Audition for Acquire: Fall '09!

Acquire is the newest and fastest-growing a cappella group at UC Santa Cruz. Since its creation in February 2007, the group boasts a repertoire completely arranged by its own singers and many performances at and around UCSC. In June 2007, Acquire hosted the first Acquirefest, bringing in over 450 attendees and six groups from all over. In February 2008, on its one-year anniversary, Acquire hosted Disneymania, a fun theatrical show composed entirely of Disney favorites. The 2008-09 school year saw Acquire taking part in the first annual Los Angeles A Cappella Festival, doing more performances than ever before, and expanding its diverse repertoire. The group put on a two-part event called the East Meets West Showcase bringing in groups from the East Coast a cappella scene. Acquirefest has remained the largest annual a cappella event in Santa Cruz; its 3rd year saw it expanded to a two-night event, bringing in ten groups from across the bay. At the end of the 2008-2009 year, the group recorded its cover of the Saturday Night Live hit 'I'm on a Boat,' which has become a hit for Acquire in its own right. Acquire's YouTube performance of the song has reached close to 500,000 hits.

What's planned for 2009? Acquire plans to complete production of its debut CD, travel farther than ever before, perform at countless more events and shows, and of course welcome new members with auditions in the fall.

Get all the latest information on auditioning for the group by joining the Auditions Mailing List!

Dates & Times

Thursday, October 8th, 9:00pm, Cowell Fireside Lounge:

Early Information Session and Sign-Ups (not mandatory)
Our singers will be talking about the group, like what we've done in the past and what we hope to achieve this year and in the future. You can ask any questions that you might have and sign up for a spot for Saturday's auditions.

Saturday, October 10th, 9:00am-5:00pm, Cowell Fireside Lounge:

Auditions!
Sign-ups for audition slots will start at 8:45. Starting at 9:00, we'll do some group warm-ups and then call auditioners in one at a time. Those who have been selected for callbacks the next day will be e-mailed that night.

Audition FAQ's

Q. When and where are auditions?
A. Auditions are on Saturday, October 10th, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. They will be held in the Cowell Fireside Lounge. To get to Cowell Fireside Lounge, go to the entrance of Cowell at the top of the college (between Stevenson and the Humanities buildings). The wooden sign reading 'Cowell College' should be directly overhead. The Fireside Lounge is inside the building to your left, down the stairs and located in between the coffee shop and the dining hall. We'll have directional signs around Cowell closer to the event.

Q. How many new members will you be accepting?
A. We don't have an exact number in mind. We want to take advantage of the best voices that we hear while maintaining a reasonable and manageable number of members.

Q. How much time will I be expected to commit?
A. We have weekly full-group rehearsals every Thursday night from 7:45 to 10:00pm, as well as weekly Monday night rehearsals from 7:00-9:00pm. In addition, each vocal part (sopranos, tenors, etc.) meets once a week at a time that fits all the members of that part. You will be expected to attend all rehearsals and all concerts. If your current class schedule conflicts with our rehearsals, you'll be asked to move around your schedule if you're accepted into the group. We perform at and around UCSC a few times a month.

Q. What kind of music do you sing?
A. Our repertoire ranges from gospel-inspired renditions of "Son of a Preacher Man" to over-the-top reworkings of "I'm On a Boat", from Queen to Paramore. For a list of our whole repertoire and to see videos of our performances, visit our Music page.

Q. Do I have to have any musical experience (playing an instrument, singing in high school choir, etc.)?
A. Nope! Of course, any musical experience you do have will be helpful, but even if the only singing you've ever done was in the shower, we still want to hear you!

Q. What should I be prepared to do at auditions?
A. After some group warmups, we may briefly test your ability to match pitch and clap out simple rhythms, as well as your vocal range. You will also be asked to sing 30 seconds to 1 minute of any song of your choice, unaccompanied. Choose a song which showcases your voice at its best!

Q. How long will auditions take?
A. Each person will have around 5 minutes to do the exercises and sing their song clip.

Q. When will I know if I've made it to callbacks?
A. We will be sending out e-mails between Saturday and Sunday night.

Q. Are you looking for beatboxers/vocal percussionists?
A. Yes! We will be considering beatboxers who don't sing, though beatboxers who sing as well are a bonus. If you want to show off your vocal percussion skills, write a little note on the audition form you'll be filling out on Saturday before you go in, or just let us know during your session.

Q. I want to be involved in Acquire, but not as a singer. I'm interested in designing flyers, maintaining the website, etc.
A. Then you're interested in Acquire's street team. To talk about getting involved, e-mail Andrea: andrea@acquiremusic.org.