By Simone Weisman, news correspondent
The Nor’easters a capella group recently kicked off its musical season, welcoming eight new members to the group and participating at the 18th Annual A Cappella Competition at Faneuil Hall. Old and new members alike look forward to a busy season, including the chance to reclaim their 2013 International Champion title at the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA).
“It was so fun… and definitely a learning experience,” Amanda Fazio, a freshman communications and media and screen studies combined major, said. “Creating your sound to fit outdoors [is] actually a lot harder than being inside.”
The group is planning the release of a new single within the next couple of weeks, allowing new members to experience the recording process that is crucial not only to both promotion and musical releases, but also to competition submissions.
Excited about the release of the new single in the upcoming weeks and the process surrounding it, Fazio noted the role she and other new members face.
“It’s definitely big shoes to fill though,” Fazio said. “I had never recorded before, so that was a really awesome experience. And it just shows you the prestige that the Nor’easters have.”
Caroline Manfrini, a freshman music industry major who also joined the Nor’easters this semester, called the experience unforgettable and anticipates growing as a group.
“I wanted an outlet to create beautiful music with amazing people,” Manfrini said. “I hope we leave everything on the stage this year.”
Besides the addition of new members, the Nor’easters have appointed a new music director, Isaac Willnow, a junior music industry major who is entering his second year with the group.
“I was thrust into the recording process not knowing many of the songs exactly where they were this year,” Willnow said. “I have since become music director, so I was in the studio with our producer for 14 hours a couple weeks ago helping to coach every single member.”
Willnow’s first tasks were to prepare the group’s submission to the ICCA, which was due Nov. 1, and bring the title of champion back to Northeastern.
“Our hope and our goal is to win,” Willnow said. “We won in 2013, so we have some added pressure, but we have been working harder than ever and we’re ready to take on the challenge.”
Willnow also added that, for the submission, the group will not be recording their ICCA set, which has yet to be determined.
“Our set and our repertoire is constantly changing,” Willnow said. “And our set for ICCA will probably change up to 50 times from the start of ICCA to — hopefully if we continue up through the process — to the end.”
Regarding the adjustments and additions made this year, Samantha Creighton, fifth year Nor’easters member and senior behavioral neuroscience major, noted the differences in dynamics since her first year. With continual changes to membership and the position of music directors, Creighton is happy with how the group has evolved.
“I don’t want to think about what it was [like before], because I like what it is now,” she said.
Willnow and members of the group are optimistic for the outcome of competitions and performances this season. The Nor’easters will showcase new members and old talent next at the Lesley University Invitational on Nov. 22.
“I hope to continue to polish our sound and strive to be the best in all aspects,” Willnow said. “We hope to release new music, take new stages and take our group to the next level.”
Photo courtesy Shams Ahmed
