University of Delaware a cappella group competes for chance to go to national tournament

Cameron Goodnight, Delaware News Journal
·3 min read
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Amelia Sherman, 19, isn’t the first in her family to fall in love with creating music; however, she is the first to keep her "pitch perfect" in an a cappella group.

“I started getting into music when I was in elementary school and ever since I was younger I joined the choir and played the piano — music has been a big part of my life for a while,” Sherman said.

Now a freshman at the University of Delaware, Sherman’s musical talent was discovered by Vocal Point, a gender-inclusive a cappella group with a focus on '80s music. The group has a storied history and tradition that stretches back more than 20 years to the group’s founding in 1998. It is UD's oldest a cappella group, according to the college’s website.

On Saturday, Sherman competed as part of the a cappella group in the 2023 Mid Atlantic International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Semifinals — a premier a cappella competition that showcases some of the best art of singing from high school and colleges across the nation.

Throughout the group’s history, Vocal Point has produced an album and three EPs and performed nationally. This year, the group celebrated its 25 years with a schedule of competitions and concerts, the website states.

Sherman said the a cappella group caught her attention at the university’s Fall 2022 Involvement Fair — an event held each year for students to connect with organizations on campus. In September, the freshmen auditioned for six a cappella groups at the college, she said.

“I got into all of the groups, but I chose to be in Vocal Point because I thought I would blend well with them and I do — it was a good choice on my part,” Sherman said. “I’ve never competed with an a cappella group before, so this is a new experience for me.”

Amelia Sherman solos with Vocal Point of the University of Delaware during the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic semifinal competition at the Playhouse on Rodney Square, Saturday, March 25, 2023.
Amelia Sherman solos with Vocal Point of the University of Delaware during the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic semifinal competition at the Playhouse on Rodney Square, Saturday, March 25, 2023.

Sherman is one of Vocal Point’s 15 members, all led by President Nick Quintana.

Vocal Point did not place in Saturday's competition, but the group won a separate award for outstanding choreography. Their setlist featured Daði Freyr’s tune “Think About Things,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Christina Aguilera’s “Fall in Line.” Quintana said the group intends to “create a story” through their musical selections.

“We can sing something perfectly or execute a dance move perfectly, but if it doesn’t make the audience feel something, then we’re really missing out on an opportunity to perform,” said Quintana, adding that each person in Vocal Point collaborates on song selection and choreography.

The University of Delaware's MelUDees, including Cole Walker (in tie) and Sydney Levine (front), performs during the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic semifinal competition at the Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
The University of Delaware's MelUDees, including Cole Walker (in tie) and Sydney Levine (front), performs during the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic semifinal competition at the Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

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Vocal Point competed against a fellow UD a cappella group, MelUDees, and other groups from Rutgers, Temple, Villanova, James Madison, George Mason, Johns Hopkins and West Chester universities. This year marked Vocal Point's eighth time in the competition.

Each group was given 10 minutes to impress the judges and was judged on vocal and visual performance. A University of Maryland a cappella group, DaCadence, placed first in the semifinals and will go on to represent the Mid-Atlantic region in the national tournament.

Quintana credited his team on their award and said he is looking forward to next year's ICCAs.

"We went into semifinals knowing that every competitor was going to be really good, so we went in with the mindset of whatever the outcome was, that we were going to put it all out on the stage and that’s what we did. ... We have to keep that momentum going," Quintana said.

Members of University of Delaware's Vocal Point receive the award for "Outstanding Choreography" during the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic semifinal competition at the Playhouse on Rodney Square, Saturday, March 25, 2023.
Members of University of Delaware's Vocal Point receive the award for "Outstanding Choreography" during the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic semifinal competition at the Playhouse on Rodney Square, Saturday, March 25, 2023.

Vocal Point will return to the stage on Saturday, April 1, in Washington, D.C ., for “Sing Out for Shelter 2023,” an annual benefit concert to raise money to fight homelessness. Those interested in tickets or more information can visit augmented8.org.

Have a tip or story idea? Contact local reporter Cameron Goodnight at cgoodnight@delawareonline.com, or by calling or texting 302-324-2208. Follow him on Twitter at @CamGoodnight.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Vocal Point, a UD a cappella group, competes to go to national contest