Article

LOOK WHO’S TALKING

MAY | JUNE James Napoli
Article
LOOK WHO’S TALKING
MAY | JUNE James Napoli

HAYLEY LYNCH ’15, Musical Director, Dodecaphonics

What is the appeal of a cappella?

A lot of people in the groups have never sung in a choir before, but they can sing, so it’s a very easy way to enter the musi- cal world and be able to perform and do something that you love with a group of really fun people. It’s also fun to watch.

What is the audition process like?

Pretty intense. It’s a 24-hour process. You go in at 11 in the morning and sing through your first round for every single a cappella group. Then you wait to hear for call backs, which you don’t hear until 10 p.m. Then you go back and have your second round until 2 in the morning.

What do you look for when you bring new members into the group?

Someone who can stay on pitch, someone who can blend in an arc—the formation we sing in—and learn music quickly, someone who can listen to everyone around them and make sure that they’re singing their part loud enough or soft enough or with the right vowel sounds. We also look for a good solo voice be- cause we always need a soloist.

What are your responsibilities as musical director?

Running rehearsals, picking which music we’re going to do, assigning parts and making sure that the musical aspect of the group is top-notch.

How often does the group rehearse?

We rehearse three times a week, for two hours each.

Do the Dodecs have any traditions or rituals associated with their performances?

Before every performance, one designat- ed member of the group gets down on one knee, everyone puts a hand in the middle, the president gives a speech and then we say “rah-rah.”

What’s your favorite memory from the past four years with the Dodecs?

One of my favorite nights is “Cabin,” one of our traditions at the end of each year. We do it during senior week and it’s a time for us to all be together. We cook around a fire, do a lot of singing and have speeches from the seniors. The Dodecs are like my family, so it’s nice to have that at the end of the year before the seniors go.

Is there any rivalry between campus a cappella groups?

Not really. We all hang out together, because we all met each other during auditions.

“I’ve been singing since I could talk.”