Correlating with the sprouting of green foliage and emergence of flowers in the natural world, Fordham’s a cappella world experienced a resurgence in Keating first floor auditorium on March 27. Like the spring winds of March, the a cappella spring teaser swept listeners away on a sonic journey.
Having attended the previous spring teaser concert, I was excited for what lay ahead of me in that bright-lit room. As luck would have it, the energy of this year’s show went above and beyond my expectations.
Hailing from Fordham’s metropolitan other half, the F Sharps took the stage first. Starting strong with Lizzy McAlpine’s “Reckless Driving” and delivering on a riff at the bridge that could drive me crazy, the F Sharps established that I was in for a good night.
The group went on to sing an angelic rendition of “Pure Imagination” that demonstrated expertly executed high notes and crescendos. While it may have started gently, the tune quickly changed from dreamlike to upbeat, providing a more jazzy, uptempo rendition of the classic song.
Next to take the stage was Fordham’s all-male group The Ramblers. They captured the audience’s attention from the first iconic note of JMSN’s “Love Me,” showing off their harmonizing prowess. The set resembled their International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella performance set, meaning that the transitions were seamless from one song to another.
After their version of Katy Perry’s “Eye of the Tiger” that engaged every listener in the room, the set progressed to Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” The soloists’ — Gabe Dy, FCRH ’27, Darian Maldonado, GSB ’26 and Christian Sibel, FCRH ’27 — animation on stage had the whole audience bopping and grooving with them on the stage, pausing only to admire their powerful, resounding voices.
Offering a 180 from the all-male group, the Satin Dolls all-female chorus went up next. To kick off their set, the ensemble sang a choral version of Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama.” The composition was a slow, angsty build that made full use of the group’s members and range while still allowing the soloist, Lila Gagliardi, FCRH ’28, to have her moment and command the audience’s attention, leading the group rather than overpowering it.
The phrase “teamwork makes the dreamwork” has never been truer than in the next song performed, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” by Journey. The choice for a duet for this song curated a synergy on stage between the two leads, Toleeya Napolitano, GSB ’26, and Ashley Van Valkenburg, FCRH ’29, if they were in a fight for who was better and both were winning, building upon each other’s voices. The trajectory and evolution of the piece was constructed in such a way that by the end, you just wanted to pump your hands in the air. The arrangement was simple, but by this virtue, it gave each singer an opportunity to hammer home the vocals and collaborative abilities of the group, which anyone can see for themselves on April 18 in Keating First.
Cranking up the heat, the Hot Notes spiced up the room with a rendition of a Motown classic “Nothing Can Change This Love,” accompanied by a mesmerizing presence on the stage from the performers. The male soloist, Michael Pontecorvo, FCRH ’27, elicited a love from the listeners and ended on a high note (pun intended) with a strong falsetto run.
Keeping the energies high, the room saw its first trio performance of “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” that was just as entertaining as you may be imagining. The piece felt like a full-out sprint, all gas no brakes. The three lead singers — Naiya Rookwood, FRCH ’26, Lauren Fleissner, FCRH ’28 and Stella Maguire, FCRH ’26 — played off each other in a way that kept the audience interested and hooked from beginning to end. Throughout the whole song I had to try to keep myself from getting up and dancing, and it almost made me want to be wronged by my imagined husband. This spectacle was one that stuck with me well after the show and one you could see for yourself on April 25 at Fordham Prep.
The hosts and closers of this night of musical mashups were the B-Sides who executed a perfect grand finale for the show. They started with the groovy disco hit “Does Your Mother Know” by ABBA, and as a “Mamma Mia” fanatic, I was just about buzzing in my seat listening to the performance. I would be inclined to sing along myself if it weren’t for my desire and dedication to hear the soloist to the fullest.
Hayley Dunn, FCRH ’28, exhibited vocals and a stage presence that could rival the great Christine Baranski herself. “I was nervous before my solo, but then I heard all my friends chanting my name and I was like ‘I can do this,’” said Dunn.
Following Dunn’s stunning serenade, body movement and serving of face, the final song of the night, “Red Wine Supernova,” involved all the singers on stage. The lead, Miranda Joyce, FCRH ’26, held the impressive standard set throughout the night, and during the bridge, the group incorporated a whimsical call and response, reminiscent of Chappell Roan’s original performance of the song. Throughout their set, the B-Sides maintained a cheerful stage presence that conveyed how much they genuinely enjoy what they do.
“We are all doing it because we love music so much,” confirmed Otis Alley, FCRH ’29. “Everyone in the room can just know how much we love what we’re working on and how proud we are of it.”
This sentiment is shared among all the groups that were in Keating First. I highly encourage everyone to get out to support and see for themselves just how talented our Rams are.
If you want to cap off the semester of classes with a musical celebration, you can see the B-Sides on April 29 at Fordham Prep. As Dunn tells it, “it will be the best night of your life.” With hype like that, it’s basically irresponsible to let such an experience pass you by!
