OrphanSporks dominates Mid-Atlantic a cappella scene

Midway through the OrphanSporks’s set during a competition Saturday, the tempo came down, the background voices faded out and two lead vocalists sang a soul-driven ’50s-style doo-wop medley amid whoops and hollers, winning the group a spot as one of the best a cappella groups in the region.
In its first year competing, the University’s own coed a cappella group, the OrphanSporks, won first place in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinals held in Hickman Hall on Douglass campus.
“We’re just a group that started not too long ago, so to even compete was a great thing,” said Kristen Poemer, an OrphanSporks member and School of Arts and Sciences junior.
OrphanSporks members Noah Herckey and Daniel Braff won awards for outstanding soloist and outstanding arrangements, respectively.
Regional ICCA finalists will perform against the other finalists and two other groups from Africa and Europe on April 24 at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, said David Rabizadeh, the show’s producer.
The OrphanSporks beat the second-place contestants from Lehigh University — the Melismatics — with a score of 362 to 346. The College of New Jersey’s Trentones took third place.
Shockwave, an all-girls team from the University, also competed on Saturday in its third appearance after winning first place two years ago, Feibush said.
The OrphanSporks and Melismatics are the only groups that will go on to compete in the semifinals, but they were not the only ones to leave with an award.
“A lot is not about competing but just being here with everyone. We just love music,” said Asami Kondo, a Shockwave member and Rugters College senior.
Shockwave member Danielle Belsky won Outstanding Vocal Percussion for her performance of Paramore’s “Misery Business.”
Though it did not compete, Deep Treble, another University a cappella group, hosted and performed during the event. Members helped organize and operate sound equipment, said Kenny Feibush, who oversaw the daily operations.
Kelsey Flanigan, a Deep Treble member who sang during the judges’ deliberation period, agreed with Kondo.
“All of the groups tonight are competing against each other, but we still share the same music,” said Flanigan, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student.
Meredith Silver, the group’s musical director, supports the group unconditionally.
“When you get to the point where we’re at, whether we win or lose, we still feel like we did a great job,” she said.
Danielle Pagano, the OrphanSporks’ business manager, is in charge of scheduling their performances with any University groups or departments that make a request.
“Part of our duty is also to be role models,” said Pagano, a School of Arts and Sciences senior. “I’ll admit there was some backstage weeping, but with the progress we’ve made since becoming seniors, we’re just really, really happy with the group.”
Performances are short, but the group tries to make the most of its time on stage, said Shockwave member Courtney Shaw.
“We only have 12 minutes to perform as much as we can. A lot of it becomes a group effort because we expect each other to know the parts,” said Shaw, School of Arts and Sciences sophomore.
Though the members work together, they also spend time practicing individually, Shockwave member Victoria Grenci said.
“A lot of the work is independent,” said Grenci, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore. “We’ll all go home and learn the parts then come back to sing with the other girls.”

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