Acapella or acoustic music ? what are we singing ?

      After I had completed my tenth grade in school I joined Jyoti Nivas Pre University College.Music in college was given great importance.In my first year I tried out for the college choir .As we did not have  a choir conductor at the time ,one of our lecturers took the auditions. I got selected . During the audition I had mentioned that  I could play the piano, so I was called to play for a function held in college.I was too scared to go there myself so I took two of my friends Aditi and Aswathi along with me . At our first practice session I met Ashrita ,Jenit and Babita . These girls were my seniors ,they were studying their second P.U.C and were part of the previous years Western Acoustic team. The next day two other freshers Suzanna and Jessica were made to join us, both of them could play the guitar.I still look back and wonder how all of us formed a team !

From left to right: Aswathi , Jenit,me , Aditi ,Jessica, Suzanna and Babita
Team  2008 -09

        The function that we had to sing for was called ' The International Conference ' .P.U.C as well as the degree students took part in this function.It was during one of the rehearsals that we heard the degree team perform,we were mesmerized by their voices .I had never heard voices blend so beautifully before. They sounded better that the original song and they used no instruments!
          Later that year we took part in the gospel fest 'Exodus' which is held every year in the month of September at St.Joseph College of Arts and Science and is open to P.U.C as well as degree students .We learnt a few hymns in two part harmony and Suzanna played the guitar.Ashrita who is actually an Indian music singer forced us to take part in vernacular music, as our college did  not have an Indian music team . We went on stage twice.The first time to sing vernacular music and the second time to sing western music.I  do not know what we sang for vernacular music but i do know that most of my singing was an act .I made a complete fool of myself but still had the time of my life.As the competition for vernacular music was close to nothing , we secured the first place. I still remember how much we laughed about winning a trophy that we did not deserve .The competition for western music on the other hand was worse than we could have ever imagined, it was really tough. Our team was nothing in comparison to the other teams . Our degree team secured the first place.They sounded beautiful , their harmony was perfect.

Jenit, I ,Aditi and Babita 

              It was only after this fest that we realized that we really needed to work hard. We started listening to acapella groups and tried to pick up something from them . We then got ready for largest Pre University fest  'Equinox'. This fest was hosted by St. Josephs Pre University College. The day before this fest we got to know  Ms. Salome Rao who is our present choir conductor. She was studying her third year B.com at the time . She listened to us sing and gave us her suggestions. She was surprised, as we, according to her had improved a lot.
We sang a five part harmony version of ' can't hurry love ' and secured the second place.
                We were  placed either first or second at the fest that followed . Every fest for us was an experience we learnt so much from.

All of us