With competitions brimming on the horizon, the choir room on Wednesday, Tuesday and Thursday nights is packed with Niles West’s three a cappella groups: Echo Effect, Guys and Dolls and High Fidelity. Because they don’t go to competitions as a unit or a school group, many would assume that this breeds an air of competitiveness. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.

The a cappella groups have a visceral reaction towards the idea of a rivalry between the groups. The thought of any competition spreading around, even as a joke, is the furthest things from the members’ minds. Despite the joking back and forth, such as the Echo Effect co-president Kenan Ozer asking his girlfriend Leah Nano, the president of High Fidelity, “Hmm, I’m sorry, but who won best vocal percussion last year?,” the groups genuinely feel no animosity towards each other.

“We’re all best friends. There’s really no rivalry. That is what is representative of our department and what we are. We’re all friends, we all care about each other, and we all support each other- y’all are wack if you think different,” senior and co-president of Echo Effect Anthony Saldana said.

A member of Guys and Dolls agreed.

“We take competing seriously, but not as seriously as we take being a family. All awards and glory aside, the a cappella groups have always been known for our sense of belonging, and I think that’s what ultimately draws people in,” senior Francis Matias said. 

A High Fidelity member instantly joined into the conversation, with a heart evidently full of passion.

“I feel like we’re a good role model for girls because the other groups have to be really girly and stuff, but last year our set was very empowering. At the same time, you could also say that the guys are empowering because it’s so often seen as ‘gay’ to be involved in the arts, and they continue to do it,” Nano said, who, even while supporting and talking up her own all-girl group, refused to put down the all male group, Echo Effect.

A cappella kids, despite their “less than positive” portrayal in media and in Glee or Pitch Perfect, are far from the nerdy crowd. With their incredible performances during school assemblies and often astounding choreography, they have worked long and hard to change from the “catty fine arts kids” many picture in their minds.

Besides the silly jokes and jabs, they all genuinely care about each other, enough even to derail an entire NWN article, which they did quite successfully.