Loyolacappella bids farewell to seniors in final show
Posted by Marina Bifsha on April 17, 2011
By Marina Bifsha
Loyolacappella, an a cappella singing group at Loyola University Chicago, made the audience laugh, smile, and ultimately cry in an emotion-charged end-of-year performance Saturday that was a final curtain call for graduating senior performers.
The performance featured a mix of traditional songs and the latest pop hits, including “Suspension” by Mae, “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga, and “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars.
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Loyolacappella ”Lakeshow” held from 4:30-7 p.m. Saturday in Lewis Towers, takes place every spring semester. This year, the performers tried to prove themselves by putting six additional songs into their show.
Director Matt Graham was pleased with the performance.
“Lakeshow is the last show every year and it is a special occasion; it went very-very well this time,” said Graham, 21, senior advertising/public relations major. “The significant thing about this performance is that we had six additional songs and it came out very well. We were practicing for the whole semester.”
The reactions of the audience were also positive.
“A cappella group is my favorite amongst the various groups around Loyola and I always come to their shows,” said Melanie Heger, 20, junior advertising/public relations major. “They treat everyone well by providing good music and food; I always leave happy and with a better mood than I come in.”
Another member of the audience approved of the show.
“They always seem to have fun and they make us have fun too,” said Laurie Mascali, 18, freshman criminal justice and forensic science major. “I loved the song ‘Just the Way You Are’ because it is one of my favorite songs and one of my friends sang it.”
This time though was a lot more emotional than other performances because six seniors were performing for the last time, and other members of the group and attendees started crying. At the end of the show, many were emotional because the oldest members of the group were leaving Loyola due to their graduation and they will not be able to participate again. The underclassmen will take over to continue Loyolacappella group’s tradition.
“It is a big show because it is a goodbye to the seniors and that makes us all very emotional,” said N’Jameh Camara, 20, sophomore advertising/public relations major. “I was about to transfer and I stayed because of the a cappella group. It is not a sorority; it is a group of people who really love music and I would not change that for anything.”
Another performer talked about her experience with Loyolacappella.
“The show was exhausting but fantastic at the same time; I love all the music we do, ” said Martha Leigh Hawkinson, 19, freshman spanish and psychology major. “It is always emotional because we spend so much time together and when a senior leaves the group, we do not just lose a voice but a real friend.”
If you would like to watch more of their videos and performances you can visit Loyolacappella group’s page on YouTube.
