SoCal VoCals

The SoCal VoCals
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genres a cappella
Years active 1995-present
Website http://www.scvocals.com

The SoCal VoCals are the first of nine[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 seven 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 seven 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

2010 ICCA Set EP

Unanimous

Get In. ROCK. Get Out.

The SoCal VoCals

V3: Previously Unreleased

This 2 Shall Rock

This Ain't No Choir, Babe

Notable members, past and present

References

  1. ↑ Chard, Tea. "Sounds on Campus: Two radio stations, a cappella groups and more aim to please Trojan ears." Daily Trojan. 16 Aug 2006: A5.
  2. ↑ Lin, Judy. "A capella groups attract growing interest." Daily Trojan. 5 Dec. 1997: A1.
  3. ↑ Deelstra, Jacqueline. "USC's A Cappella Explosion." Daily Trojan. 4 Nov. 2002: A7-8.
  4. ↑ Payson-Lewis, Dan. "My Real Hollywood Ending." Newsweek. 9 Aug. 2008: 32.
  5. ↑ Dailo, Nicole. "SoCal VoCals take top a cappella title." Daily Trojan. 21 Apr 2008: A1.
  6. ↑ "The Sing-Off". NBC. 2014-01-28. Retrieved 2014-05-24.

External links

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