COVID-19 regulations and A Capella: an unforeseen issue
The four weeks on campus so far have proven to be difficult with all of the COVID regulations. From limited meal swipes to locked off water fountains, students have had to juggle much more than the pressures of course work. However, these regulations have also impacted groups that people may not think about right away: The a cappella groups.
A cappella at Colby is so much more than a group of kids who come together to sing. They are not only a source of entertainment for students, faculty, and even alumni, but they have managed to create a community and safe space for many individuals on campus who share a passion for music. It provides an opportunity for people with varied interests to come together under the umbrella of music. With eight different a cappella groups to choose from, each with their own traditions and community, there truly is an option for anyone who is interested.
Christian Krohg `22, a member of Mayflower Chill, one of the co-ed groups on campus, encapsulates this idea through his experience with his group.
"The group is so much more than just people I perform with. It's a friend group I can go to if I need something, and they can come to me if they need something. It's essentially like another family to me because we spend so much time together during the school year."
Unfortunately, practice spaces are quite limited on campus for large groups of people who would need to take their masks off. Additionally, the main music building on campus, Bixler, has a new rule of no singing, making it even harder for these groups to get together. Many groups have been hosting meetings through Zoom, and some have been working to find other spaces to practice, such as the tents outside Miller. However, such plans also face logistical issues such as how far apart they have to be from each other or how many people will be able to be in the tent maskless.
While some groups have been making it work through Zoom or are yet to figure out their plans, others have decided not to get together this semester. The Colbyettes, Colby's oldest all-female group, is the only group that has decided to hold off on singing altogether this semester. Olivia Wandres `21, who joined the Colbyettes her sophomore year, explained why the group has decided not to meet this year.
"We're quite a big group for starters, and if we were to bring on freshmen, we would be a lot bigger," Wandres said in an interview with The Colby Echo. "I think everyone kind of decided that it would be a lot right now, and we didn't know if we would be able to do it as well as we wanted to."
However, she is hopeful that they will be back in the spring so that she and the other seniors in the group have the chance to perform their "senior song."
Many of the a cappella events that happen right at the beginning of the year have also been canceled. One such event is the a cappella sampler, where every group gets to perform musical pieces of their choice, mainly aimed at the new first years. This event just so happens to be many of the performer's favorites.
Chessy Singer `21, who is a member of Mediocre, a group for people "who like to sing and make music together but are mediocre at best," explained why the sampler happens to be the event she looks forward to the most.
"I like hearing everyone else, and we all hang out before and practice, so it is a very unifying moment," Singer said. “The backstage vibe is also really fun with all the different groups.”
A cappella has proved to be essential to many students in their connection and love of Colby. While the current circumstances may not be the most ideal, clearly, it is only a matter of time until the Colby community can enjoy a cappella together again.
~Tanvi Iyer `22
