How COVID Has Changed Cornell A Cappella

By Mel LaFountain

The pandemic has changed the way a lot of organizations operate at Cornell, and a cappella groups are no exception. Being in one myself, I can confidently say that this year has been a challenge. There are no concerts to rehearse for, in-person events are nearly impossible, and staying connected to members of the group can be hard. So what’s the point of being in the group at all? Despite difficulties that every a cappella group has faced, some are still trying to stay active and continue to create in the face of uncertainty. Here are a few ways that my group, Hearsay A Cappella, has adjusted to conditions this year.

Auditions

In a normal, pandemic-free year, a cappella groups hold auditions and callbacks in person (now a fond, distant memory). This, of course, cannot happen with COVID guidelines in place. So, Hearsay took to Zoom for auditions starting in the fall semester. We attached the meeting link to our audition form and tried our best to carry out our regular audition format virtually. Musical director Emily Haney ’23 shared her screen with the auditionee, guiding them through the audition process with cues from Google Slides. Despite some flaws in the system (e.g. poor internet connection messing with audio quality, an auditionee glitching while singing, etc.), we still had two semesters of successful auditions and welcomed five new members this year!

Rehearsals

Perhaps the biggest change has been the way Hearsay approaches rehearsals. Usually, we would meet in person for two hours, three times a week. Now, we have periodic one-on-one Zoom check-ins with our musical director so that we stay on track with the songs we’re learning. What was once a weekly, six-hour time commitment, has whittled down to a brief 15-20 minute call. 

Concerts

Concerts were obviously a no-go for this year, so Hearsay opted for the closest alternative. Thanks to Rafael Bitanga ’23 and his video production talents, we were able to put together a virtual concert that we posted on YouTube in January. Each member recorded her part separately throughout finals week and then recorded a video once we had returned home for Thanksgiving. After that, Rafael put the audio and video together to create a concert of four songs. We are hoping to do this same format again this semester. 

Social Events

Despite having to navigate COVID guidelines, Hearsay still remains a very social group, while maintaining safety rules. Rather than our regular in-person gatherings, we’ve opted for game nights over Zoom, or socially distanced meetings on the slope. Although it is different from what we’re used to, it’s still nice to see other members, even on a screen. 

When we came back to campus, I was worried about how Hearsay would function while making adjustments for COVID. It’s hard to imagine an a cappella group that can’t meet in person, but we’ve figured out how to make it work. I’m looking forward to hopefully being together again next semester, but for right now, I’m content with the fact that we’re still able to make music together from a safe distance.