Imagine yourself in the crowd of the final sing off in Pitch Perfect. Everyone is screaming for their favorite singers and wishing they will win first place. Funny thing is, events like this do really happen in high school, and Niles West’s very own Echo Effect will be participating in this years International Champion Of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) in New York this weekend, April 25-27.
With a very young group, Echo Effect has been practicing every day leading up to the competition.
“Our team is mostly made up of freshmen and juniors this year with a handful of seniors and sophomores and they are the nicest, most wonderful bunch of boys and have really formed a brotherhood through singing,” Choir and Echo Effect director Amy Branahl said.
The Echo Effect group sent a recording to the ICHSA to get into semi-finals, and won first place for their performance in Michigan. Ten semi-finalist all over the country will travel to New York this weekend for the finals. Back in 2011, Echo Effect did not place; however, alum Doug Bako came back with the award of Best Vocal Percussionist.
“These groups are top ten for a reason, they are the best of the best,” Branahl said. “All different kinds of groups are competing, but I believe Echo Effect is unique because it is an all men group, and many schools can’t field a men only a cappella group.”
At the nationwide competition, Echo Effect will perform one 12 minute set to wow the judges. Just like at their semi-finals, the boys will have to leave it all on the stage.
“I hope to go to this competition with the same attitude the boys had when we were at semi-finals. The boys should have no regrets, perform like no one’s business, and most importantly to have fun out there. It isn’t every day you get to perform for a competition like this in New York,” Branahl said.
Going to New York required a great amount of donations and fundraising. They received donations, already sent support letters, and had numerous amounts of fundraisers like bake sales. They had two months to raise about $20,000 (1,000 per person). They are still accepting donations.
Anna Zavell contributed to this article and video by Michelle Sproat.
