Appalachian’s Enharmonix, an a cappella vocal ensemble, advances to the south semifinal of the International Championship of Collegiate A Capella

By University Communications

Posted Feb. 24, 2017 at 3:39 p.m.

BOONE, N.C.—Enharmonix, a vocal ensemble of students from Appalachian State University, has advanced to the south semifinal of the International Championship of Collegiate A Capella (ICCA), which will be March 11 at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Enharmonix is the first group of its kind from Appalachian to participate in the ICCA, the premiere collegiate competition for a cappella or unaccompanied singing. It placed second at the ICCA’s south quarterfinal this past January in Knoxville, Tennessee, impressing judges with renditions of such numbers as “Parting Glass/Barton Hollow” by The Civil Wars and “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers.

The top-placing group at the ICCA south semifinal will compete in ICCA’s finals, which will be April 22 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. See https://varsityvocals.com/event/icca-south-semifinal-the-university-of-georgia for more details.

Enharmonix, founded in 2011, has aimed to showcase the most diverse sound of Appalachian’s a cappella groups. It sings music from several genres, including pop, country, musical theatre, hip-hop and classic rock.

Membership in Enharmonix is open to any Appalachian student by audition, and tryouts are held at the beginning of each fall semester and, if needed, during the spring semester. Enharmonix members are pursuing degrees in a variety of disciplines, including music, social work, nursing, communication and physics. The group’s faculty advisor is Dr. Jennifer Snodgrass, a professor of music theory at Appalachian.

Singing in Enharmonix is quite a commitment. The group rehearses Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 10 p.m. Members must put in those six hours of practice each week in addition to performing throughout Boone and North Carolina.

For senior Joe Wrenn of Greensboro, the group’s president, these obligations are worth it, even as he also pursues a bachelor’s degree in social work.

“We are known for our energetic performances,” he said. “This energy comes from the group bond that we have and the close friendships that we share. We also incorporate tight harmonies into our music arrangements and that is something our fans appreciate.”

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.