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SoCal VoCals

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The SoCal VoCals
OriginLos Angeles, California
Genresa cappella
Years active1995-present
Websitewww.scvocals.com

The SoCal VoCals are the first of nine a cappella groups from the University of Southern California.[1] Founded in 1996, the group's signature achievement is being the only a cappella group to win five titles in ICCA, which it accomplished in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2018.[2] In 2020, The A Cappella Archive ranked The SoCal VoCals at #1 out of all ICCA-competing groups.[3]

The group comprises between 13 and 19 male and female students[4] who arrange and sing songs from multiple genres, including pop, rock, and jazz. The group has released seven albums and has performed in venues including the Staples Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Rose Bowl, the Los Angeles House of Blues, the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and the Getty Center.[5][6]

The SoCal VoCals are known for their energetic performance style and school spirit: they are the only USC a cappella group to perform a rendition of the University's Alma Mater.[7]

History

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In April, 2008, the SoCal VoCals took first place in the ICCAs at New York City's Lincoln Center,[8] winning the title "Grand Champions."[9] The next morning, they were featured on The Today Show.[10]

In April, 2010, the SoCal VoCals returned to Lincoln Center and reclaimed the ICCA title, making them one of only two groups to win that title more than once.[citation needed]

On April 29, 2012, the SoCal VoCals performed in competition at Town Hall in New York City. They won their third ICCA title, and became the first to have won the title by winning the Wildcard round.[citation needed]

On April 18, 2015, the SoCal VoCals competed at the Beacon Theatre to win for the fourth time, claiming the newly minted trophy and adding to their already-unchallenged record of victories.[citation needed].

On April 21, 2018, the SoCal Vocals returned to The Beacon Theatre to win ICCA for the fifth time. The SoCal VoCals are the first group to ever win ICCA five times.[11]

In September, 2018, The SoCal VoCals took home second place at the A Cappella Open at Carnegie Hall in New York City.[2]

Notable Spinoffs

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In November, 2009, one current member of the USC SoCal VoCals joined with seven VoCal alumni to compete as "The SoCals" on NBC's first a cappella competition, The Sing-Off.[12]

In 2010, five current and former members of the VoCals competed in Season 2 of "The Sing-Off" as members of "The Backbeats."[13]

In 2011 Scott Hoying, a member of the SoCal VoCals, led a team of five people to win NBC's third season of "The Sing-Off" as Pentatonix.

In 2013, VoCal alumni Emily Goglia competed on The Sing-Off as one of two leaders for the group Element.

In 2013, SoCal VoCals Kenton Chen, Rachel Saltzman, Ben Bram, and Allie Feder joined with other Sing-Off alumni to form an a cappella group called Level. They have since performed on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Another SoCal VoCal alum, Gabriel Leung, has joined them on occasion.

In 2014, SoCal VoCal alumnus Ben Bram co-founded A Cappella Academy along with fellow Sing-Off arranger Rob Dietz, and former Pentatonix bass vocalist, Avi Kaplan. The camp has produced many of the nation's top a cappella singers.

In 2018, SoCal VoCal then-current member Elizabeth Gaba placed in the top 24 for American Idol.

In 2018, SoCal VoCal members Kaylah Baker and Nina Nelson left The SoCal VoCals to be a part of the all-female a cappella group, Citizen Queen.[14][15]

In 2019, tenor Jej Vinson reached the top 16 on NBC's The Voice and his blind audition of "Passionfruit" has amassed almost 10 million views on YouTube as of March 2020.[16]

In 2020 SoCal VoCal alumna Tehillah Alphonso received a GRAMMY nomination for “Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals”.

In 2023, SoCal VoCal alumni Izzy Kaye, JEJ Vinson, and Tabon Ward aired on NBC’s “The Voice” S23 as vocal trio Sheer Element where they joined Kelly Clarkson’s team.

Notable alumni

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Discography

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Albums

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  • This Ain't No Choir, Babe (1997)
  • This 2 Shall Rock (1999)
  • V3: Previously Unreleased (2001)
  • The SoCal VoCals (2004)
  • Get In. ROCK. Get Out. (2006)
  • Unanimous (2009)
  • Permit to Harmonize (2013)
  • VoCabulary (2016)

Extended Plays

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  • 2010 ICCA Set EP
  • V (2018 ICCA Set EP)

References

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  1. ^ Chard, Tea. "Sounds on Campus: Two radio stations, a cappella groups and more aim to please Trojan ears." Daily Trojan. 16 Aug 2006: A5.
  2. ^ a b "Results". Varsity Vocals. August 12, 2015.
  3. ^ "The A Cappella Archive - Rankings & Records". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  4. ^ Lin, Judy. "A capella groups attract growing interest." Daily Trojan. 5 Dec. 1997: A1.
  5. ^ "ABBA-CAPPELLA SING-OFF OPENS ABBA FEST CONCERT". Hollywood Bowl.
  6. ^ "The 2018 International Championship of A Cappella Open Finals at Carnegie Hall". Varsity Vocals.
  7. ^ Deelstra, Jacqueline. "USC's A Cappella Explosion." Daily Trojan. 4 Nov. 2002: A7-8.
  8. ^ "Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts | building complex, New York City, New York, United States". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  9. ^ Payson-Lewis, Dan. "My Real Hollywood Ending." Newsweek. 9 Aug. 2008: 32.
  10. ^ Dailo, Nicole. "SoCal VoCals take top a cappella title." Daily Trojan. 21 Apr 2008: A1.
  11. ^ "An a cappella family". Los Angeles Times. June 7, 2018.
  12. ^ "The Sing-Off". NBC. 2014-01-28. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  13. ^ "USC Vocalists Make the Finals on NBC's Sing-Off". USC News. December 14, 2010.
  14. ^ Zayed, Marissa (August 24, 2020). "Rising artists Citizen Queen are setting the scene for female a cappella". Daily Trojan.
  15. ^ "Citizen Queen". RCA Records.
  16. ^ "- YouTube". www.youtube.com.[dead YouTube link]
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