“We can’t hide behind a piano or 100 other voices,” said a capella singer Jeremy Maletzky (‘26), a tenor in two of the three a capella groups, Noteworthy and
First Edition (FED). “Our voices are the only thing that produces sound.”
A capella is a student run club that consists of three groups: Tickled Pink, the all girls a capella; Noteworthy, the all guys a capella; and First Edition, the guys and girls a capella. Students in Tickple go and sing to students around the school for Valentine’s
Day. The club all students are welcome into, whether they take choir or not.
Bahiyyih Vaccaro (‘26), a manager for FED, said, “It’s such a supportive and encouraging community, and such a unique art from, that I think anyone who joins an a capella group just falls in love with the art of a capella and singing.”
Members of FED went caroling on Dec. 22, the last full-day before winter break, singing the songs they’ve been rehearsing since the beginning of the school year. This has become an annual tradition at South.
Dr. David Westawaski, South’s choir and a capella director, plays an important role in keeping this tradition alive.
“I send an email to teachers and make sure that they’re okay with us coming into their classrooms that day,” Dr. Westawaski said. “Some teachers will email back and say, ‘Hey, I would love for you to come in, but please avoid block two, because I’m giving an assessment then. So any other time in the day is fine.”
The a capella members work together to create their schedule.
“We divide the day up into different sections of classes,” said Rishabh Ramakrishnan (‘28), a tenor in both FED and Noteworthy.
“We just take up those sections indifferent blocks, and we try to get through the whole entire school in one day.”
Ramakrishnan went on to explain that the students also prioritize giving their voices some rest.
“Usually we take the last block off because we also need to rest our voices, because our voices are the most precious thing for us carolers and a capella singers,” he said.
To students, the caroling isn’t the only thing that’s memorable about a capella. The community that a Capella has given them lasts beyond the holiday season.
Gurneel Batra (‘26) a tenor, and manager for FED, said, “It’s always amazing to be able to relax after a busy day at school by harmonizing and making amazing music with your friends.”
