Harmonies, dance and a crowd full of applause filled the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts when the University of Connecticut A Cappella Association (UCACA) held its annual Fall Rush Concert on Thursday, Sept. 11, featuring the talents of 10 unique groups.
“I love performing at UConn A Cappella concerts and experiencing what the other groups are working on too,” said Suma Dendi, a third-semester biomedical engineering student and member of the musical group Husky Hungama. “It’s exciting to see more of each group’s creativity and evolution.”
“Notes Over Storrs,” one of two a cappella groups at UConn that compete nationally, was first to take the stage. The group performed their 2025 International Championship for Collegiate A Cappella set, titled “Set Me Free,” where they placed third in the quarterfinals. The set included a combination of upbeat and slower songs and was full of passion.
“I think what makes Notes Over Storrs special is the people,” said Nicole Jessel, a sixth-semester communication major who is the president of UCACA and music director for Notes Over Storrs. “We rehearse six hours a week and even on top of that, we still want to spend every day together. There is something so beautiful and rare about being chosen for a group of people because they see potential in you and then you become so so close. Being able to sing with my best friends is something I will absolutely never take for granted, and Notes Over Storrs gave me that opportunity.”
Next up were The Rolling Tones, A Minor and Extreme Measures. The Rolling Tones brought throwback energy, performing a “Glee”-style version of the hit rock song “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks.
A Minor is the only other competitive A Cappella group at UConn. Their set was electric, energetic and stunned with beautiful choreography.
Extreme Measures (EXM) performed two songs, “October Sky” and “Part Time Lover,” with soloists Charlie Bridgham and Grace Larson. Personally, I found these two soloists to be highlights of the night. As Larson reached the climax of “Part Time Lover,” hoots and hollers and screams could be heard in the audience in awe of their performance.
Like many others, EXM feels a strong sense of community within their group.
“I love the diversity and kindness throughout UCACA,” said Cal Fucci, a member of EXM and fifth-semester sociology major. “Extreme Measures in particular has given me an amazing group of people to sing with, and an amazing group of friends who support each other throughout everything.”
Following was Husky Hungama, UConn’s only South Asian fusion a cappella group. The group fuses South Asian and Western music together, switching back and forth between languages, such as in their rendition of the Kali Uchis’ song, “Dead to Me.”
“This team gave me the opportunity to connect with my culture in ways I never thought I would get to at a PWI (predominately white institution),” said Shrinithi Kumar the president of Hungama and fifth-semester English and secondary English education major. “I’ve gotten to perform at so many different cultural events; I’ve learned so much more about my own culture and I’ve gotten the chance to represent and share our culture to the broader community too.”
Two more excellent soloists took the stage as Rubyfruit performed next. Rubyfruit, unlike the other groups mentioned, consists of only treble voices and stands for female empowerment.
“Honestly, a cappella helped me with the transition to college a lot more than I expected — I’m so fortunate I was able to find such an amazing community as quickly as I did,” said Mansa Puvvala, Rubyfruit soloist and third-semester physiology and neurobiology major. “If you choose to rush a cappella, you will definitely meet some of your for-lifers through it.”
Aside from the friendships the singers have been forming, these groups have been hard at work, putting in endless amounts of time and effort since last semester in preparation for this event.
“Since this was our first gig of the year, we focused on polishing the songs that we felt like would re-connect us after the summer,” said Stephanie Ruby Latorre, president of Rubyfruit and seventh-semester biological sciences major. “This looked like rehearsals working on our sound, energy, connection with each other and ultimately, connections with the audience.”
The next two groups featured were both comprised of only lower vocal parts. A Completely Different Note (CDN), UConn’s oldest alllow voice group performed first, singing hit song “Pluto Projector” by Rex Orange County, with excellent soloist, Max Moore.
“I love CDN because we all have such similar senses of humor and it was so easy to feel like I belonged when I joined last fall,” said Matthew Critzman, a member of CDN and third-semester communication major. “I love UConn A Cappella because we’re all so supportive and it really becomes a big family.”
Closing out the show were the UConn Conn-Men and Drop The Bass. The Conn-Men are another all low voice group and Drop The Bass is treble voices only. The Conn-Men’s final song was hyped up by the audience with clapping and flashlights being raised high. Soloist from Drop The Bass, Mirolla Boules concluded the show with a powerful rendition of the Alicia Keys song, “Fallin.’”
“Music is such an incredible thing that has the power to bring people together,” said Kumar. “It’s been so amazing to be able to tie these two huge parts of my identity into one thing and share it with all these people.”