Singing group spends spring break in Miami

By: Sarah Sherry
Contributing Writer

Whoever said music will get you nowhere was definitely wrong. The Sound of Five, Monmouth College’s a capella group, went all the way to Florida for part of spring break. The group flew to the “Sunshine State” on March 6 and returned March 14.

The Sound of Five is under the direction of Sarah Graham, the director of choral studies and vocal activities, and includes seniors Darren (Dee) Jackson and Sarah Braun, sophomores Lindsay Jackson, Cassie Frantz, Lynsay Ryan and Patrick Murphy and freshmen Brendan Murphy and Tim Seyller.

The group spent most of its time in Miami, where members attended the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Convention. At ACDA, the group viewed numerous concerts, attended useful music workshops and even received free sheet music.

Dee Jackson said two of his favorite concerts were the ones performed by the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus and The Swingle Singers. The Atlanta Symphony and Chorus performed pieces by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Claude Debussy. The Swingle Singers, an a capella group from London, performed songs including Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” and other pieces in which the group replicated instruments with their voices.

“It was a great experience. During the day we could shop or go to the beach, and in the evening we saw different concerts,” said Lindsay Jackson.

The trip was not all fun in the sun, though. The Sound of Five had performances in Hollywood Hills and Tampa. The music on their repertoire included “In the Still of the Night,” “Stand by Me,” “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and some contemporary Christian songs.

“It was a really good experience, culturally and musically,” said Frantz.

“The trip was fun and amazing. Sound of Five is one of the things that has made my senior year,” said Dee Jackson.