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The jazz a cappella group Quintessence will celebrate the end of the fall semester with a concert 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Farinon Snack Bar. Admission is free.
The performance will include one or two new arrangements in addition to songs performed this year such as“Rachel,” transcribed by civil engineering major Ben Flath ’07 (Scotch Plains, N.J.), “God Only Knows,” “Chatanooga Choo Choo,” and old favorites arranged by Marquis Scholars Kaytlin Henry ’07 (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.), a chemical engineering major, and Dave Mitchell ’05(Bear Creek, Pa.), who graduated with an A.B. with majors in music and economics & business.
University of Delaware’s female a cappella group, D Sharps, will open the concert.
“All of Lafayette’s a cappella groups are completely student-run, which includes choosing and directing music as well as arranging the performances, so it is nice to know that when we perform well, it is due to the hard work of each group member,” notes anthropology & sociology major Kara Boodakian ’07 (Winchester, Mass.), treasurer of Quintessence.
“Our small size also puts pressure on each member to learn their part well and take responsibility for dedicating time to the music because you are often the only person on your part,” she adds.
Originally founded as a quintet, Quintessence is a small-group jazz ensemble in its third full year of performance, now with seven voices. Lafayette’s youngest a cappella group, Quintessence strives to please crowds with tight harmonies of jazz, swing, salsa, sultry standards, and improvisation. The group placed third in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic divisional competition last season, winning Best Arrangement for Henry’s “I Dream of Jeannie” medley, and will sing in ICCA regional quarterfinal competition at Penn State on Feb. 4.
Quintessence includes Henry, president; Boodakian; Flath; English major Megan Kaesshaefer ’08 (Philadelphia, Pa); biochemistry major Marc Lisi ’08 (Orange, Conn.); psychology major Lindsay Messina ’08 (Basking Ridge, NJ); and Bernadette Balane ’09 (Plainsboro, N.J.).