Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Dan Stewart/Staff Photographer The all-male a cappella group Fish 'n' Chips celebrates their fifth year together by singing and dancing to their hit alumni song 'Oh Cecilia.' "Five years sets a benchmark for Fish 'n' Chips. It establishes us as a permanent organization on campus," said Mike Maurer, group president. They will sing at their year-end performance at 7:30 p.m. April 19. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Dan Stewart/Staff Photographer Warren junior Timmy Foster, from left to right, along with Vernon junior Jae Fagan and Maurer gather around the piano to practice. [Click to enlarge]

If it were a wedding anniversary, Fish 'n' Chips would receive wood or silverware.

But who needs to set a dinner table with an a cappella group who snaps, claps and sings?

The 12-member male group of Central Michigan University students is celebrating its fifth year this month.

The group has changed a lot within those five years, said Jeff LaMothe, Bloomfield Hills junior and group member.

"The group has gotten a lot better and it's definitely more selective," LaMothe said. "It's a lot more popular now than it was originally. There's a lot more people that audition."

Fish 'n' Chips' first concert was in 2003 after a few men thought an idea of a group of guys forming to make a singing group would be fun. Its first performance had about 100 people in the audience.

These days, their big concerts usually have six or seven times that many people.

The group draws a lot of attention between the performances it does in residence halls to even having multiple fan club groups on Facebook.com.

Fish 'n' Chips typically does a Mackinac Island performance every May - a favorite memory amongst many veteran members of the group.

"It was so much fun and I'm really looking forward to going again this year, it's an honor," said Patrick Monks, a Fraser sophomore.

Fish 'n' Chips President Mike Maurer wants people to realize Fish 'n' Chips is a serious group.

"We're not a boy's choir," the Livonia junior said. "We are established because of the sole fact that we like to sing."

From the first note of warm-ups to big full-scale concerts, Fish 'n' Chips puts on a lively show where every member is having fun.

"I love the camaraderie of the group," said Timmy Foster, Fish 'n' Chips vice president and Warren junior. "It's an opportunity to let loose and have a good time with friends."



Making the band

About 20 to 25 people normally show up for auditions, and the group only can take one to four.

"I love being in Fish 'n' Chips because it's not as serious and strict as a class," Monks said. "It's a different feeling than being in a class because it's something I look forward to doing. Practices and gigs are chances to have fun."

Despite all of the fun, there is a lot of work and effort that goes into making their performance-ready.

"Most people don't realize how many hours of work we put into the semester and concert," Maurer said.

Fish 'n' Chips has 12 members, all with varying majors and minors. Some members have a major or minor in fields related to music, while others do not.

The group tries to practice three times a week.

"It's helpful to at least have a background in music," LaMothe said.

The name Fish 'n' Chips was created because originators wanted to incorporate the CMU theme, and thus the term "Chips" was used. They added "Fish" to the title simply because it could be connected to "Chips."

Fish 'n' Chips is not sponsored by CMU - it fully supports itself. Because it is student-run, Maurer said he has to do some behind-the-scenes work as president. He is responsible for setting up concerts, contacting people for performances, copying music and more.



Spring sing

Fish 'n' Chips currently is preparing for one of its biggest shows of the year. Its spring concert will be at 7:30 p.m. April 19 in Warriner Hall's Plachta Auditorium. Tickets are available for $6 at the CMU Box Office.

"I can't promise any song names, but I can throw some artists' names that might excite the fans into coming to the big show," Maurer said. "We've got some Fergie, Fountains of Wayne, Garth Brooks, Train, Journey and Boys II Men. That's all I can let out of the bag for now."


news@cm-life.com

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