If you’ve seen Pitch Perfect, I’m sure you’ve wondered how much of what is seen on the screen is reflective of collegiate acapella, and on a campus as big as UGA, there are so many places to see acapella. Whether it’s the university’s historic, only all-girl team, Noteworthy, or the Ecotones, the newer, environmentally conscious team, there’s something everyone can enjoy. And UGA, as the annual host of the ICCA’s Southern Regional Competition is a center of acapella for the region. This past weekend in particular was a huge weekend for acapella on campus!
This weekend, the ICCA South Regional competition was held in the Classic Center downtown, hosted by Noteworthy. Taking a break from the stress of competing this year, Noteworthy helped keep the event running like a well-oiled machine, serving as emcees, ushers, and point tabulators. The team even got to perform their fall concert set as an exhibition to the audience. Ecotones were competitors at the competition, with their indie set featuring pieces from Hozier and Fleetwood Mac. Although they didn’t walk away with a trophy, the team absolutely crushed it with their swoony harmonies. The winners of the tournament hailed from Mississippi and brought the southern charm, opening with a country song and a line-dancing sequence. Congrats to all of the competitors for absolutely crushing it!
In Houston Texas, another UGA acapella team was repping the red and black! UGA Kalakaar, the university’s only South Asian acapella group returned to the ASA (Association of South-Asian Acapella) competition circuit this year, for the first time since the pandemic. With a set featuring blends of classic Bollywood songs and some English favorites, the team departed to Houston ready to show the ASA the new UGA Kalakaar. After sweeping the individual solo awards (best English solo, best Indian-language solo, and best vocal percussionist), the team went on to win first place, possibly qualifying for the national tournament in Chicago this April. The team performed so incredibly and represented our school so well! Shoutout to the second-place team, Emory Suri, who flew to the competition along with the UGA team and also represented Georiga outstandingly!
Whether you know it or not, UGA is a home for acapella, and with each year, these teams grow even more. Keep an eye out for these teams next time and swing by their spring or fall concerts! We wish all of UGA’s teams the best of luck in their future endeavors and we can’t wait for their next performances!
