There’s no need for instruments when you’re having fun.
The UT Singers celebrated homecoming with an a cappella concert this past Friday at 8 p.m. in the Natalie Haslam Music Building. The building was nearly empty Friday night, but a dedicated few occupied Powell Recital Hall in anticipation of the performance.
The group came on stage about a minute after the hour and proceeded to own the stage for the next 50 minutes. Performing a mix of contemporary and classic music, the singers danced, tapped and sung in a way that left the audience dancing in their seats and tapping their feet.
UT Singers alumna Mary Ann Spratt-Green originally came to visit Knoxville this weekend for Saturday’s football game, but she didn’t expect to find that her old singing group was hosting a concert.
Spratt-Green left the concert impressed by the group’s performance. It reminded her of when she was a UT Singer in 1978.
“I was interested in seeing these performers tonight. They have some really talented people,” Spratt-Green said. “When I look back at college (and) at the people and the talent that I got to work with in the UT Singers, it’s always one of my fondest memories of going to school here.”
More than the performance itself, the diversity of students within the group impressed Spratt-Green.
After performing “You Say” by Lauren Daigle, the 12 performers introduced themselves individually. Among them were a variety of majors, interests and personality types.
Spratt-Green was impressed by this variety, saying that it reflects Tennessee’s dedication to arts education and performance.
“What I thought was interesting is that they’re not all music majors. It’s a fabulous representation of Tennessee,” Spratt-Green said. “I’m such a huge supporter of the arts. I really appreciate Tennessee for building this beautiful (music) building and supporting the arts.”
As the performances went on, the group’s unified movements and clear understanding of the musical material hid complexities under the surface of a fun event.
Each performer had their own role in ensuring the concert went well. Where some emphasized their notes, others withdrew. While some increased their volume, others decreased. Every note, lyric and beat sounded cohesive and understandable, made so by the performers understanding their roles.
Quamir Boddie said that these role divisions were intentional. The business management major is the group’s unofficial assistant music director and selected and wrote the sheet music for each of the concert’s songs.
According to Boddie, the group’s repertoire was built to reflect each member’s strengths.
“I really get to know my singers and their strong suits. I try to pick out songs that will not only showcase people where their talents are, but also help the ensemble as a whole,” Boddie said. “You don’t want to give your singers something they can’t handle. It’s unrealistic.”
Radiating her vocal talent, Takaylan Johnson(middle) takes the reins of the UT Singers at their homecoming concert on Friday, November 1, 2019.
The singers also selected songs based on how they might perform at International Championship of Collegiate A Capella (I.C.C.A.’s), the largest collegiate a cappella competition of the year.
As one of the university’s oldest artistic groups, UT Singers balances its identities as a competitive team, a performance group and a part of UT history.
Boddie said that the group reflects these identities equally.
“We do them all, but it fluctuates. We do a lot of UT events and things like that, and that’s how we keep our reputation as the musical ambassadors of Tennessee,” Boddie said. “We do things like this homecoming concert and I.C.C.A.’s, and that’s how we balance our identities with the students. But the performance aspect is just us performing. That’s how we get to be a superstar group like we’re trying to be.”
The group concluded their concert with a cappella renditions of Rocky Top and the UT Alma Matter, sung alongside Spratt-Green and other former UT Singers in the crowd.
Vocalist Jackson Williams takes his turn introducing himself alongside his teammates after a successful opening performance on Friday, November 1, 2019.
