Stellenbosch University (SU) has a long-standing love for singing, and this passion comes to life each year at the SU Acapella Competition (SUAC). This competition is one of the biggest highlights on the student calendar and is all about harmony, creativity, and serious “community pride”. After a term of hard work, some members of the SU Acapella groups look back at their achievements.
Various groups across campus have been practising their singing and choreography since the beginning of the year. In the first week of the new semester, as part of Acascuse Me, the groups walked around campus, serenading and giving a first look at their song choices, voices and gees.
The annual event builds on decades of vocal tradition, dating back to the very first Sangfees in 1946. Today, it can be described as a high-energy showcase where student groups perform entire vocal sets with choreography and storytelling.
But Acapella is more challenging than it looks – especially as all participating students have to attend classes on the side. Cara Kitshoff, a second-year B (Mus) student, was one of the two organisers of Harmonica, an acapella group of students from Monica and Harmonie Women’s Residencies. Kitshoff said, “[The participants] do not live in the Pitch Perfect fantasy world where we can just devote all of our time to acapella. So obviously it is a big challenge to get everyone in the group to be able to focus on their academics as well as have time for acapella.”
In spite of these challenges, “it is so fulfilling and joyous to see the happiness and contribute to the music-making [process] with other people,” said Kitshoff. “It has been fantastic getting to know everyone and it really feels like a small little family created through the love of singing together.“
Marco Kriek, a first-year B (DatSci) student, and member of Majuba Men’s Residence’s acapella group, states that singing together is one of the most bonding activities there is. “Because of the dynamic of our group, we are very friendly and very tight. It is not just showing up for singing,” he said. “It is a very personal and chemistry tied experience. It is not just strangers you are singing with. It is a friend group that you actually become a part of.”
The Acapella competition was presented by the Student Representative Council’s (SRC) Culture Committee (KuKo), and took place at Endler Hall in the Konservatorium on Victoria Street in Stellenbosch.
The prelims took place on 9 August, with three sessions where the different groups performed. The semi-finals, where only the top five groups from each category (male, female, mixed) performed, took place on 16 August. In the final, on 23 August, the three best groups from each category took to the stage in front of the fully booked venue. At the end of an exciting night, the three winners were announced: Huis Francie Van Zijl, Huis Visser and Hippoyini.
By Lilja Flohr
