Vocal Point (Brigham Young University)
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Vocal Point is a nine-member, male a cappella group at Brigham Young University. Founded by students in 1991, Vocal Point was quickly adopted into BYU’s School of music.
Vocal Point competes annually in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella where they repeatedly earn high rankings. The group won the right to compete in the ICCA finals in New York twice but gave up their place because, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they chose not to compete on Sundays. In April 2006, the finals were held on a Saturday, and Vocal Point won the competition, earning the title of International Champions.[1]
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[edit] History
Vocal Point was founded in 1991 by two students at Brigham Young University. Dave Boyce and Bob Ahlander first heard the contemporary a cappella sound during a visit to the eastern U.S., where it had already grown to considerable popularity at colleges throughout the east. Seeking to bring that sound westward, Dave and Bob recruited Jill Petersen-Lex to serve as the group's first Artistic Director. The three held auditions in fall 1991. After the members were selected and began singing, the nine-man group became an instant hit on campus, selling out its very first concert. The group made its first recording ("If Rocks Could Sing") and went on its first tour that same year.
With Ahlander and Boyce providing the vision, and Lex providing much-needed musical direction, the first three years proved equally successful for the student-run group. They toured several times and released their first full-length CD, "Instruments Not Included." The group was so popular that the Director of the School of Music at BYU thought it should be an official part of the University. Finally, in Fall 1994, the ensemble was adopted into the School of Music, and Jim Anglesey was appointed as the group's Faculty Advisor. This was an important move for the group, as it ensured their longevity, and allowed for a full-time director, access to BYU's marvelous performing venues, and assistance from the staff of the School of Music and Performing Arts Management.
During Anglesey's seven year stay as director, Vocal Point released two more albums, "Fatter Than Ever" in 1996 and "Mouthing Off" in 1999. The group had several key performances during this time, including a series of successful concerts in the de Jong Concert Hall on BYU campus, as well as the group's first New Year's Eve performance at the Tabernacle on Temple Square. In 1999, group member Joseph Lebaron updated the group's logo to its current "screaming head" design.
In 2001, co-founder Bob Ahlander returned to the scene to take the reins as director of Vocal Point. He started his tenure off with a bang, hosting the group's ten-year anniversary celebration, including a successful alumni reunion concert. Shortly thereafter, the group released its fourth CD, "Grand Slam," which represented the final years of the Anglesey-directed group.
During Ahlander's time as director, Vocal Point reached new heights. They twice won the regional semi-finals for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, but refused to take their seats at the international finals in New York City because the event would be held on a Sunday. The group performed the national anthem at multiple Utah Jazz games and other venues. In Ahlander's final weeks as director, Vocal Point spent three weeks in Nauvoo, Illinois, opening the new summer performing arts series there, and performing for thousands of visitors over a three-week run. At the group's final performance of the tour, they sang to a completely full house, giving them the idea for the name of their upcoming album, "Standing Room Only." That CD was released in Fall 2004, representing Ahlander's three years of work as director.
Next on the directorial stage was James Stevens, a BYU grad and studio engineer who had performed with Vocal Point for two years under Bob Ahlander's direction. Stevens quickly got to work, helping the group sell out the de Jong Concert Hall faster than ever. At the end of that year, the group took home three Pearl Awards from the Faith Centered Music Association for "Sacred Recorded Song of the Year," "Group Recording Artist of the Year" and "Performing Artist of the Year."
The following year, 2005-06, was a banner year for Vocal Point. The group appeared at BYU's well-known Homecoming Spectacular, as well as its first at BYU devotional. The group also hosted a successful celebration in honor of Vocal Point's 15th Anniversary. As a culmination of the group's success, they again won the regional semi-finals in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, but this time did not have to bow out; the finals were to be held on a Saturday. The group took its first tour to New York City, and competed there with some of the world's best collegiate a cappella ensembles in the Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. In its first ever appearance at the finals, and after winning regional competition three times, Vocal Point took first place. They were crowned International Champions for 2006.
James Stevens continued again as director in fall 2007, with a new group of motivated young men.
[edit] Members, Directors, Alumni
1991 - 1992
Bob Ahlander, Dave Boyce, Jon Gardner, Kevin Love, Nathan Lowry, Rick McFarland (Winter), Todd Seymour, Christian Syphus, David Thompson (Fall), Earl Gage
1992 Spring/Summer
Bob Ahlander, Dave Boyce, Tracy Hall, Kevin Love, Rick McFarland, John Peterson, Brad Ransom, Todd Seymour, Lowell Stewart
1992 - 1993
Bob Ahlander, Dave Boyce, Erik Crawford, Rick McFarland, Brad Ransom, Clayne Robison, Todd Seymour, Sean Skelton, Lowell Stewart
1993 - 1994
Bob Ahlander, Dave Boyce, Star Hall, Chris Jensen, Rick McFarland (Fall), Brad Ransom, Todd Seymour, Dave Stevenson (Winter), Lowell Stewart, Will Thomas
1994 - 1995
Robert Brantley, Brent Child, Mark Clifford, Aaron Edson, Jeff Grubbs, Star Hall (Fall), Shawn Koldewyn, Nathan Lowry, Cory Mecham, Jim Steele
1995 - 1996
Matt Avery, Paul Baltes, Rich Benson, Brent Child, Mark Clifford, Peter Hansen, Cory Mecham, Jim Steele, Nathan Lowry
1996 - 1997
Matt Avery, Paul Baltes, Cory Bench, Robert Brantley, Ted Crockett, Scott Curtis, Jim Steele, Peter Hansen, Jay Howser
1997 - 1998
Paul Baltes, Greg Baird, Danny Avery, Jay Howser, Craig Christiansen, Dave Hall, Mike Maughan, Jonny Nabrotsky, Dave Wilson
1998 - 1999
Danny Avery, Greg Baird, Sam Blackham, Dave Bowman, Scott Clark, Greg Giauque, Mike Gilchrist, Matt Pilling, Chris Woods
1999 - 2000
Sam Blackham, Greg Giauque, Jeff Gabbitas, Mike Gilchrist, Kevin Gunnell, Joseph Lebaron, Matt Pilling, Jeremy Pexton, Tandy Whitaker
2000 - 2001
Christian Anderson, Joe Battrick, Dave Gale, Kwan McComas (Fall), Kevin Gunnell (Winter), Joseph Lebaron, Alex Leeman, Ryan Palmer, Matt Stevens, Tandy Whitaker
2001 - 2002
Christian Anderson, Sam Blackham (Fall), Matt Bradbury, Dave Gale, Dave Johnson (Fall), Brett Larson, Alex Leeman, Ben Mason, Ryan Palmer, James Stevens (Winter), Matt Stevens (Winter)
2002 - 2003
Christian Anderson, David Anderson, Matt Bradbury, Dave Gale, Kevin Buskirk, Dan Dunn, Dave Nutter, Brett Larson, James Stevens
2003 - 2004
Matt Bradbury, Kevin Buskirk, Dan Dunn, Dave Brown, Jake Butler, Jimmy Dunn, Adam Ellison, Jeremiah Jackson, Brett Larson (Fall), Chase Weed (Winter)
2004 - 2005
David Anderson, Dan Dunn, Dave Brown, Jimmy Dunn, Jeremiah Jackson, Adam Lancaster, Ricky Parkinson, Josh Rich, Nate George (Fall), Buck Mangum (Winter)
2005 - 2006
Buck Mangum, David Anderson, Jimmy Dunn, Josh Rich, Ricky Parkinson, Ryan Innes, Jordan Keith, JJ Haines, Dan Cahoon
2006 - 2007
Jeremiah Jackson, Ryan Innes, Chase Weed, Buck Mangum, JJ Haines, Michael Sackett, Brad McOmber, Ben Henry, Micah Lorenc
2007 - 2008
JJ Haines, Ben Henry, Micah Lorenc, Buck Mangum, Chase Weed, Paul Bodily, Ariel Johnson, Scott Sackett, Grant Zabriskie
Honorary Members of Vocal Point:
Diane Myers, Dr. K. Newell Dayley, Doc Taylor, Dr. Clayne Robison, Dr. Hal Miller, Dr. Mack Wilberg, Dr. Ron Staheli, Ed Blaser, Elder Merrill J. Bateman, Howard Tayler, Michele Ryals, Roy Brinkerhoff, Nicki Avery, Shane Wright, Julie Ahlander, Paul Deurden, Brett Thomas, Joe Anderson, Glen Sawyer, Cecil and Sharon Samuelson
Vocal Point Directors:
Jill Petersen, Jim Anglesey, James Stevens, Bob Ahlander
[edit] Awards
- 2006. International Champions, Collegiate A Cappella championships.
- 2005. Three Pearl Awards, including Best Performing Artist and Best Performing Group, from the Faith Centered Music Association.
[edit] Discography
- If Rocks Could Sing, 1991
- Instruments Not Included, 1994
- Fatter Than Ever, 1996
- Mouthing Off, 1999
- Grand Slam, 2003
- Standing Room Only, 2004
- Nonstop, 2008
[edit] Online Recordings
[edit] References
- ^ Wadley, Carma, "Vocal Point wins world championship", Deseret Morning News, 2006-05-03. URL accessed on 2006-05-04.
