Growing up, I knew that I loved music. This was not solely informed by piano lessons (never forced) or all the time I spent squeaking out “Canon in D” on my plywood violin. I had an affinity for the lyrical and melodic in life — and it was the first thing I looked for when I came onto campus.
Now that we're in Blue Jay Day season (welcome, Class of 2030!), I can't help but recall my own experiences coming into Hopkins. I remember hearing the Octopodes perform for the first time during my own Blue Jay Day. Then, my friends and I snuck into the Shriver Hall basement during orientation to see all of the pianos, as if they were a well-guarded secret. But the first time music really called my name on campus was through a cappella. The thrill of callback auditions and calls from groups at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night feel like a distant memory, but what sticks with me is this: knowing that being engaged in a cappella is one of the most transformative, loving experiences that someone could have on campus. And even for the musically disinclined, I promise you that every group at Hopkins is worth a listen.
My first experiences in a cappella was being given a family I never had before — introducing names, majors, voice parts and anything that would help us connect over countless hours of rehearsal. I cannot emphasize this enough: the amount of time and energy that every a cappella group dedicates to singing is ludicrous. 6–8 hours on a regular week, piecing together arrangements made by students, under the tutelage of a student music director whose sole purpose is to make the group shine. The Notes of Ranvier immediately became a home to me during my first semester. It was amazing how quickly we pieced together, how our group bonded and grew enthusiastically to create amazing music.
And it wasn't just our group. Every a cappella group has a certain "feel" to them. The all-male AllNighters bask their audience in electrifying energy, and the all-women Sirens are such an amazing sisterhood that I swear you can feel the strength of their bonds in their music. There are the many-time award-winning Octopodes, the cranberry-clad Vocal Chords and ethnic groups that bring music both new and old onto the stage. There are the Humming Jays, Music Dynasty, Ketsev, Kranti and the Melanotes engaging in their cultures. Adoremus combines worship and beautiful singing in one! Perhaps the Mental Notes' comedy could cheer you up after a hard day, or Take Two might help you rock the pain away. Each one of these groups brings such a vibrant color to the music scene at Hopkins. And even better — they all support each other in their love for music. There's the Inter-A Cappella Council that helps coordinate fun (singing-filled!) events, while individual groups will hold mixers or multi-group rehearsals for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (or ICCA, the real version of the Pitch Perfect competition!). I was taken aback when I realized that some of the Sirens even traveled to Delaware to watch the Notes perform in ICCA Semi-Finals — how lucky I am to be with people who support and love music so much. It is through this exact sense of community, united by music alone, that makes the Hopkins a cappella scene so great. Each and every group sings their hearts out in places ranging from hospital waiting rooms to semesterly concerts. Is that not reason enough to listen?
So this is a love note to all of the singers on campus — all the arrangers, the choreographers, the treasurers and presidents who made all this singing possible. And I can only hope that the students will enjoy the show. So please support these a cappella groups! If you want a break from studying, show up to their concerts, for which each group has poured dozens of hours into their sets. If you're interested and haven't sung before, audition anyway! I didn't have any experience singing myself, and I consider myself transformed through the love and care in the Notes alone. I promise you that you will be better for it. We are here to grow, to sing and to perform — and I hope you enjoy the show.
Andrew Huynh is a freshman from Garden Grove, Calif. majoring in Neuroscience. His column, “Ad Astra,” captures his reflections on modern life and Hopkins as he navigates his transition into adulthood.
