By Mia Shea
Staff Writer
The Trentones, the College’s only competitive a cappella team, placed second and advanced to the semifinals after competing in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic quarterfinals. The competition was held in Kendall Hall on Feb. 1.
The competition featured 10 teams from various schools in the mid-Atlantic region, including Rowan University, Stockton University, Rider University’s Westminster Choir College, Rutgers University, Towson University and Salisbury University.
The a capella group Off Track from Towson University placed first, and RAAG from Rutgers University placed third. Off Track and the Trentones will be advancing to the semifinals.
At the ICCA’s, the group performed a total of three songs within their setlist: “Beggin’” by Måneskin, “Hot Mess” by dodie and “me” by Kelly Clarkson. The soloists featured were senior communications major Nate Witkowski, junior psychology major Ella Arnauer and junior accounting major and Trentones President Ella Malatesta.
Malatesta shared that the Trentones had a five-day weekend retreat over winter break. “That is ICCA go time,” she said.
The songs were arranged by senior deaf education and math major and Music Director Leonor Fontanez, as well as senior physics major and Assistant Music Director Kayla Wason. Choreography was also done by Wason.
Freshman Trentones member and clinical and counseling psychology major Gianna Melhorn shared that after advancing, she is “feeling hype and grateful to be a part of the group.” She added, “Us advancing just validated all of the work we put into it. I’m super excited to be able to show it to an entirely new audience.”
Junior communications major and audience member Sarah Borriello attended the competition, as well as the Trentones’ ICCA Showcase that was held in Mayo Concert Hall on Jan. 29. The showcase served as a way for audience members to critique and give constructive feedback at the Trentones’ final rehearsal before competition.
Borriello shared that she “thought the performance was spectacular, and after attending the open rehearsal it was really cool to see the performance go from just a rehearsal to the full performance.” Boriello also noted that “their confidence absolutely skyrocketed and everyone did so well.”
Junior communications major and vocal percussionist Perry Edelman also received the Varsity Vocals Outstanding Vocal Percussion Specialty Award for his beatboxing in the song “Hot Mess.”
When asked about advancing to the semifinals, Malatesta said, “it feels incredible and so good to know that all of the hard work paid off and that we get to perform it again. We all compete because we love it, we’re not looking for a prize.”
The Trentones will compete in the ICCA Mid-Atlantic semifinals on March 22 at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware.
