So You Think You Can Sing?

What does it take to make the cut in St Andrews’ a cappella scene?

Every university possesses a unique trigger that sets a fresher’s imagination into overdrive. Perhaps it is the dream of scoring the winning point for the varsity team or landing a coveted role in the university musical. At the University of St Andrews, however, there is an unexpected object of fresher fascination: becoming a member of one of its a cappella groups.

St Andrews’ a cappella scene has been developing for decades. The oldest current group, the Alleycats, was founded 25 years ago. Since then, the University’s groups have built legacies of their own, with the Other Guys, the Accidentals, and the Hummingbirds, among others, competing in championships such as the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. What began as a distinctly American collegiate tradition has, over the years, found its own place in the heart of St Andrews.

Freshers are introduced to these groups almost immediately at the Freshers’ Fayre, where the A Cappella Society has its own stand, vying for attention among hundreds of other societies. Before long, they are confronted with the same voices again at the Opening Ceremony, where the Other Guys take to the stage. By the end of the first week, the groups have managed to insert themselves rather thoroughly into the fresher consciousness, whether anyone asked them to or not.

Luc-Olivier Merson, Head of a Boy Singing (c. 1898)

Questions like “How do I join?” or “Where do I audition?” soon arise. Students start testing their own voices, marvelling at the prospect of performing an entire song without instruments or sheet music, yet somehow making it look effortless. But what does it actually take to make the cut? I spoke to several university a cappella groups to find out.

The audition process begins with the more technical side of singing. Auditionees are asked to prepare a verse and chorus to perform in front of the group, an understandably daunting prospect for many freshers. This allows selectors to assess fundamentals: pitch, rhythm, and breath control.

But this is only part of the equation. Selectors also listen for how naturally an auditionee’s voice blends with the others. In a cappella, the magic lies in how individual voices harmonise together to create one sound. Members spend hours rehearsing each week, sometimes returning to the same phrase again and again until every voice sits exactly where it should.

With members spending so much time together, it is perhaps unsurprising that musical ability is not the only thing under scrutiny. Joseph Hall, a member of the Other Guys, told me that the audition is “as much a vibe test as it is a musical test.” James Carder-Geddes from the Alleycats similarly described an “unconscious bias” when considering whether someone will simply “fit in the group.” This raises an interesting tension in the audition process: is it really just a singing test or is it also, consciously or not, a test of personality?

Perhaps this is the true appeal. The audition is not simply about finding the best singer, but finding someone who can ‘fit in’ the group — and freshers want that someone to be them. For those navigating an entirely unfamiliar social world, an A cappella group offers more than the chance to sing; it provides something to hold onto: a regular group of people, shared rehearsals, socials, and, eventually, friendships. Perhaps the polished performances capture their imagination, but the prospect of finding a community drives them to make the cut.

Image from Artvee