At Central Harmony auditions, it’s all about the verbal percussion

A group of students gathered in the halls of CMU’s Music Building on Wednesday, comparing song choices, audition sheet answers and occasionally breaking into song.

Central Harmony, Central Michigan University’s only co-ed a cappella group, held auditions this Tuesday and Wednesday in the Music Building.

“We try to get music majors and anyone else who is interested,” said Thomas Younger, Lapeer junior and president of Central Harmony. “Tuesday night, we grabbed people around the Music Building to audition when it slowed down.”

Lara Semetko, a Grosse Isle freshman, said she auditioned for a change of pace.

“A cappella has a different flavor,” she said, “As music major, you don’t get to hear pop music a lot.”

Central Harmony focuses on singing popular music. For example, this semester they are working on a hip-hop medley, said Dominic Calzetta, St. Claire Shore senior and music director for Central Harmony.

The group has performed genres like pop, classic rock and rhythm and blues. Last semester, Central Harmony recorded their first album. This semester, they plan on releasing a second.

“We arrange 90 percent of our own music,” Calzetta said. “It’s nice for us to record because then we can highlight the verbal percussion.”

Central Harmony will be preparing for performances at Relay for Life and a benefit concert in Lansing this semester.

They will also be hosting their first invitational event, Accastock, this April in Warriner Hall. This event will be similar to events put on by the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

“A lot of the time we look for big time solo ability, sight reading ability and talent to hold down their part,” said Calzetta.

Rachel Wilkinson, a Flushing freshman, auditioned for a different reason.

“I walk around singing in my dorm so my friends persuaded me to try out for Central Harmony,” she said.

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