The SingStrong A Cappella Festival takes over the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center Friday, Feb. 7, through Sunday, Feb. 9, for a weekend with five completely different a cappella concerts and two days of a cappella classes. The movie “Pitch Perfect” and the TV show “Sing-Off” offer a glimpse of what to expect from the concerts featuring artists performing various styles of music, from pop and jazz to overtone singing, barbershop and even beatbox, all with nothing but the human voice.
The weekend includes the ACA-IDOL competition Friday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m., where college and semi-professional a cappella groups compete for over $1,000 in prizes. Celebrities judge live while the audience votes by cell phone. The next day, the best High School a cappella groups compete for awards Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. While the judges deliberate, there will also be a performance by the “Single Singers,” an open a cappella group that only releases during the festival and that you and your family can join. Go to NewYork.SingStrong.org for details on how to join. Saturday night, professional groups from around the world take the stage for two evening shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., with a wide variety of different a cappella acts at each show. The festival’s final concert starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, with more professional acts from across the globe.
Headliners for SingStrong include Rilton’s Vanner, the Swedish Nordic Pop Vocal Band; Blue Jupiter, Broadway Records recording artists, performing wild re-imaginings of pop and “twisted Broadway” featuring Diana Preisler, star of the Lifetime TV show “Pitch Slapped;” SYNG Selected, Denmark’s number one ranked contemporary a cappella youth choir; Grace McLean, the Lincoln Center featured composer and live looper; Resolve, the Disney-based jazz quartet that won both the New York and the National Harmony Sweepstakes Competition; Midtown, the fifth-best barbershop quartet in the world; Spiderhorse, the World Champion Beatboxers, two-time American Beatbox Champs and winners of the 2019 ACA-OPEN Championship; and Shimmer Grove Overtone Collective, the multi-generational six-person overtone singing ensemble.
All profits go to support school music programs and the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
The SingStrong A Cappella Festival will take place Friday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m., three shows on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. Classes are scheduled throughout the day on Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9.
All shows take place on the Westermann Stage in Adelphi’s PAC Concert Hall.
Individual tickets are $20 or $35 depending on the show, with discounts available to seniors, students, groups, alumni and employees. Full Weekend Passes are $75, $100 or $200; and to just attend classes, a Class Pass is just $40. For more information call the Lucia and Steven N. Fischer Box Office at 516-877-4000 or email boxoffice@adelphi.edu. Regular box office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. and the box office is also open two hours before most scheduled performances. Ticket sales and additional information are available online.
Story submitted by Taylor Damian.
