This is a list of university
A cappella
''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
musical groups in the UK who have achieved some level of
notability
Notability is the property
of being worthy of notice, having fame, or being considered to be of a high degree of interest, significance, or distinction. It also refers to the capacity to be such. Persons who are notable due to public responsibi ...
or recognition.
University of Aberdeen
Aberpella
Aberpella are the original
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen ( sco, University o' 'Aiberdeen; abbreviated as ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; gd, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Sc ...
's A cappella ensemble. They were founded in 2011 as the AUSA (Aberdeen University Student Association) A Cappella Society by Nathan Chadwick. They were semi-finalists at the Voice Festival UK 2015, Voice Festival UK 2017 and ICCA 2017.
In 2015, Aberpella and their sister group The Killer Quines recorded their first professional EP - "3000 And Counting". In 2017 Aberpella recorded their first solo EP - "50 Tones of Grey".
The group also performed a week long run of their 2016/17 repertoire at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival under the title "Aberpella Presents: 50 Tones of Grey"
In 2019, Aberpella placed second at the Scottish A Cappella Championships, and were also the only mixed-gender group to place.
The Killer Quines
The Killer Quines are an all-female A cappella group at the
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen ( sco, University o' 'Aiberdeen; abbreviated as ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; gd, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Sc ...
. Founded in 2013 by Joanna Casson, the name derives from the
doric dialect commonly used in Aberdeenshire where 'quine' translates as 'girl'. The group covers songs in a range of musical styles from pop, indie, folk, jazz, soul, gospel, to classical. Since the group's emergence, they have competed in the Scottish A Cappella Championships. In 2015, the group got through to the semi-finals at a Voice Festival UK in Glasgow, and in 2017 to the quarterfinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. The Killer Quines are frequently invited to perform at local events at various venues across Scotland, including an International Women's Day event (2014), a University of Aberdeen LGBTQ event (2015), and Maggie's cancer charity in Glasgow (2016), as well as hosting their own concerts in Aberdeen city.
Chordiac Arrest
Chordiac Arrest were formed in the summer of 2011 by a group of medical students. Although they have performed at some events in Aberdeen, most recently being joint winners of the open Vocal Group class (V21) in the Aberdeenshire Music Festival, they have never entered the Voice Festival UK. They disbanded in the summer of 2012, as final year of medicine spread the group far and wide on rural placements. However a reunion of six members formed GCS-3 (the Gangster Coma Scales - 3) who performed at a Christmas Concert in 2012, with the American group
Pentatonix
Pentatonix (abbreviated PTX) is an American a cappella group from Arlington, Texas, currently consisting of vocalists Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee. Characterized by their pop-style arrangements ...
as their inspiration.
In addition to this group something of an A cappella revolution occurred at the medical school and two more groups started towards the end of 2012, namely The Ultrasounds and A Patella, under the guidance of Tim Lewis.
University of Bath
The Alley Barbers
The longest-running vocal group at Bath University, The Alley Barbers sing a wide range of songs in four part harmony, often in the barbershop style. Current conductor and former student member, Tim Greeves, succeeded the director of student music-making, Robin Jackson, on his retirement in 2005. The founder of Bristol University's TUBBS A Cappella was a member of the Alley Barbers from 2000 to 2001.
Aquapella
Aquapella are the
University of Bath
(Virgil, Georgics II)
, mottoeng = Learn the culture proper to each after its kind
, established = 1886 (Merchant Venturers Technical College) 1960 (Bristol College of Science and Technology) 1966 (Bath University of Technology) 1971 (univ ...
's first contemporary A cappella group. Founded by Civil Engineering student Andrew Hakes in 2011, they competed in the Voice Festival UK for the first time in 2012. Since then, they have released an EP Lambda in 2016, won the UK ICCA finals in 2017 and VoiceFest UK in 2018. They embarked on their first UK tour, ''I Wouldn't Be'', in 2017/2018.
Bath Spa University
No Direction
No Direction are a six-part all-male A cappella
vocal ensemble
A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...
who started in late 2012, and are the university's best acknowledged A cappella/barbershop group. The group formed during rehearsals for the university's production of
The Magic Flute
''The Magic Flute'' (German: , ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a ''Singspiel'', a popular form during the time it was written that inclu ...
by
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...
, and since then have played in several venues around Bath. They have become well known for their comedic style, with several arrangements written by group members. Their repertoire has an extensive range, from classic, well-known songs such as '
The Longest Time
"The Longest Time" is a doo-wop song by Billy Joel, released in 1984 as the fourth single from the 1983 album '' An Innocent Man''. Following the theme of the album in paying tribute to Joel's musical influences, the song is presented in the st ...
' by
Billy Joel
William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man (song), Piano Man" after his album and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo ...
to more modern songs such as '
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...
' by
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American comedy rock duo formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. It was founded by actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass, who were members of The Actors' Gang theater company at the time. The duo's name is derived from "tenacio ...
and others, including some contemporary rap songs.
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham's A cappella society, A Cappella Birmingham, currently has seven groups - two all-female, and seven mixed. One former group at the university - The Sons of Pitches - has since become an external group, and performs professionally.
The Sons of Pitches
The Sons of Pitches is an all-male A cappella group formed in October 2010
by Mark Nathan.
In 2011, they took part in the inaugural Birmingham semifinal of the Voice Festival UK. In 2012, they won the Birmingham semifinal of Voice Festival UK, and competed at the final in London. They returned to the London finals again in 2013 where they received more awards than any other group in the competition, being recognised for 'Outstanding Arrangement', 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion', 'Outstanding Choreography/Stagecraft' and 'Outstanding Performance', but ultimately lost overall to Vive from Guildhall. However, just a few weeks later The Sons of Pitches won the 'International Wildcard Round' of the
International Championships of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), and competed in the International Finals at
The Town Hall, New York City, on 20 April 2013.
In September and October 2015 The Sons of Pitches were one of the A cappella groups who appeared in the
Gareth Malone
Gareth Edmund Malone (born 9 November 1975) is an English choirmaster and broadcaster, self-described as an "animateur, presenter and populariser of choral singing". He is best known for his television appearances in programmes such as '' The ...
BBC television series, ''
The Naked Choir
''The Naked Choir'' is a BBC Two television series broadcast from 22 September to 27 October 2015. Presented by choirmaster Gareth Malone, the show featured eight a cappella groups competing to be chosen as the UK's best.
Production
Plans for ...
''. The choir won the competition.
The Uptone Girls
The Birmingham Songbirds was an all-female A cappella group. In 2012 they reached the Birmingham semifinal of the Voice Festival UK. Later that year, they changed their name to 'The Uptone Girls'.
''Former Groups''
Augmented Seven was a mixed-voice A cappella group from the
University of Birmingham
, mottoeng = Through efforts to heights
, established = 1825 – Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery1836 – Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery1843 – Queen's College1875 – Mason Science College1898 – Mason Univers ...
formed in 2010 by Tom Johnson and Mark Nathan.
They were
University of Birmingham
, mottoeng = Through efforts to heights
, established = 1825 – Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery1836 – Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery1843 – Queen's College1875 – Mason Science College1898 – Mason Univers ...
's first A cappella group and only mixed group.
In 2011, the group entered the Voice Festival UK at the inaugural Birmingham semifinal, and progressed to the final after winning the 'Outstanding Performance' award.
Later that year, the group split up due to artistic differences. Three of its male members went on to join the second incarnation of The Sons of Pitches from 2011 to 2012. This group has since disbanded.
The Lorelites was an all-female a cappella group formed in January 2011.
In 2011 they took part in the first Birmingham semifinal of the Voice Festival UK. Now defunct.
University of Bristol
Academy
Academy are the university's all-male-identifying a cappella group formed in 2015 by Nick Jones. The group is known for their fun, crowd-pleasing stage presence and creative arrangements. In the summer of 2017, Academy appeared on Sky One's "
Sing: Ultimate A Cappella", opening the first episode. In 2018, their first year of competing and Jones' first year as music director, Academy progressed to the ICCA UK Final in London's
New Wimbledon Theatre
The New Wimbledon Theatre is situated on the Broadway, Wimbledon, London, in the London Borough of Merton. It is a Listed building, Grade II listed Edwardian era, Edwardian theatre built by the theatre lover and entrepreneur, J. B. Mulholland. B ...
. Later in the same year, Academy reached the semifinals of the Voice Festival UK. In August 2018, Academy made their Edinburgh Fringe debut performing the joint show "Academy and Pitch Fight present: Buy One, Get One Free" alongside their sister group Pitch Fight. In December 2018, Academy released their first single and music video, Jones' arrangement of
LunchMoney Lewis
Gamal Kosh Lewis (born January 11, 1988), better known as LunchMoney Lewis, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his 2015 single " Bills", which topped the charts in Australia and peaked within t ...
' "
Bills", which featured in their 2018 ICCA set. The group reached the ICCA UK final again in 2019, their second year entering the competition, with beatboxer Cem Rifat winning Outstanding Vocal Percussion at the quarterfinal stage. In 2020 Academy recorded and released their debut album "Exhibit A". The album went on to receive 5
CARA
Cara or CARA may refer to:
Places
* Čara, a village on the island of Korčula, Croatia
* Cara, a village in Cojocna Commune, Cluj County, Romania
* Cara Island
Cara Island ( gd, Cara) is a small island which is located off the west coast o ...
nominations, including 2 for their version of
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson (born 4 September 1975) is a British-American DJ, songwriter, record producer, and record executive. He is best known for his collaborations with artists such as Duran Duran, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, Robbi ...
's
Bang Bang Bang. The group went on to win the CARA for Best Lower Voices Collegiate Song, and came runner-up for Best Debut Scholastic Album.
All Sharps
All Sharps (formerly known as HotTUBBS) was an auditioned A cappella group partially-contained within TUBBS A Cappella. Formed in 2008, they have won medals at the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition and Oxford Music Festival. They had also been semi-finalists in Voice Festival UK twice: in 2012
and in 2015. HotTUBBS rebranded at the end of 2017 to become All Sharps.
The Bristol Suspensions
The Bristol Suspensions are a mixed voice A cappella group formed in October 2014 by Joe Pickin, Eve Robertson, and Rafaella Barratt. In their first year of existence, they performed in the Voice Festival 2015, released a hit music video, sang on BBC Radio, recorded an album, and brought a show to the Edinburgh Fringe, with a sell-out final night. In their second year, they placed third in the ICCA semifinals, as well as achieving an award for Outstanding Arrangement in Aliak Bedirian's 'Madness/Magic' and Outstanding Vocal Percussion for Scott Lechleiter, and in 2016 won the Voice Festival UK university competition. In 2017, the group completed a US Tour and performed on BBC One's ''Pitch Battle'' and released their debut album ''Landmark''. For three consecutive years (2017-2019), the group have placed in the top three groups at the ICCA UK Finals and were runner-up in 2019 (missing first place by one point). From 2018-2019, the group have won special awards for 'Outstanding Choreography' and 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion' two years in a row awarded to Performance Directors: Sam Walter (2018/9) and Alessia Doyle (2019) and Vocal Percussionists: James Dempsey (2018/9) and Jonny Simon (2018/9) respectively. In 2019, The Bristol Suspensions celebrated the group's 5th birthday with a 'Five Year Anniversary Show' where all previous generations of the group came back to perform in a reunion concert alongside the incumbent group. The fifth generation of the group released an EP of their 2019 ICCA set, titled 'Testament' and won the ''Irish International A Cappella Festival''. In the 2021 virtual edition of ICCA, the group progressed to the international final of the competition with their version of "The Heartburn Song" by
Lawrence
Lawrence may refer to:
Education Colleges and universities
* Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States
* Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States
Preparator ...
, picking up awards for Vocal Percussion, Arrangement and Audio Mixing on the way.
The Bristones/Top Note/The Tone Rangers (formerly known as TUBBS A Cappella)
The University of Bristol Barbershop Singers was a society formed in 2007 at the
University of Bristol
, mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'')
, established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter
, type ...
by Iain Hallam, from an earlier quartet, to act as an umbrella group supporting "non-classical" A cappella singing. There were three main unauditioned choruses (for upper, lower and mixed voices) and the auditioned chorus listed below, plus numerous quartets and smaller ensembles. Several member quartets have competed at the national barbershop finals, with Park Street and Patchwork qualifying to represent the UK at international competitions. In 2014, Park Street became the National Barbershop Quartet Champions. Following their Edinburgh Fringe show 'Cheap Trills' in 2017, TUBBS A Cappella was rebranded as three new unauditioned groups: The Bristones (mixed voices), Top Note (upper voices) and The Tone Rangers (lower voices).
Pitch Fight
Pitch Fight are a 14-piece all female identifying competitive A cappella group formed in 2015. In 2016 they competed in the
VoiceFest. They have appeared on national television in Sky One's "
Sing: Ultimate A Cappella" and became runners up in the
ICCA 2018 Exeter Quarterfinal, having also picked up awards for Catt Hurman's "Outstanding Choreography" and Äyanna Christie-Brown's "Outstanding Solo". They then went on to place fourth in the
ICCA UK Final 2018, again winning the "Outstanding Soloist" award and just two weeks later became
VoiceFest 2018 finalists. In August 2018 they debuted at the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...
alongside their brother group Academy A Cappella with their joint show "Academy and Pitch Fight present: Buy One, Get One Free" which was sold out for its final two performances. In 2019, Pitch Fight once again qualified for the ICCA UK Final by placing as Runners Up in the Exeter Quarterfinal, along with picking up the "Outstanding Choreography" award for the second year in a row. Pitch Fight are returning to the Edinburgh fringe in August 2019 with their aca-brothers, Academy, to perform "Romeo & Juliet: An A Capella Tragedy". In 2020 they recorded their first EP, Purple Reign, which released on the 26 September. The group placed third in the UK semifinal of the virtual ICCA in 2021, receiving the award for "Outstanding Choreography" at Quarterfinals for the third consecutive year.
Brunel University
BUBS
The Brunel University Barbershop Singers (BUBS) are a group of experienced male soloists who sing together as a barbershop group throughout the academic year in both public events and an array of concerts on behalf of
Brunel University London
Brunel University London is a Public university, public Research universities, research university located in the Uxbridge area of London, England. It was founded in 1966 and named after the Victorian era, Victorian engineer and pioneer of the I ...
.
University of Cambridge
Cadenza
Cadenza is a mixed-voice group formed originally in 1997 as a small jazz choir, complete with conductor and band, which was changed in 2002 to its present setup as a smaller close harmony A cappella group.
In March 2011, the group won the Voice Festival UK
and travelled to New York to compete in the ICCA final in April 2011. They did not place in the top three.
In January 2012, it was confirmed that Cadenza would not be competing in the Voice Festival UK in 2012, thus becoming the first ever group not to try and retain their title.
Fitz Barbershop
Fitz Barbershop is an all-male A cappella group that used to accept only members from
Fitzwilliam College
Fitzwilliam College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.
The college traces its origins back to 1869 and the foundation of the Non-Collegiate Students Board, a venture intended to offer academically excellent students of all ...
but now is open to members of all colleges. Having been founded in 1994 by Alex Tester, the then Organ Scholar for Fitzwilliam Chapel Choir, it is the oldest currently-running A cappella group in Cambridge.
At Christmas 2009, they went to Berlin to busk at the Christmas markets, and were featured on the German 24-hour news channel.
In 2009, the group entered the inaugural Voice Festival UK competition in the Cambridge semifinal. They won the award for 'Outstanding Musicality' for
Wonderful Tonight
"Wonderful Tonight" is a ballad written by Eric Clapton. It was included on Clapton's 1977 album ''Slowhand''. Clapton wrote the song about Pattie Boyd. "the hard-rock pioneer and guitar god also become a soft-rock star in the mid-1970s. He cel ...
.
In 2010 they entered again, winning the award for 'Outstanding Performance' and the '
Ward Swingle
Ward Lamar Swingle (September 21, 1927 – January 19, 2015) was an American vocalist and jazz musician who founded The Swingle Singers in France in 1962.
Life and career
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Swingle studied music, particularly jazz, from a ...
Award for Originality', gifting them a
wild card into the London final. They went on to claim the 'Outstanding Performance' award again in the final.
They frequently perform at Cambridge May Balls, and have on occasion hosted one night events at the
ADC Theatre
The ADC Theatre is a theatre in Cambridge, England, and also a department of the University of Cambridge. It is located in Park Street, Cambridge, Park Street, north off Jesus Lane. The theatre is owned by the Cambridge University Amateur Dramati ...
. In March 2014 the group put on a 20th anniversary concert alongside the Fitz Sirens at Fitzwilliam College.
The Fitz Sirens
The Fitz Sirens is an all-female A cappella group affiliated to Fitzwilliam College. It has performed at many prestigious venues, including
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the first lord of the treasury, usually, by convention, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Along wi ...
and
The House of Lords
The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster ...
.
In 2010, the group reached the final of the Voice Festival UK, where they won the award for 'Outstanding Musicality'.
Blue Shakti
Blue Shakti is a mixed voice Hindi/English fusion A cappella group. It was formed in 2010 and has performed at various events in and around Cambridge, including society balls and Mastana, an annual cultural show organised by students.
The King's Men
Formerly known as "Collegium Regale", The King’s Men is the close harmony group formed from the Choral Scholars of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. The group has been running for more than 80 years.
The King’s Men functions separately from the main Choir (most famous for the broadcast of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on the radio at Christmas) and is run entirely by the members of the group itself. It performs regularly around Britain, and has performed as far afield as North America, Australia and Hong Kong.
Cardiff University
Cardiff University A Cappella society was established in 2013 and currently has five groups: Acappellads, Acatude, DeciBelles, InterChorus and Vox. Cardiff University A Cappella Society performs two showcases a year (Winter and Spring) and gig/busk throughout the year. The society has also been booked for weddings. In 2019, the society had a membership of 116 across the groups, making them a large society at Cardiff University for the first time in their five-year history.
Competitive Groups
Acappellads
Acappellads are an all-male A Cappella group and were the first group formed within the Cardiff University A Cappella society. The group qualified for the UK ICCA Semifinals in both 2019 and 2020. Arrangements include "How Long/Attention" (Charlie Puth), "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (Britney Spears), Weathered (Jack Garratt) and "Watercolour/Crush/Propane Nightmares" (Pendulum).
DeciBelles
DeciBelles are a small all female A cappella group from Cardiff University. DeciBelles perform a range of songs arranged by members of the group, and like performing songs about female empowerment. Current arrangements include; Almost Human (Rag'n'Bone man), Salute (Little Mix), Superlove (Andreya Triana) and more. In 2019, the DeciBelles came third in their ICCA quarterfinal in Exeter, becoming the first Welsh group to qualify for the ICCA semi finals. They also reached the ICCA semi finals in 2020. The group released their debut EP, "Watch Your Back" in May 2021.
Vox
Vox are a small mixed voice A cappella group from Cardiff University currently consisting of fourteen members. Vox perform a range of songs, arranged by members of the group. Current arrangements include "Fading into Grey" (Billy Lockett), "Mistakes" (Andra Day), "Palo Santo" (Years And Years), and many others. Vox have now qualified for the ICCA quarterfinals three times, in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
University of Durham
Northern Lights
Northern Lights are a mixed voice A cappella group from
Durham University
, mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills (Psalm 87:1)
, established = (university status)
, type = Public
, academic_staff = 1,830 (2020)
, administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19)
, chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen
, vice_chan ...
who perform a wide range of genres. The group was formed as Palatinotes in 2013 and in their first year they performed at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2015 they released their first single, 'Dancing in the Moonlight', reached the semi-finals of the ICCAs and returned to the Edinburgh Fringe with sell-out performances of their show, 'The Northern Lights Display'.
In 2016 they competed again in the ICCAs, in which they came fourth in the UK, after winning both 'Outstanding Soloist' and 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion' in their quarterfinal heat. In August 2016 they released an EP, 'Bright Lights Small City' and a music video, 'Don't Look Back in Anger', before returning to the Edinburgh Fringe for a third run with their show, 'The Voice Awakens'.
Northern Lights were the winners of the Northern regional final of the 2017 ICCAs, once again taking home 'Outstanding Soloist' and 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion'. They released their second music video, 'Bird Set Free' that summer and took their show 'Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them' to the Fringe.
In 2018 Northern Lights placed third in the UK Final of the ICCAs after winning the Northern quarterfinal heat and receiving 'Outstanding Soloist' and 'Outstanding Arrangement'. They have recorded their second EP and third music video.
In 2020, Northern Lights placed 2nd in the UK Finals after winning the Northern quarterfinal for the 5th time in a row and received 'Outstanding Soloist'.
In 2022, they placed 3rd in the UK Finals after winning their quarterfinal and received 'Outstanding Arrangement' and 'Outstanding Soloist' once again.
The group have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe for the last 6 years and will be returning again in August 2022.
University of Edinburgh
Licence to Trill
Licence to Trill is the University of Edinburgh's only all-female competitive A Cappella group. They were formed in 2016 and consist of 15 members.
In 2017, they were placed second at their first Scottish A Cappella Championships and won a place at the Voice Festival UK Final in the same year. In 2019, Licence to Trill won the Scottish A Cappella Championships. Vocal coach and Judge, Jennifer John, praised the group on their vocal blend, together with tight choreography and ability to convey their passion and close bond to the audience.
Licence to Trill released their first EP 'Red is the New Black' in March 2019.
Tone Up
Tone Up are the University of Edinburgh's only mixed A Cappella group, forming in 2016. They were selected for the Voice Festival UK Final in 2017, where they won several 'Outstanding' awards including 'Outstanding Overall Performance' and 'Outstanding Soloist.'
In 2018, Tone Up were placed fourth in the ICCA UK Final overall. At the 2019 Scottish A Cappella Championship, Tone Up won both the 'Outstanding Soloist' and 'Outstanding Arrangement' award.
Tone Up released a music video to their first single 'New York,' which was nominated for two A Cappella Video Awards at the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival.
Cloud IX
Cloud IX is the University of Edinburgh's only all-male competitive A Cappella group, formed in 2017 (usually) consisting of 9 members.
In 2021, they were placed third in the Scottish A Cappella Championships and won the best video award. By beating all other Scottish all-male A Cappella groups, they had won the title 'Scotland's Premier All-Male A Cappella Group'. After placing third, the group had placed new efforts on placing higher in future competitions.
In 2022, they managed to do this and placed second in the Scottish A Cappella Championships thanks to the efforts of the group's three MDs: Ruari Fraser, Daniel Larbi and Daniel Kozma-Percy. Furthermore, the group won the 'Best Arrangement Award' for Daniel Larbi's beautiful rendition of Still Fighting It - Ben Folds.
University of Exeter
Sweet Nothings
Sweet Nothings is an all-female group from Exeter University. They were formed in 2006 and as such are the oldest group at the university.
In 2009, they competed in the inaugural Voice Festival UK competition
and in 2012 they competed again, winning an award for 'Outstanding Performance' in the Bristol regional round.
They have competed twice in the semi-finals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella and three times at the Voice Festival UK, winning the award for 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion' in 2016.
In May 2015 they recorded their first ever 5-track EP titled 'Unwrapped' with The Vocal Company. They performed their first show at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe named 'Go Sweet or Go Home' and returned with 'Unwrapped' (2015), 'We Need To Talk' (2016) and in 2017 turned the tables (being an all female group) and sang songs traditionally sung by men in their show 'Who Run the World?'. In 2018 they performed 'Sweet Nothings Live at the Edinburgh Fringe!' and in 2019 'Ocean's 9'. The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 closed down all Edinburgh Festival performances and tourism but Sweet Nothings returned in 2021 with their show 'Now That's What I Call Timeless' and again in 2022 with 'A Night at the Movies'.
In August 2015, they released their first charity single titled 'Telephone', a mash up of Beyoncé & Lady GaGa's 'Telephone' and Lady GaGa's 'Just Dance'
Through the Summer of 2016, Sweet Nothings was selected to participate in the Gareth Malone's BBC 2 program "The Choir: Gareth's Best in Britain" which was aired in November–December 2016, seen by audiences of ten million people.
Semi-Toned
Semi-Toned
Semi-Toned is a British all-male A cappella group from the University of Exeter, in the United Kingdom who sing a variety of modern and classic songs. They were formed in October 2010 originally as a barbershop quintet, before establishing th ...
is an all-male contemporary A cappella group who sing a variety of modern and classic songs.
They were formed in October 2010 by Eddie Henley, Jon Minter and Simon Eaton.
They competed for the first time in
The Voice Festival UK
The Voice Festival UK (VF-UK) is a UK arts education charity dedicated to providing opportunities to get involved with contemporary a cappella, unaccompanied singing.
The Voice Festival's central purpose is to increase the awareness and popularit ...
in 2012, winning both "Outstanding Arrangement" and "Outstanding Vocal Percussion". In 2013 the group won the South West regional, advancing to the London final, as well as "Outstanding Stagecraft and Choreography" and, once more, "Outstanding Vocal Percussion".
Semi-Toned made their Edinburgh Fringe debut in 2013. Their show "The Exe-Men" was reviewed enthusiastically in a Fringe that was not kind to A cappella groups.
In 2014, the group once again reached the final of The Voice Festival UK and winning awards for "Outstanding Arrangement" for their mash-up of "Dear Darlin'" by Olly Murs and "The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)" by Ylvis, "Outstanding Overall Performance" and "Outstanding Soloist" for Michael Luya in "Motion Picture Soundtrack" by Radiohead.
They then continued their Edinburgh Fringe success with 2014's "Toned Up" which saw a second five-star review from Broadway Baby and a prestigious "Bobby" Award, the group becoming the first University ensemble and first A cappella group to achieve this. In September the group recorded its first self-titled 5-track EP with The Vocal Company, featuring covers of John Newman, Daft Punk, Paolo Nutini, Jay Z and Radiohead.
In January 2015, Semi-Toned competed in the Semi-Finals of the
ICCA's in London, finishing in second place overall, whilst winning "Outstanding Choreography". Then in April, Semi-Toned won The Voice Festival UK as well as "Outstanding Overall Performance"
thereby fully establishing itself upon the UK A cappella scene. Soon after they embarked on their first tour of the East Coast of the United States, visiting and performing with groups from Colombia, NYU, Princeton, Yale and North Eastern College
Harmonics A Cappella
Harmonics A Cappella (formerly Harmonics) was formed in October 2012 by Charlotte Sidwell and Zoe Fitzsimmons. As the only auditioned mixed classical and contemporary a cappella group at the University of Exeter, they perform both classical pieces and contemporary pieces with a slightly more classical feel. Unlike the other auditioned groups at the university, they do not compete; instead focussing on performing their varied repertoire at a professional standard, as well as recording and releasing songs on major streaming services. They have a tradition of busking annually at Christmas to raise money for a group-chosen charity.
Harmonics A Cappella released their first CD in December 2014, "Christmas With Harmonics". The group has since released multiple singles via streaming services. For example, they recorded Eric Whitacre’s ‘Sleep’ in November 2019.
Harmonics A Cappella became an official Exeter Guild affiliated society in August 2020.
On 21 December 2020 they released a Christmas EP, titled O Night Divine, comprising five songs recorded remotely during lockdown.
The Bluebelles
The Bluebelles are Exeter University's newest all-female A cappella group.
Formed in September 2013 the Bluebelles are an all-female group that started out focusing on jazz and barbershop-style music, however have recently moved towards a more contemporary repertoire. They perform a wide variety of genres, and have performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since 2015. The group also released their debut EP "Double Denim" on 8 August 2018.
Illuminations
Illuminations are a mixed A cappella group, formed by Emily Botsford and Charlotte Mckeown in October 2011, who sing music ranging from modern pop to rock classics. In their 2012-2013 season the group performed for BBC's Children in Need and competed in their first Voice Festival UK, receiving a personal commendation for stagecraft. They competed in the ICCA quarter-finals competition 2016 at Exeter University, winning Best Soloist for Izzie Ballentine-Dykes' rendition of Regina Spector's 'The Call', arranged by Abigail Green. They regularly perform at local venues such as the Old Firehouse and John Gandy's open mic nights where they also won first prize during early 2016.
The group went on to place second at the 2017 South West quarter finals ICCA's, competing in the UK final at Wimbledon Theatre, London. Illuminations began their Edinburgh Fringe debut the same year, performing to a sell-out audience in their show, 'A Pitchpipers Guide to the Melody'. Not only did they debut their first Fringe show in 2017, but they also competed on the Sky One show 'Sing: Ultimate A cappella', reaching the final round and placing second in their heat. The group continues to grow musically and returned to Edinburgh in 2018 to perform a second Fringe show 'By Process Of Illumination' and will be releasing an EP and music video in the Summer. In 2019 they performed their third Edinburgh Fringe show 'Minds Alight'. The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 closed down all Edinburgh Festival performances and tourism but Illuminations returned in 2021 with their show 'Somebody Special - The Aca-Betrayal' and again in 2022 with 'The 11th Hour'. The group currently has twelve members (as of 2021), ranging from first to fourth years.
They post frequently on Instagram where they showcase their current songs and group events https://www.instagram.com/exeterilluminations/
''Former Groups''
The Madrigals are a mixed A cappella group from Exeter University formed in 2008 by Ben Pennington. They specialise in singing
madrigals
A madrigal is a form of secular vocal music most typical of the Renaissance (15th–16th c.) and early Baroque (1600–1750) periods, although revisited by some later European composers. The polyphonic madrigal is unaccompanied, and the number ...
.
The group has since disbanded.
Hoi Rhapsodoi are a mixed A cappella octet from
Exeter University
, mottoeng = "We Follow the Light"
, established = 1838 - St Luke's College1855 - Exeter School of Art1863 - Exeter School of Science 1955 - University of Exeter (received royal charter)
, type = Public
, ...
. Formed in 2008 by Erika Borley and Tom Simpson, they sing a huge mix of secular and sacred music. The group has since disbanded in 2016.
University of Glasgow
Choral Stimulation
Choral Stimulation is a mixed-voice A cappella group from the
University of Glasgow
, image = UofG Coat of Arms.png
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms
Flag
, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
formed in 2008. Since 2010, they have competed in the Voice Festival UK at the St Andrews semifinal. In 2011, they won the award for 'Outstanding Performance'
for their arrangement entitled "Night at the Movies", which incorporated theme tunes from several Hollywood blockbusters, including
The Lord of the Rings
''The Lord of the Rings'' is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's boo ...
,
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
and
Pirates of the Caribbean
''Pirates of the Caribbean'' is a Disney media franchise encompassing numerous theme park rides, a series of films, and spin-off novels, as well as a number of related video games and other media publications. The franchise originated with th ...
. Became the first group outside of St Andrews to win the VF-UK Regional for Scotland in 2013 to go on to compete in London as well as picking up the award for 'Outstanding Arrangement'.
In September and October 2015 Choral Stimulation were one of eight groups who appeared in the BBC television series, ''
The Naked Choir
''The Naked Choir'' is a BBC Two television series broadcast from 22 September to 27 October 2015. Presented by choirmaster Gareth Malone, the show featured eight a cappella groups competing to be chosen as the UK's best.
Production
Plans for ...
'', after auditions from 400 groups from across the UK.
Imperial College London
The Techtonics
The Techtonics is an all-male A cappella group from
Imperial College London
Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. Its history began with Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, who developed his vision for a cu ...
formed in the summer of 2008 by Christian Carter and Ed Brightman.
The group became an immediate success on campus, coming second on Imperial Idol 2009, and appearing alongside
Athlete
An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance.
Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-devel ...
and
Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding (; (born 21 May 1973) is an English actor and comedian. He is best known for his work with The Mighty Boosh comedy troupe alongside Julian Barratt in the 2000s, and more recently as a co-presenter of ''The Great British Bake Off'' ...
at Imperial's Summer Ball that year.
In 2010, they participated in the Cambridge semifinal of the Voice Festival UK, and Carter received the award for 'Outstanding Arrangement' of
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter Williams (born 13 February 1974) is an English singer and songwriter. He found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995, and achieved commercial success after launching a solo career in 1996. His debut stud ...
' "
Come Undone".
The following year, they competed in the newly formed London semifinal, and won the award for 'Outstanding Performance'.
The group took a show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for a week in the summer of 2010 and sold out on their final performance.
They recorded an album in 2010 and regularly busk on Portobello Road on a Saturday morning.
Between 28 August and 4 September 2011, the group embarked upon a tour of Croatia alongside the Imperial College Chamber Choir, and competed in the Vocal Marathon A cappella competition. They were described as "setting the audience on fire" and bringing a "fresh and positive energy" to the competition.
The group competed in the London Regional Round of the Voice Festival UK 2012, claiming awards for 'Outstanding Performance' and 'Outstanding Soloist'.
The Techtonics won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella in 2016, becoming the first non-US group to ever hold the title.
The group returned to the ICCA in 2020, placing third in the UK Semifinal. In the 2021 virtual running of ICCA, The Techtonics placed second in the UK, receiving awards for best audio mixing along the way.
Imperielles
Formed in 2011, Imperielles are Imperial's most established all-female A cappella group. They won the award for Outstanding Soloist at the international semi-finals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCAs) in 2015 and competed in Voice Festival UK in March 2012 and 2014.
The Scopes
The Scopes is a mixed group, formed in 2011. They have since competed in Voice Festival UK in 2013 and 2014. They were ICCA semi-finalists in 2015 and 2016.
Harmaphrodite
Harmaphrodite were formed in 2006 by Jessica Gillingwater. The group is no longer in existence but performed at Exhibition Road Music Day in 2006 and 2007. They competed in the Voice Festival 2011 in the London Regional Round.
Apex Beats
Apex Beats are a group of medical students formed in 2009. They perform mainly at ICSMSU events and perform a mixture of classic Barbershop, A cappella pop songs and Bollywood classics.
King's College London
All The King's Men
All The King's Men is the first and only all-male A cappella group from
King's College, London
King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...
. They were formed by freshers in September 2009, and went on to have a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010.
In 2011, they entered the Voice Festival UK and won their regional round, also claiming the award for 'Outstanding Musicality'. In the final, they won the award for 'Outstanding Performance' with their
mashup of
Boogie Nights
''Boogie Nights'' is a 1997 American period comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It is set in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley and focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of pornographic fil ...
and
I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
"I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" is a song by American pop band Scissor Sisters. It was released in August 2006 as the first single from their second album, ''Ta-Dah'' (2006). The song was written by Jason Sellards, Scott Hoffman and Elton John, t ...
.
In the summer of that year, they returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
On 11 February 2012 they won the London Regional round of Voice Festival UK for the second year running. They were also awarded the prize for Outstanding Choreography.
In February 2012 the group toured the West Coast of America performing at many universities including Claremont, USC, UC Stanford and UC Berkeley.
On 10 March 2012 All the King's Men won the Final of Voice Festival UK. They also won the award for Outstanding Musicality in their arrangement of ''
Hallelujah
''Hallelujah'' ( ; he, ''haləlū-Yāh'', meaning "praise Yah") is an interjection used as an expression of gratitude to God. The term is used 24 times in the Hebrew Bible (in the book of Psalms), twice in deuterocanonical books, and four tim ...
''.
The group dissolved in 2020.
The Rolling Tones
The Rolling Tones is an all-female A cappella group from
King's College London
King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...
. Formed in 2007 by Alice Whiteley, the group has since been invited to perform at a number of significant events, including the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics and the RBS International Women's Day Event 2014. The Tones have performed several successful sets at the Brandenburg Choral Festival and continue to sing at various events across London.
In 2014, the group reached the semi-finals of
The Voice Festival UK
The Voice Festival UK (VF-UK) is a UK arts education charity dedicated to providing opportunities to get involved with contemporary a cappella, unaccompanied singing.
The Voice Festival's central purpose is to increase the awareness and popularit ...
and in 2015, they reached the finals, becoming the first all-female A cappella group to reach the deciding stage of the competition since 2009. The group was awarded the prize for 'Outstanding Arrangement' at both the semi-finals and finals for Zara Tso's arrangement of
'Awake My Soul', originally performed by
Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons is a British folk rock band formed in London in 2007. The band currently consists of Marcus Mumford (lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums), Ted Dwane (vocals, bass guitar, double bass), and Ben Lovett (vocals, key ...
.
University of Leeds
The Songsmiths
The Songsmiths are a mixed A cappella group from the
University of Leeds
, mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased
, established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds
, ...
'. They have performed at the British Heart Foundation Ball, various University Union events and at the Riley and JCR Awards. They have been very successful in the Voice Festival UK competitions; in 2012 winning Best Arrangement and in 2013 winning Best Soloist and Best Musicality. They reached the quarter finals of the ICCAs in 2017, their first year in the competition, and the semi-finals in 2018. In 2019, the group progressed to the UK Final of the ICCAs and came 3rd overall. Following on from this success the group took their first show ‘10 Things I Hate About A Cappella’ to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and sold out their entire run. UK"Taking A Cappella to unreachable levels of intimacy" - The Songsmiths (2013)
The Cosmopolitones
The Cosmopolitones are an all-female A cappella group from the
University of Leeds
, mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased
, established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds
, ...
'. Formed in 2014, they have grown in a short time, reaching the ICCA Quarterfinals in 2017 and 2018, winning awards for Best Arrangement. In 2018 they also made their debut at Voice Festival UK. They are currently on a break, combining their members with The Songsmiths ahead of their competition bid this year and debut Edinburgh Fringe Festival run in August 2019
University of Manchester
Alvarium
Alvarium is a mixed-voice A Cappella group, representing the
University of Manchester
, mottoeng = Knowledge, Wisdom, Humanity
, established = 2004 – University of Manchester Predecessor institutions: 1956 – UMIST (as university college; university 1994) 1904 – Victoria University of Manchester 1880 – Victoria Univer ...
at national and international competitions. Founded in 2016 as "Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them" by Jamie Davis, Alvarium is the only auditioned group and the only competition group of the University of Manchester's A Cappella and Beatboxing Society (UMACABS). After winning ''Battle of The Societies'' in 2017, a competition organised by the
University of Manchester Students' Union
The University of Manchester Students' Union is the representative body of students at the University of Manchester, England, and is the UK's largest students' union. It was formed out of the merger between UMIST Students' Association (USA) and ...
, and reaching the finals of
The Voice Festival UK
The Voice Festival UK (VF-UK) is a UK arts education charity dedicated to providing opportunities to get involved with contemporary a cappella, unaccompanied singing.
The Voice Festival's central purpose is to increase the awareness and popularit ...
in 2018, they started to compete internationally in competitions such as the
International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. They changed their name from ''Fantastic Beats and Where to Find them'' to ''Alvarium'' in 2019; ''Alvarium'' denoting ''beehive'' - a reference to the worker bee symbol of
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
.
In March 2021, Alvarium released their first music video titled "Be My Strange Addiction".
Besides competing, Alvarium have performed in charity fundraisers, philanthropy events, society showcases, and other events. They are currently in the progress of making their first EP.
Although existing for nearly five years, the group has only had two musical directors; Courtney Levy (former MD) and Maurits Bekkers (current MD).
University of Manchester's A Cappella and Beatboxing Society
The University of Manchester's A Cappella and Beatboxing Society (UMACABS) was founded in 2015, and has since grown to over 100 members across different groups: "Alvarium" (formerly known as "Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them"), "Amplify", "Tone Deft", "Real Hymn Shady's", "Duly Noted" and "Licence to Trill". UMACABS hosts an A cappella showcase every December and May, in which all groups perform covers of popular songs. Performances from the showcase are recorded and uploaded to the society's YouTube channel. Aside from the showcase, individual groups organise and perform at external concerts, such as university events, corporate functions and charity fundraisers.
Manchester University Barbershop Singers
The Manchester University Barbershop Singers (MUBS) originally started in 2010 as a men's chorus and became a full
University of Manchester Students' Union
The University of Manchester Students' Union is the representative body of students at the University of Manchester, England, and is the UK's largest students' union. It was formed out of the merger between UMIST Students' Association (USA) and ...
society in 2013 with the addition of a ladies' chorus. The names of the two choruses are ''Mantunian Way'' and ''Ultraviolet'', respectively.
Since 2014, ''Mantunian Way'' has competed in the yearly
British Association of Barbershop Singers Chorus competition, obtaining third place overall in 2014. ''Mantunian Way'' obtained seventh overall place in the 2016 Harrogate BABS Chorus competition as well as the Jim Carter trophy for best small chorus.
Members of ''Ultraviolet'' have competed in the
Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers
The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Infor ...
chorus competition as part of Chrystal Chords in 2015 .
Sing It! Society
Sing It! are a mixed A capella chorus set up by University of Manchester students in 2016. The chorus is open to non-university members, is non-auditioned and has a diverse mix of people. They perform a range of music including jazz, folk and barbershop. Their first competition outing was in the 2017
British Association of Barbershop Singers Mixed Chorus competition in Bournemouth, where they achieved a very respectable score for a chorus only eight months in existence.
University of Nottingham
RadioOctave
RadioOctave is a mixed A cappella group from the
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public university, public research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs t ...
. Formed in 2014, it was the first A cappella group from the university.
In 2016, RadioOctave competed at
The Voice Festival UK
The Voice Festival UK (VF-UK) is a UK arts education charity dedicated to providing opportunities to get involved with contemporary a cappella, unaccompanied singing.
The Voice Festival's central purpose is to increase the awareness and popularit ...
for the first time, reaching the semi-finals.
In 2016, RadioOctave appeared on Gareth Malone's The Choir: Best in Britain, competing in the Midlands and Wales category.
The group also performed at the Women's Cricket World Cup Semi-Final in Derby in 2017
In 2021, RadioOctave became the first a cappella group from Nottingham to qualify for the ICCA UK finals with their rendition of Boogie Wonderland, earning a place in the top 8 UK a cappella groups. Furthermore, in 2021, RadioOctave were awarded 2nd place in the National University Choir Competition. RadioOctave continued their successful streak by again qualifying for the ICCA UK finals in 2022. That year they also featured on a BBC East Midlands News programme publicising their Edinburgh Fringe show, Ages of Icons, and performed at Splendour Festival, an annual one-day music festival in Nottingham.
Aca-pocalypse
Aca-pocalypse is a mixed auditioned A cappella group from the
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public university, public research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs t ...
.
Having formed in October 2015, Aca-pocalypse reached the semi-finals of
The Voice Festival UK
The Voice Festival UK (VF-UK) is a UK arts education charity dedicated to providing opportunities to get involved with contemporary a cappella, unaccompanied singing.
The Voice Festival's central purpose is to increase the awareness and popularit ...
in 2017.
Unplugged
Unplugged is a mixed auditioned A Cappella group from the University of Nottingham, formed in 2018. The group began with an aim to perform cheesy, guilty pleasure arrangements and started competing nationally in 2019. They have since competed annually in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella and were awarded third place in the National University Choir Competition 2021.
University of Oxford
The Men of Magdalen
The Men of Magdalen are an acappella group composed of the
Academical Clerks of The Choir of
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College (, ) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1458 by William of Waynflete. Today, it is the fourth wealthiest college, with a financial endowment of £332.1 million as of 2019 and one of the s ...
. They perform at a variety of events and concerts, most notably at their yearly Carol performance at the Angel and Greyhound pub. The clerks perform a variety of music from
Gaudete
''Gaudete'' ( or , ; "rejoice ye.html"_;"title="wikt:ye.html"_;"title="/nowiki>wikt:ye">ye">wikt:ye.html"_;"title="/nowiki>wikt:ye">ye/nowiki>"_in_Latin.html" ;"title="wikt:ye">ye.html" ;"title="wikt:ye.html" ;"title="/nowiki>wikt:ye">y ...
to
Postman Pat
''Postman Pat'' is a British stop-motion animated television series first produced by Woodland Animations. The series follows the adventures of Pat Clifton, a postman who works for Royal Mail postal service in the fictional village of Greendal ...
to the highest standard.
The New Men
The New Men is an A capella group made up of the choral scholars of The Choir of New College, Oxford. They sing a range of genres of music, from renaissance polyphony to Disney, barbershop, and pop. They perform over Christmas and in the Summer.
Out of the Blue
Out of the Blue was formed in 2000 by postgraduate Derek Smith, who, having arrived in Oxford after an undergraduate degree at
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
, noticed the distinct lack of an all-male A cappella group at the university. Since their inception, they have become one of the most successful university groups in the UK, having toured the UK, Ireland, the United States, Japan,
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
and
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...
, and acquiring consecutive Fringe Sell-Out Awards at the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...
every year since 2006.
The group took part in the
International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCAs) in 2009, progressing to the grand final in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, coming second. That year they also won the inaugural
Voice Festival UK competition, the final of which they would go on to reach every year that they entered, winning again in 2014.
[Voice Festival UK Results](_blank)
Retrieved 21 October 2015
Retrieved 3 July 2011
In 2011 they took part in
Britain’s Got Talent
''Britain's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated to ''BGT'') is a televised British talent show competition, and part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. Presented by Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (colloquially ...
and progressed to the live semifinals. They finished fourth in the fourth semifinal and therefore did not progress to the final.
In 2014, the group released a medley of
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( , ; born 2 February 1977), professionally known by the mononym Shakira, is a Colombian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she has been referred to as the " Queen of Latin Music" and is ...
songs, most notably
Hips Don’t Lie, as a charity single on YouTube. The video was retweeted by Shakira,
[OOTB retweeted by Shakira](_blank)
Retrieved 30 July 2019 and has since reached over seven million views.
The Oxford Gargoyles
The Oxford Gargoyles is a mixed-voice
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
A cappella group formed in 1998 by Divya Seshamani and Hannah Harper. They have toured the United States several times, appearing at
Disneyland
Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney in ...
in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
and on NBC.
In 2007, the group won the Western European semifinal of the ICCAs and progressed to the final in New York.
They won the Voice Festival UK in 2010.
In 2012, they won the Open Category of the Choir of the Year competition and performed at the finals, which were broadcast on BBC.
In 2014, the Gargoyles toured Hong Kong and Macau, performing at the first Oxford Asia Alumni Weekend, Cathay Pacific / HSBC Rugby Sevens Weekend, Hong Kong City Hall, Teatro Dom Pedro V, and more than a dozen other venues.
They have appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe every year since 2006, and had a sell-out show in 2008.
The Oxford Belles
The Oxford Belles is one of the two all-female A cappella groups from the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
. They were formed in 1995 by Helen Whiteley, a year-long visiting student from the
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...
who had previously sung with
The Virginia Belles.
In 2009, the group reached the London final of the Voice Festival UK and were confirmed as the best female group that year.
Following this success, they travelled to
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
later that year, and returned to America in 2010, this time to the West Coast and
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
.
In 2010 they took a show to the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...
for the first time since 2000 and received critical acclaim for their performances.
In 2012-2013 the Belles recorded and released a single and a music video. They competed in Voice Festival UK 2013 and received the award for "Outstanding Musicality".
The Oxford Alternotives
![Oxfordalternotives](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Oxfordalternotives.jpg)
The Oxford Alternotives is a mixed-voice A cappella group and the oldest A cappella group from the University of Oxford, having formed in 1993. They were founded as the Oxford University Alternative Singing Society by three students seeking an alternative to the chapel choirs dominating the university music scene at the time.
They have toured the US a number of times, including a performance at the 9/11 memorial service for British victims in New York in 2005. The group also appears every year at the Edinburgh Fringe, having received 5-stars in 2013.
In 2009, the group came second in the Voice Festival UK, winning awards for 'Outstanding Arrangement' and 'Outstanding Soloist', and again qualified for the national final as Oxford regional champions in 2013.
In The Pink
In The Pink is one of the two all-female A cappella groups from the University of Oxford. They were formed in 2003.
In 2006, the group participated in the ICCAs in Western European semifinal in Oxford. They finished third, with Alexandra Godfree winning the award for 'Outstanding Arrangement' on "
Rainy Days and Mondays
"Rainy Days and Mondays" is a 1971 song by the Carpenters, with instrumental backing by L.A. session musicians from the Wrecking Crew, that went to number 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King k ...
". In 2007 they entered again, and despite not placing in the top three, Rebecca Dale won the award for 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion'. In 2008, the group participated again, this time in the first of two quarterfinals. This time Suzannah Merchant claimed the award for 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion'.
They have appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since 2005 and are set to do so again in 2013. As a result of their performance in 2010, they appeared on the Richard Bacon show on Radio 4.
The group have recorded five studio albums: ''Naked'' (2005), ''Tickled Pink'' (2006), ''All Mouth No Trousers'' (2007), ''By Any Other Name'' (2008), ''Pinkredible'' (2010) and their latest effort "She Who Dares" (2012). They competed in the Oxford round of the Voice Festival UK 2013 and received awards for 'Outstanding Performance' and 'Outstanding Soloist'.
In 2019, the group released 3 music videos: "Color Song/Fallingwater", "Havana X New Rules", and "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark".
The Ultrasounds
The Ultrasounds are an all-male A cappella group from the
medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, M ...
of the University of Oxford. They formed in 2010 and made their competitive debut at The Voice Festival UK 2012 in the Oxford Regional Round, where they won 'Outstanding Overall Performance' and 'Best
Vocal Percussion
Vocal percussion is the art of creating sounds with one's mouth that approximate, imitate, or otherwise serve the same purpose as a percussion instrument, whether in a group of singers, an instrumental ensemble, or solo.
In Western music
Recent ...
ist'.
The Beatroots
The Beatroots are an 8-strong mixed A cappella group of postgraduate students from the University of Oxford, formed in 2012. They were awarded 'Judges' Favourite Song' at the Voice Festival UK Community Showcase in 2014.
The Aneurhythms
The Aneurhythms are a relatively new arrival (established 2014) to Oxford's roaring A cappella scene. However, since their conception they have taken the scene by storm, having been praised as the best all-female medical student A capella Oxford has to offer. The group have performed at a variety of student and charity events across Oxford, singing a variety of self-arranged repertoire from old classics to new pop mash ups.
The Oxford Commas
The Oxford Commas are an all male A cappella group. Formed in November 2014, the group regularly performs a variety of gigs in and around Oxford, including at colleges, weddings and balls. The group initiated their first international tour to the east coast of the US in March 2017.
In November 2017, the group reached further heights when they appeared on Sing: Ultimate A Cappella, Sky TV's A cappella competition. They won their initial heat and progressed to the finals, eventually finishing in fifth place overall.
Royal Holloway, University of London
Absolute Harmony
Absolute Harmony is a mixed-voice A cappella group formed in 1997 at
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public research university and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It has six schools, 21 academic departm ...
as 'Alternative Harmony' by Regina Yau, who did not feel there was much opportunity for the average student to sing in an informal, unauditioned choir. After the group disintegrated somewhat due to Yau taking a year abroad, she returned, influenced by several American collegiate A cappella groups and decided to convert the group into an A cappella group, with a smaller group of members meeting more often to form 'Absolute Harmony'. The group was instrumental in the inauguration of the first ever British Inter-collegiate Contemporary Championship of A Cappella (BICCAs).
Eventually the name of the entire group changed to 'Absolute Harmony', with a smaller group, 'Hardcore Harmony', meeting more regularly to work towards competitions.
University of Sheffield
Steelworks
Steelworks is the competition group of the
University of Sheffield
, mottoeng = To discover the causes of things
, established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions:
– Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield
, type = Pu ...
A Cappella and Beatbox Society, established by Sergio Filipe in 2014. The group took part in the
Sky One
Sky One was a British pay television channel operated and owned by Sky Group (a division of Comcast). Originally launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, it was Europe's first satellite and non-terrestrial channel. From 31 July 1989, ...
competition
Sing: Ultimate A Cappella, hosted by
Cat Deeley
Catherine Elizabeth Deeley (born 23 October 1976) is an English television presenter and actress. From 1998 to 2002, she hosted the ITV children's show ''SMTV Live,'' for which she won a BAFTA Children's Award, and its spin-off chart show '' C ...
, in 2017. Under Kaan Harwood, the group reached the quarter-finals of the ICCAs in 2019, their first year in the competition. In 2020, the group won their ICCA quarter-final, led by Johanna Stroud, to reach the UK finals in London. The group also boasts a barbershop quartet, Low Key, who were formed in 2018.
Factory A Cappella
Factory is the non-auditioned group of the
University of Sheffield
, mottoeng = To discover the causes of things
, established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions:
– Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield
, type = Pu ...
A Cappella and Beatbox Society.
University of St Andrews
The Other Guys
The Other Guys was formed in 2004 and are the only all-male A cappella group from the
University of St Andrews
(Aien aristeuein)
, motto_lang = grc
, mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best
, established =
, type = Public research university
Ancient university
, endowment ...
. They are perhaps best known for their
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
hit "Royal Romance", a tribute to the
wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on Friday, 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The groom was second in the line of succession to the British throne. The couple had been in a relationship since ...
, which gained recognition in the rest of the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and India within a week, and the video also appeared on "Webtastic" on
The Today Show
''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'' or informally, ''NBC News Today'') is an American news and talk morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It was ...
.
The group entered the ICCAs for the first time in 2007, when
St Andrews
St Andrews ( la, S. Andrea(s); sco, Saunt Aundraes; gd, Cill Rìmhinn) is a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, southeast of Dundee and northeast of Edinburgh. St Andrews had a recorded population of 16,800 , making it Fife's fou ...
hosted the Western European quarterfinal, and progressed to the semifinal in London.
They repeated this success in the following year.
In 2009 they progressed to the London final of the inaugural Voice Festival UK competition.
The Alleycats
The Alleycats is a mixed-voice A cappella group formed in 2001. Having originally been an all-male group, in 2007 girls were allowed to audition for the first time, and now the group consists of roughly half and half.
In 2008, the group appeared on the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
, making it to the final fifteen. The group also took a show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010 and plan to do so in August 2011.
In 2009 and 2010, the group progressed to the final of the Voice Festival UK in London. In 2009, Lizzy Weintz won the award for 'Outstanding Arrangement' in the final. In 2010, the group received the 'Outstanding Performance' award.
The Accidentals is an all-female A cappella group.
In 2010 they progressed from the St Andrews semifinal of the Voice Festival UK to the London final having won the award for 'Outstanding Performance'. In 2011 they achieved this success again, with Anna McDonald winning the award for 'Outstanding Soloist' for her performance of
and Ellie Mason winning the award for 'Outstanding Vocal Percussion' at the semifinal. In the final, the group were highly commended for their arrangement of
, as well as their Vocal Percussion.
Scottish A Cappella Championships 2014
Ellie Mason awarded Outstanding Arrangement.
Scottish A Cappella Championships 2015
Awarded first place became Scottish Champions.
Scottish A Cappella Championships 2016
Awarded third place
Scottish A Cappella Championships 2016
Stephanie Boyle awarded Outstanding Soloist.
Scottish A Cappella Championships 2017
Niamh Kidd awarded Outstanding Choreography
ICCA Semi Finals London 2015
Awarded third Place
ICCA Quarter Finals Edinburgh 2017
Awarded second Place
ICCA Quarter Finals Edinburgh 2018
Awarded third Place
The Hummingbirds is an all-female A cappella group. They have competed in the Voice Festival UK since its inception in 2008. The group won the "Outstanding Choreography" award during the Scottish A Cappella Championship in 2015. The Hummingbirds made their debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016.
Formed in 1946 by student Evelyn Webb.