The top collegiate a cappella group in Texas is The University of Texas at Arlington's very own RISE A Cappella.
RISE placed third overall at the 2023 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) Southwest Semifinals in Phoenix, Arizona, and is currently top-ranked in Texas. Auditions for the group are scheduled for today and Sept. 6.
The road to a cappella success has not been easy for RISE. After almost disbanding due to COVID, RISE has managed to overcome challenges and obstacles to claim the crown in Texas.
Logan Willson, president of RISE and vocal percussionist (beatboxer), said the group did not expect to place so high in the ICCA competition, and members were surprised to hear they would have the opportunity to compete for the chance to head to New York.
"It's been an honor to have been able to create music with such amazing and talented people," Willson said. "I wouldn't want to be creating and competing with any other group."
RISE comprises 16 students from across UTA. During the pandemic, many members of RISE stepped away and only a quintet remained. It took nearly the entire 2021-22 school year to build the team back up.
Alexis Hughes Garcia, winner of the Outstanding Soloist award at the Southwest Quarterfinals, said RISE had a difficult time recruiting students who had the "desire to use their voice and create music" because many competitions and events were still virtual.
"As we slowly got more people to join, we instilled a sense of love and kindness and bonded as a group dedicated to sharing love and support through music," Garcia said.
By the fall of 2023, RISE had recruited the full range of vocalists needed to start piecing together its competition performance. RISE began finalizing its music selection, composing a cappella arrangements and putting down choreography. The group spent two months rehearsing vocals and choreography.
The group performed arrangements of "Me and Your Mama" by Childish Gambino, "The Winner Takes It All" by Mack Lorén and "Seize the Power" by YONAKA.
"My goal was to have three completely different songs that would take the audience into three different zones," said Sarah Watkins, RISE music director. "Three different sounds coming from one group is incredible and we absolutely nailed it."
In addition to working on the musical and performance components of RISE, student leadership takes care of everything else to make sure the group is where it needs to be. The students take charge of setting rehearsals, funding competitions, booking flights and hotels and, most importantly, building RISE's legacy.
RISE believes its success this year has not just been because the group has amazing vocalists. It's because "we came to appreciate a cappella music and do anything to share what we've created with the world," said Sylvia Schulte, public relations and marketing officer.
"We have a passion to create music with just our voices," Schulte said. "It's what drives us to keep rehearsing and keep getting better—to have more opportunities to show others the music we can make."
