It's hot — and they're cool!
That might explain why Vocal Point is so successful. Its genre, a cappella music, is one of the most popular on the local music scene. And for 15 years, Vocal Point has been one of the best at it, now ranking as the most-requested performance group at Brigham Young University.
Vocal Point, which was started by Bob Ahlander and Dave Boyce in 1991, was officially adopted by the BYU school of music in 1994. According to current faculty director James Stevens, it now performs in front of more people each year than all other university-sponsored performing groups combined.
To celebrate this 15-year milestone, Vocal Point alumni from all over the country will gather in early March for a weekend of festivities, many of which are open to the public, including a reunion concert on Friday, and the annual spring concert on Saturday.
Current members of the group are Buck Mangum, David Anderson, Jimmy Dunn, Josh Rich, Ricky Parkinson, Ryan Innes, Jordan Keith, J.J. Haines and Dan Cahoon.
Over the years, the group has received its share of accolades and awards. Twice in the past four years, it has earned its way to the finals of the International Championships of Collegiate A Cappella, the premiere competition for university-level a cappella groups in North America. (And both times, the group elected to give up its slot at the event because the competition was held on Sunday; BYU has a long-standing policy of not participating in competitions on that day.)
Vocal Point has also received three Pearl Awards from the Faith Centered Music Association.
Because of the group's reputation, Vocal Point receives performance requests both locally and out-of-state. Recent gigs include two extended runs in Nauvoo, Ill., and tours to Washington, D.C., and Alaska. "The university hasn't officially named us a national touring group yet," says Stevens. "But as long as we keep getting invited to tour, hopefully we can keep fulfilling those requests."
It's as much — or more — than Ahlander and Boyce hoped for when they started the group. "We were best friends and we liked to sing together," explains Ahlander, who now works as director of communications for the Utah League of Credit Unions. "We talked about starting a quartet or something.
"Then Dave did an internship back east and learned about the tradition at Ivy League schools of student singing groups and glee clubs. That didn't exist at BYU outside the School of Music, but we thought it should."
So Ahlander and Boyce started Vocal Point with the idea that it would be something that might continue on after they graduated. "Newell Daley, who was then over fine arts, was very supportive. In year three, just as Dave and I were going to graduate, he proposed that the school of music adopt it and assign a faculty adviser."
Since then between 80 and 90 students have passed through Vocal Point, says Ahlander, who went back to serve as the faculty director between 2001-2004.
Since then, they've also formed an alumni association and are in the process of establishing an endowment fund for the group. "It's still relatively young, in terms of university groups," says Ahlander, but it's done pretty well in an area where there are a lot of other groups.
He thinks the popularity of a cappella can be attributed, in part, to its accessibility. "Because you sing without any instruments, you remove those barriers from audience. The audience connects because most of them can sing, too."
There are also the tight harmonies that are pleasing to the ear. And there's the versatility. "There's nothing more exciting that taking music the audience knows and delivering it in a way that surprises. You can do anything from a Vivaldi fugue to the Dave Matthews Band. When it's done well, it's really fun to hear."
If you go . . .
What: Vocal Point Reunion Concert
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Richards Building Dance Theatre, Brigham Young University, Provo
How much: $7
Phone: 801-422-4322
Also . . .
What: Vocal Point Spring Concert
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: de Jong Concert Hall, BYU, Provo
How much: $9 general, $6 students
Phone: 801-422-4322
E-mail: carma@desnews.com