The ChapTones bring local a cappella to Chapman with Tonesfest

Photo courtesy of the ChapTones

The ChapTones’ annual Tonesfest showcased some of Southern California’s best collegiate a cappella groups for one night at the Memorial Hall stage on Nov. 19. 

Among the groups were Bruin Harmony from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Vermillion Vocalists and Uniting Voices from University of California, Irvine (UCI) and After School Specials from the Claremont Colleges (the consortium of Pomona, Pitzer, Claremont Mckenna, Harvey Mudd and Scripps). 

Tonesfest took place ahead of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), an annual competition and the culminating event for many collegiate a cappella groups, including all five ensembles featured during the show. 

The ChapTones, an award-winning, gender-inclusive a cappella group at Chapman, started the night off strong wearing their trademark white and light blue, performing striking renditions of “Hypotheticals” by Lake Street Dive and “Blackbird” by The Beatles. 

Tonesfest was the first performance for The ChapTones’ nine newest members, who not only held their own with the veteran members but delivered standout performances individually. Sophomore film and television production major and ChapTones rookie Ellie McManamy delivered the first solo of the night in “Hypotheticals” to an awestruck crowd, clueing the audience in on one of the biggest takeaways of the show: these students are truly talented. 

Following up McManamy with another impressive solo in “Blackbird,” Isaiah Henderson, a freshman film production major who’s also new to the group, helped finish off The ChapTones’ stunning introduction to a night of inspiring melodies. 

Brought into the mainstream largely by movies like “Pitch Perfect,” a cappella carries a sort of cinematic, emotional quality that is especially amplified in live performance. Its emotional resonance becomes particularly intimate on stage and makes for engaging, dynamic live shows, of which Tonesfest was no exception.

Bruin Harmony, UCLA’s only all-male a cappella group, took the stage next with arrangements of "Chunky” by Bruno Mars and “What Now” by Rihanna. Celebrating their 20th anniversary as a group this year, Bruin Harmony featured textured melodies and impressive dynamics, with a talented soloist highlighted in each song. 

Up next was Vermillion Vocalists, an all-inclusive a cappella group also known as VeVo, from UCI. VeVo showcased a cappella versions of “Put on a Smile” by Bruno Mars, “Blue Ocean Floor” by Justin Timberlake and a mashup of “My Mind” by Yebba and “Runnin’ (Lose It All)” by Naughty Boy featuring Beyoncé and Arrow Benjamin. Their set was notably dynamic, flowing in and out of trios, duets and solos effortlessly. 

Each new group was introduced by a pair of ChapTones members who served as gracious — and oftentimes comedic — hosts that gave the evening’s show a solid throughline. 

After performances by the first two guest groups, the show went into a 15-minute intermission in which vintage ChapTones merchandise and a personalized serenade from the ChapTones were raffled off. Audience members also had the opportunity to send a “flower gram” with a handwritten message to a member of any of the five groups, which was a popular option for parents, friends and supporters alike. 

Uniting Voices (UV), UCI’s oldest a cappella group, kicked off the second half of the show with performances of “Smoke” by Victoria Monet featuring Lucky Daye, “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson and “Love You Long Time” by Pentatonix. One of the highlights of UV’s performance was their vocal percussionist, Adwik Chaturvedi, whose beatboxing was uniquely highlighted in a solo. 

Rounding out the guest ensembles was After School Specials (ASS) from the Claremont Colleges. Delivering an arrangement that included “The Subway” by Chappell Roan, “Oscar Winning Tears” by RAYE and “October Sky” by Yebba, the group’s artistry and talent was distinct. 

The highlight of their set was an especially soulful rendition of “Oscar Winning Tears” with a solo highlight featuring one of the group’s baritones, Hananiah Quinn. 

The ChapTones returned to the stage to close out the show with their take on “Wildflower” by Billie Eilish and “Point Your Finger” by Trousdale. The former featured a moving solo by senior psychology major and third-year group member Maddie Meyer, with the latter showcasing captivating choreography — the only choreography performed all night. 

The closing of the show had the crowd on their feet in a standing ovation. All five groups took the stage to revel in the praise and take pictures together, coming down and chatting with audience members afterward.

Every ensemble offered its own style, yet together they formed a harmonious whole and made for an impressive night of a cappella. As each group performed, the others cheered them on from the back of the audience, livening the crowd and showing the love and support the community has for one another. 

Though a cappella is never truly a solo act by nature, each solo proved to be a highlight within the sets, showcasing the individual talent in every group. The essence of a cappella lies in blending individual voices into cohesive sound, and each group truly delivered. 

With sound that was oftentimes downright astounding, the five groups cemented themselves as strong competitors and ones to watch as the ICCA comes around.