The Observer, November 16, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 11
GMI treats students and raises money with A Cappella for Africa
click to enlarge
Out of all the questions a typical student here is bombarded with, perhaps the first one that should be asked is, "Excuse me, but what exactly is your talent?" In fact, where has all the talent gone? The truth is, one shouldn't have to search and scour the campus of a university such as Case to be both entertained and inspired by fellow classmates, which is why Global Medical Initiative's third Annual A Cappella for Africa provided a spark to the indolent, waning weeks of our fall semester.
Global Medical Initiative, headed by junior president John Heintz, is a student group dedicated to promoting awareness of global health issues, often by means of raising money for developing areas in need. This year's A Cappella for Africa program particularly benefited medical clinics in Kampala, Uganda, dedicated to tuberculosis research. With free admission and recommended donations of $2 to 5, GMI was able to fill The Spot and generate nearly $400 in funds for their project, a number Heintz deemed great. Yet while the mission and money generated is commendable, the true pleasure of the evening came on behalf of Case's singing finest. Speakeasy, Men's Glee Club, Bigger than a Breadbox, Case In Point, Solstice, and Dhamakapella each brought their "A" game to entertain at The Spot with the eclectic audience of pre-meds, overjoyed friends, and accomplices.
Speakeasy, the all-male ensemble, was up first, with Justin Hodges singing "Love the One You're With," a 70s single by folk singer Stephen Stills. Men's Glee Club followed the men of Speakeasy, singing a large and varied selection of pieces. Among the collection was a selection from the musical Spamalot, a surprisingly impressive physical performance of "Honey," and the classic "Under the Boardwalk."
Bigger Than A Breadbox was up next with a quick performance of three songs, the strongest of which was "1234," the bubbly new single from Feist, performed by sophomore Lauren Miller. Case In Point, fourth in the lineup, put a fresh spin on The Fray's "Over My Head," followed by easily the best group performance of the night with "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap.
Solstice, the all-female singing troupe, went up fifth and spiced things up for the evening. They cranked out "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This," followed by a towering and confident performance of the smash hit "Turn the Beat Around," featuring vocals by freshman Sarah Mount. Needless to say, this piece left the crowd floored and screaming for more.
Dhamakapella mailed in the last performance of the night, singing tried and true crowd favorites. Sophomore Bhanu Raveendran was entertaining with a blazer and a bottle in her hand, screaming out the words to "Zoot Suit Riot," the only new song Dhamakapella had to offer, mixed with the Bollywood classic "Tumhen So Maine Dekha." The conclusion brought Heintz to the stage to thank everyone for coming and to give one more round of applause to all the singing groups.
The entire evening was a fun and promising look at the vocally inclined here at Case. If only for one night, A Cappella for Africa showcased some genuine talent that prevailed over organic chemistry books, padded resumés, and contrived conversations.
