midnight Runners)
• "Ironic" (Alanis Morissette)
• "Always Be My Baby" (Mariah Carey)
• "Alma Mater/Tusk" (Fleetwood Mac)

Notable members, past and present

• Ross Golan
• Scott Hoying
• Audra Levi aka Audra Lee
• James Snyder (actor)
• Rachel Bearer - member of ARORA (vocal group)
• Kelley Jakle

References

External links

• Official website