by Allison Roberts
Staff writer
There is no doubt that a cappella performance has been rising in popularity over the past few years. With the success of “Glee,” a popular Fox television show about a high school show choir, people of all ages have become inspired to use their voices as a means of expression. “The Sing-Off,” a reality competition show for some of the country’s a cappella groups, has taken advantage of the public’s growing interest.
Taylor Donaldson, Domanick Hubbard and Minda Rocha, all theatre students at Southeastern, decided to join in on the fun as a group last year. Inspired by “The Sing-Off” and the show’s third season winner, Pentatonix, Donaldson said the trio created SavageBeats.
“Music brings people together, and that love of music and making music is what brought us together to form SavageBeats,” said Donaldson. Though it is currently an unofficial student organization, he said the group doubled its members from three to six within one day last semester and has already performed at two Southeastern events.
According to Donaldson, the night before the Southeastern football game on Nov. 5, 2011, the first three decided to rehearse a song to perform between Southeastern Chorvettes’ songs at the tailgate party preceding the game.
Donaldson said the Chorvettes had been looking for a musical number to act as filler between songs, so he, Hubbard and Rocha formed the SavageBeats.
Donaldson shared, “I love a cappella music because it proves that you don’t have to know how to play an instrument to make music.”
They gathered in the Great Room of Shearer Halls and Suites at midnight and practiced a song for two hours, he explained. During this time, he said they asked three of their friends who were nearby to join.
Bringing in Sheridan Hill, a soprano; Jessica Black, an alto; and Jordan Hammack, a beat-boxer, to join their group, they added variety. The group already included Donaldson, a tenor-baritone; Hubbard, a tenor; and Rocha, an alto.
“Sweet Dreams” by Beyoncé was SavageBeats’ song of choice for the tailgate performance the next day. Donaldson said the group chose to do a cover of the version sung by “The Sing-Off” season three winning group, Pentatonix.
SavageBeats’ connection to this group was originally through Hubbard, who competed against members of Pentatonix in high school vocal competitions, explained Donaldson, who also communicates with one of the members through Facebook.
At SE Live on Nov. 9, 2011, Donaldson said the group gave its second performance with the same song, this time for approximately 300 high school students.
SavageBeats has yet to give another performance but looks to the future with hope for continuing what is a beloved hobby of its members, said Donaldson.
He explained, “I hope that SavageBeats can help bring people together through music and share it with the campus.”
He said that it is not yet an official student organization because its members are waiting to settle into a consistent schedule for the semester before pursuing further rehearsals or performances.
Despite this, Donaldson said SavageBeats is hoping to find new members. In order to commit more time to her studies, Hammack opted out of continuing as the group’s beat-boxer, leaving that slot open. Donaldson further explained that the group also has not yet included a bass vocalist and wants to find one to join.
Though the group currently consists of mostly theatre majors, interested students of any major or vocal qualification may contact Donaldson at his email address: [email protected]. If interested, students should include their names and schedules. SavageBeats can also be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SESavageBeats.