Students harmonize inside, protest outside
Several students enjoyed the sounds of Central Harmony, Harmonious Shenanigans and Ladies First Wednesday night in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.
Central Harmony is CMU’s coed a cappella group initiated in fall 2005. With a blend of male and female vocalists, the group performed chart topping hits along with some original arrangements. This included the well-received Taco Bell Canon, based on the song “Pachelbel Canon.”
“I think for a first-year coed a cappella group they are doing an awesome job,” said Quinnesec senior Diana Virta.
The evening began with a performance by Harmonious Shenanigans, a barbershop group also initiated in the fall of 2005. The group’s stage appearance consisted of four pieces, including “Midnight Rose,” which is destined for the upcoming College Quartet Contest.
Ladies First, Michigan State University’s only all-female a cappella group, performed next. Some of the crowd-pleasing performances included a medley of No Doubt songs and “Tempted” by Squeeze.
Central Harmony will open for Ladies First at 8 p.m. Saturday at MSU.
While the voices of the performers were united in harmony, one was out of synch. Former Central Harmony member and Livonia senior Chelsea Kloss was engaged in a protest outside Warriner Hall.
“I was sexually assaulted by one of the male members at the beginning of the semester,” she said.
With the assistance of Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates, the individual was removed from the group, Kloss said.
Her ordeal, however, continues.
“They told me I caused too much tension in the group” said Kloss, adding this led to the removal of her membership.
Kloss and her supporters passed out pamphlets consisting of her story and a ribbon to support Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Despite the protest, Chris Mueller, Central Harmony tenor, said the evening was a success.
“Definitely,” he said. “Judging by the crowd response and smiles on faces after the show.”
A portion of the proceeds from the evening were donated to SAPA in support of the Take Back the Night program.
More information about Central Harmony can be found at www.cmucentralharmony.com/index.php.
