Barbershop breaking out

A cappella groups on college campuses are not too hard to find, but at Keene State College a small barbershop quartet has slowly been emerging. For three years the college has been host to this stunning four-man group and they will finally have a breakout solo performance next semester.

Alumnus Michael Cassese and former KSC student Michael Kostoulakos formed the quartet in 2007 out of their love for singing.

The group’s main directive was to have fun and perform at Concert Choir and Chamber Singers concerts as featured guests. However as the years pressed on, Timothy Price, an original member, took the quartet to new directions and they are now rehearsing for their first exclusive performance in the spring.

The members include senior Jordan Mitchell-Love, who sings second tenor and lead, junior Timothy Price, singing first tenor, sophomore Joseph McConaughy, who sings bass and freshman Patrick Marr ,singing baritone. These four were brought together by the contemplation and decision making of Price and McConaughy who looked for talented singers and immeasurable blending of vocal harmonies. They reformed their group into exactly how they wanted it.

“It’s really nice to have a small group of people who are not only great singers but who are also very dedicated to the craft we produce, it allows us to have a much more powerful group,” Mitchell-Love said.

“I think our blend is awesome. It’s a great sound and we are really able to communicate with each other.” McConaughy said.

The group is definitely unique but is unified by a deeper friendship. The men are not afraid of critique and collaborate to make sure breathing, phrasing and posture are all accounted for to produce the best sound. Even while rehearsing, they take their singing very seriously and practice voice parts together and separately as they learn new and upcoming arrangements.

Most of their pieces are already arranged by previous quartets and bands. Some works include “Go the Distance” from Disney’s “Hercules,” the United State’s National Anthem, and “In My Room” by the Beach Boys. Price has experience arranging songs into four-part arrangements and will debut his version of “Edelweiss” from the 1959 musical, The Sound of Music, when the quartet performs. As one can imagine, the selection of songs is very diverse including showtunes, pop songs, and classic barbershop tunes.

The group tentatively named their group after the acronym O.M.G, or “Only Missin’ Girls.” During the fall semester, they decided to perform at the annual Pumpkin Festival and crowds stopped to listen to their eclectic sound. They personally wanted to let the Keene community know there is more than one a cappella group on campus.

“We love Chock Full O’ Notes but we personally wanted a male barbershop group and make it well known that there’s another band on campus,” said Price.

“Having an all male a cappella group is a little bit unusual but it allows people who may not have been exposed to something like this to get wider variety of music,” Mitchell-Love said.

As a group, they rehearse every Saturday at 11:30 a.m until 1 p.m in the Redfern Arts Center. Each member has a special connection to music, whether their major here at the college or a hobby they lovingly pursue.

Outside their scheduled rehearsals, these men perform in several singing and instrumental ensembles and dedicate so much time into the art.

“I can’t picture myself without music, “ Marr said. “I’m not a music major but music is everything to me, it’s what keeps me sane. And these guys are an awesome group to work and perform with. And barbershop music is a very interesting and beautiful art form.”

Only Missin’ Girls combines a gorgeous blend of captivating sound familiar to esteemed barbershop quartets.

This upcoming spring semester should promise to be an outstanding debut of O.M.G.’s campus-wide performance that no one should miss!

Jen St. Pierre can be contacted at jstpierre@keeneequinox.com.