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The Chordials
The Cornell Chordials performing at Cocktail Hour XIII on April 16th, 2010
The Cornell Chordials performing at Cocktail Hour XIII on April 16th, 2010
Background information
OriginCornell University in Ithaca, New York
GenresCollegiate a cappella, Pop, Rock, Soul, R&B, Alternative Rock, Indie
Years active1997–present
MembersPresident:
Max Masleyev '26
Musical Director: Jonah Sussman '25
Asst. Musical Director: Adedayo Perkovich '25
Business Manager: Eddie Lacson '25
Secretary:
Mack Dishmon '27
Publicity Manager: Kenny Aune ’24
Alicia Garlic '26
Social Chair:
Xel Schnorbus ’26
Alumni Relations:
Kenny Aune ’24
DEI Chair:
Mack Dishmon ’27
Webmaster:
George Zou ’25
Choreography Chair:
Kenny Aune ’24
ACAC Representative:
Yolanda Wang ’25
Xel Schnorbus ’26

Jiji Janpathompong ’27
Websitewww.chordials.com

The Chordials is a collegiate all-gender a cappella group from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. They are known for their edgy and passionate style, and perform a broad variety of music genres ranging from rock to alternative/indie to pop.

History

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The Cornell Chordials was founded in 1997 by a group of Cornell students, including founder Elana Wolff ('01), Music Director Dennis Chow ('99), President Anand Swaminathan ('99), and Business Manager Amanda Stahl ('99). The group has traveled and performed in many venues across the northeast, including at Penn State, Haverford, Rutgers, Muhlenberg, RPI, Johns Hopkins,[1] Rochester, Buffalo, New York City, Martha's Vineyard, the Ithaca area, as well as many venues on the Cornell University campus.

Over the years, the Chordials have had anywhere from six to eighteen members. Every year since 1998 the group has produced at least one major concert, including their annual "Cocktail Hour" concert in the spring semester. Their original annual fall concert was titled "Crunkapella", but has since changed to "After Hours". Throughout their time at Cornell University, the Chordials have maintained a varied repertoire including such songs as Sam Sparro's "Black and Gold", Bon Iver's "8 (circle)", Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" and Rihanna's "What Now". Through their regional performances and their several album releases, the Chordials have become a well-known exemplar of the collegiate a cappella genre.

The group produced their first album Shaken... Not Stirred in the spring of 1999. The album features songs such as "Come on Eileen" and "Killing Me Softly." The group's second album Not For Minors premiered in the fall of 2002, with songs including Sarah McLachlan's song "Angel" and Madonna's "Like a Prayer", which is now the Chordials' official alumni song. Their third album, The Third Chapter, features renditions of "Echo" by Incubus, Gladys Knight's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", and "One Sweet Day" as recorded by Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey.

In 2001, the group made its debut at the ICCA (International Championship of College A Cappella) quarterfinals in Rochester, NY, during which member Gabi Kornfeld ('04) received the award for Best Vocalist for her performance of "Angel."[2] In subsequent years, the group received additional awards at the ICCA including Best Choreography, Best Soloist, Best Arrangement, and Best Percussion. In 2004, the Chordials became ICCA Finalists, placing third at the ICCA Finals in New York City's Town Hall Theater (ICCA Website).[3]

The group's fourth album, Arrival, was released on April 14, 2007, at their tenth anniversary concert "Cocktail Hour X".[4] It was recorded and produced by alumnus James Cannon ('07), via his production company "The Panic Room." Arrival features complex arrangements of songs from the catalogs of artists such as Puddle of Mudd, Snow Patrol, Nine Inch Nails, and others. At the concert, the Chordials celebrated their first-ever appearance on the annual Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) album for their rendition of Nickelback's "Photograph". Arrival also went on to win the 2007 acaTunes Award for their cover of "Let Me Entertain You," featuring soloist Rebecca Urbelis ('08). The album became a Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB) Pick of the Year in 2007.

In 2008, the Chordials were nominated for the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) for the first time in their history. Arrival was nominated for all four awards in the Mixed Collegiate categories, including Best Song (nominated), Best Soloist (runner-up), Best Arrangement (winner), and Best Album (winner).

In December 2006 and 2007, the Chordials embarked on a week-long "Winter Tour" across the southern regions of New York State and northern New Jersey, focusing on giving performances and educational musical workshops at high schools across the region. In March 2009, The Chordials toured the southern regions of New York State yet again, as well as parts of western Connecticut.

In 2008, the Chordials released their fifth studio album, titled Smash, produced by alumni James Cannon ('07) and Ari Goldman ('09). This album, like Arrival, was nominated for all eligible categories in the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs), and the album was also chosen as a Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB)[permanent dead link‍] Pick of the Year. The City Is At War, originally performed by Cobra Starship was featured on the Best of College A Cappella CD in 2009.

The Chordials went on their first international tour in June 2008. It was a sponsored trip around Germany in support of The Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development, an organization which focuses on the prevention of female genital mutilation. The group performed over a ten-day period throughout Germany at private events, schools, castles, and in the streets of Frankfurt.

Over the summer of 2010, the Chordials traveled to Martha's Vineyard for a four-day summer tour and retreat. The group performed at the West Chop Club.

Shake The Poet, the Chordials' first EP was released at their Fall concert, "Crunkapella" on November 14, 2009. This first half of this EP was recorded and edited by alumnus James Cannon ('07) with the remainder being recorded by Steven Goldman of "Four Legs Records." Five of the six EP songs were mixed by Goldman, while the mixing of "Ramalama (Bang Bang)" was handled by alumnus James Cannon. Since its release, the six track EP has won Best Mixed Collegiate Song, Best Mixed Collegiate Soloist, and it was the runner up for Best Mixed Collegiate Album in the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA). "Use Somebody" was featured as the opening track on the 2010 Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) Compilation CD. Shake the Poet was chosen as a CASA Top Ten Mixed Collegiate Album Pick of the Year, and their cover of Ramalama (Bang Bang) was chosen to be featured on Sing VII: Lucky.

Their seventh studio recording, PULSE, was released on April 29, 2011, at Cocktail Hour XIV.

In the Spring of 2013, after almost a decade, the group returned to the ICCA stage, earning 3rd place overall at ICCA Finals in New York City.

In the Summer of 2013, the Chordials released their eighth studio album, the Shadow Aspect.

Recent events

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In February 2016, the Chordials released Surface. It was nominated for 3 CARA awards, winning Best Mixed Collegiate Solo and being the runner up for Best Mixed Collegiate Album. It is also featured on Voices Only 2016, Sing 13: SUPERSTITION, and is an RARB Pick of the Year.

On April 29, 2017, the Chordials celebrated their 20th anniversary at Cocktail Hour XX.

In the spring of 2018, the Chordials began the recordings for their EP, From Excavation. The EP was released on November 17, 2018, at the eighth anniversary of their After Hours concert. The idea behind this EP was to bring their vision of a cappella back to the bare basics, and to produce recordings with minimal added effects so as to focus on the beauty of purely vocal music.

On June 22, 2020, the Chordials released their latest album, Fire & Concrete.

Awards

[edit]
Year Presenter Award Result
2001 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal Best soloist Winner, (Gabi Kornfeld)[5]
2002 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal Best choreography Winner, (Randi Dublin and Jay Legaspi)
2003 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal Overall 3rd place
Best soloist Runner-up, (Jay Legaspi)[6]
2004 ICCA Northeastern Quarterfinal Overall 1st place
Best arrangement Winner, (Sam Coffin)
Best choreography Winner, (Jay Legaspi, Jackie Pribil, Felicia Williams)
Best vocal percussion Winner, (Jay Legaspi)
ICCA Northeastern Semifinal Overall 1st place
Best choreography Winner, (Jay Legaspi, Jackie Pribil, Felicia Williams)
Best soloist Winner, (Felicia Williams)
ICCA Finals Overall 3rd place[7]
2007 acaTunes Awards 2007 Favorite Tracks of the Year "Let Me Entertain You" opb. Robbie Williams
BOCA (Best of College A Cappella) BOCA "Photograph" opb. Nickelback
RARB Picks Pick of the Year "Arrival"
2008 CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) Best Mixed Collegiate Album Winner, (Arrival)
Best Mixed Collegiate Arrangement Winner, (Brian Tarpinian - "Photograph")
Best Mixed Collegiate Soloist Runner-up, (Rebecca Urbelis - "Farther Away")
Best Mixed Collegiate Song Nominated, ("Swing Low, Sweet Chariot")
2009 BOCA (Best of College A Cappella) BOCA "The City Is at War" opb. Cobra Starship
CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) Best Mixed Collegiate Album Runner Up, (Smash)
Best Mixed Collegiate Arrangement Nominated, (Ari Goldman - "The Moment I Said It")
Best Mixed Collegiate Soloist Nominated, (Billy Ferguson - "Love Me Dead")
Best Mixed Collegiate Song Nominated, ("Love Me Dead")
CASA SING V: Groovus "The Moment I Said It" opb. Imogen Heap
RARB Picks Pick of the Year "Smash"
2010 BOCA (Best of College A Cappella) BOCA "Use Somebody" opb. Kings of Leon
CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) Best Mixed Collegiate Album Runner Up, (Shake the Poet)
Best Mixed Collegiate Soloist Winner, (Ariel Arbisser - "Cold Shoulder")
Best Mixed Collegiate Song Winner, ("Ramalama (Bang Bang)")
CASA Top Ten Mixed Collegiate Album Picks 2010 Top Ten Mixed Collegiate Album Picks (Pick of the Year) "Shake the Poet"
CASA A Cappella Community Awards[8] Favorite Collegiate Album Runner Up, (Shake The Poet)
Favorite Female Vocalist Runner Up, (Ariel Arbisser)
Favorite Mixed Collegiate Group Nominated, (The Chordials)
Favorite A Cappella Album Title Nominated, (Shake The Poet)
Favorite A Cappella Song Nominated, (Ramalama (Bang Bang))
Favorite Gender Bender Song/Solo Nominated, (Cold Shoulder)
Favorite Cutting Edge Group Nominated, (The Chordials)
CASA SING 7: Lucky "Ramalama (Bang Bang)" opb. Róisín Murphy
2011 CASA SING 8: Too Cubed "Cosmic Love" opb. Florence + the Machine
Voices Only Voices Only 2011 "What's a Girl Gotta Do?" opb. Basement Jaxx
2012 CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) Best Mixed Collegiate Album Nominated, (Pulse)
Best Mixed Collegiate Soloist Nominated, (Billy Ferguson - "Touch")
Best Mixed Collegiate Song Nominated, ("Cosmic Love")
Voices Only Voices Only 2012 "Sincerely, Jane" opb. Janelle Monáe
RARB Picks Pick of the Year Pulse
Song of the Year "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" opb. The Temptations
"Sincerely, Jane" opb. Janelle Monáe
2013 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal Outstanding Soloist Winner, Jay Grollman ("Lies")
Overall 1st Place
ICCA Mid-Atlantic Semifinal Outstanding Soloist Winner, Jay Grollman ("Lies")
Overall 1st Place
ICCA Finals Overall 3rd Place
RARB Picks Album of the Year The Shadow Aspect
CASA Sing 10: Neon “Bizness” opb. tUnE-yArDs
2014 CARA (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) Best Mixed Collegiate Album Nominated, (The Shadow Aspect)
Best Mixed Collegiate Song Nominated, (“Lights”)
Best Mixed Collegiate Arrangement Nominated, (Shannon Lawrence – “Bizness”)
Voices Only Voices Only 2014 “Lies” opb. The Black Keys
2016 RARB Picks Album of the Year Surface
Track of the Year “Retrograde” opb. James Blake
CASA Sing 13: SUPERSTITION “Retrograde” opb. James Blake
Voices Only Voices Only 2016 “Haunted” opb. Beyonce
2017 CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards Best Mixed Collegiate Arrangement Nominated, (Harry Davis - “What Now”)
Best Mixed Collegiate Solo Winner, (Jay Grollman- "Retrograde”)
Best Mixed Collegiate Album Runner Up, (Surface)
2021 BOCA (Best of College A Cappella) BOCA "Commit Me" opb. Alex Boyd, apb. Suzy Jones
CARA (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) Best Mixed Collegiate Song Nominated, ("Bass Song")
2023 ICCA Central Quarterfinal #2[9] Outstanding Soloist Winner, Katherine Xu ("In The Kitchen")
Outstanding Vocal Percussion Winner, Eddie Lacson

Albums

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Shaken, Not Stirred (1999)

[edit]
  1. One Fine Day
  2. She Has A Girlfriend Now
  3. That Lonesome Road
  4. Independent Love Song
  5. Return to Innocence
  6. In the Still of the Night
  7. Heaven
  8. Sweet Surrender
  9. Come on Eileen
  10. And So It Goes
  11. Come Go with Me
  12. Killing Me Softly
  13. Take On Me
  14. Trippin' Billies
  15. Dream

Not For Minors (2002)

[edit]
  1. Spiderwebs
  2. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
  3. Like a Prayer
  4. Kate
  5. Landslide
  6. The Longest Time
  7. Black Balloon
  8. Linger
  9. Bed of Lies
  10. What a Feeling
  11. With Arms Wide Open
  12. Angel

The Third Chapter (2005)[10]

[edit]
  1. All For Leyna/I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight
  2. Bright Lights
  3. Echo
  4. Precious Things
  5. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
  6. Center of Attention
  7. I'll Be Okay
  8. Love You Madly
  9. One Sweet Day
  10. Alegria
  11. You And I Both
  12. Paper Bag
  13. Please Don't Go
  14. One By One/Circle of Life

Arrival (2007)[11]

[edit]
  1. Let Me Entertain You
  2. This Is How A Heart Breaks
  3. Blurry
  4. Breathe In
  5. Farther Away
  6. Chasing Cars
  7. Who Knew
  8. Waiting For You
  9. Perfect Drug
  10. Photograph
  11. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Smash (2008)[12]

[edit]
  1. Never Again
  2. The City Is at War
  3. Black and Gold
  4. Nothin' Better to Do
  5. Lithium
  6. The Bird and the Worm
  7. Die Alone
  8. Sweep the Leg
  9. Someone Else's Tomorrow
  10. Mercy on Me
  11. Love Me Dead
  12. The Moment I Said It

Shake the Poet (2009)[13]

[edit]
  1. Use Somebody
  2. Cold Shoulder
  3. God Put A Smile On Your Face
  4. Ramalama (Bang Bang)
  5. Decode
  6. Soon We'll Be Found

Pulse (2011)[14]

[edit]
  1. Sweet Disposition
  2. Sincerely, Jane
  3. The Other Side
  4. Touch
  5. What's a Girl Gotta Do
  6. Rolling in the Deep
  7. Smile for the Paparazzi
  8. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
  9. Skipping Stone
  10. Pantomime
  11. Cosmic Love

Digital singles (2013)

[edit]
  1. Lights
  2. Barton Hollow

The Shadow Aspect (2013)[15]

[edit]
  1. Lights
  2. Plain Gold Ring
  3. Save Me
  4. Lost in the World
  5. Face of Light
  6. Barton Hollow
  7. Bizness
  8. Lies
  9. Too Close
  10. My Kind of Love
  11. The Cave
  12. The Light
  13. Nothing But the Water

Surface (2016)[16]

[edit]
  1. Haunted
  2. Breath of Life
  3. Lovely Day
  4. Moving On
  5. Retrograde
  6. Choices
  7. Waters
  8. The Chain
  9. Trembling Hands
  10. You Know Where To Find Me
  11. It's About Time
  12. What Now

From Excavation (2018)

[edit]
  1. 8 (Circle)
  2. Bass Song
  3. Hideaway

Fire & Concrete (2020)

[edit]
  1. Bass Song
  2. When the Party's Over
  3. I Warned Myself
  4. 8 (Circle)
  5. Omens
  6. Commit Me
  7. Hideaway
  8. We Won't Run

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "A cappella scene boasts variety" in The Johns Hopkins News-Letter (9 December 2005) accessed 5 May 2007
  2. ^ [1] "Chordials celebrate a decade of a cappella with reunion concert and CD release."
  3. ^ "Chordials Compete Archived 2012-02-06 at the Wayback Machine" in The Cornell Daily Sun Online (6 May 2004) accessed 5 May 2007
  4. ^ "Chordials celebrate ten years of Cocktail Hour Archived 2012-02-06 at the Wayback Machine" in The Cornell Daily Sun Online (20 April 2007) accessed 5 May 2007
  5. ^ "Previous Results, ICCA & ICHSA". Varsity Vocals. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Previous Results, ICCA and ICHSA". Varsity Vocals. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Previous Results, ICCA and ICHSA". Varsity Vocals. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  8. ^ "2010 a Cappella Community Awards Winners | A Cappella Music - the Contemporary a Cappella Society". Archived from the original on 2013-01-11. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
  9. ^ "2023 ICCA Central Quarterfinal at Binghamton University". Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  10. ^ "The Chordials - The Third Chapter (2005)". www.rarb.org. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  11. ^ "The Chordials - Arrival (2007)". www.rarb.org. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  12. ^ "The Chordials - Smash (2008)". www.rarb.org. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  13. ^ "The Chordials - Shake the Poet (2009)". www.rarb.org. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  14. ^ "The Chordials - Pulse (2011)". www.rarb.org. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  15. ^ "The Chordials - The Shadow Aspect (2013)". www.rarb.org. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  16. ^ "The Chordials - Surface (2016)". www.rarb.org. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
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