Bee Sharp male acapella group on a high note for success
Katie Matoon
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Features
There is a new development in the music department at St. Ambrose University. Bee Sharp is the all male acapella group that has begun practicing this semester. The group's director, Keith Haan, said that Bee Sharp was all the idea of the guys of the group.
"I'm the music director [of the group]. I didn't say I was the leader. It really was instigated by students and that's the cool part about. It's been really exciting working with this group because it's student generated and it comes from the students and they are all excited about it," Haan said.
The men of the group have been chasing the idea of Bee Sharp for months. Sophomore baritone Keaton Connell said that he's excited that the group is finally on its way.
"A group of us really wanted to start this last year but we didn't have enough backing by other students. Then we had some freshmen come into the system who were all for it and it just kind of evolved from there," Connell said
Haan agreed.
"We talked about it fall semester and we got a bunch of guys together and then we got a couple of guys this semester and it became an official group," Haan said.
Singing acapella, meaning they sing without the accompaniment of music, as well as being an all male group has its challenges.
"Being an acapella group makes it that much harder. You just have to be confident in what you're doing. Being a college group is also hard. There's no marketing for it so you have to put the word out yourself if you want to be known," Connell said.
But being an all male group and an acapella group has its strengths as well. For Connell, it's the brotherhood that an all male group brings.
"We're all really serious during practice but we all know how to have fun," Connell said.
Haan agreed with Connell, but for a different reason.
"The group has a robust sound. It's a resonant sound. There is a pretty wide range of tone quality," Haan said
And some members of the group are banking on that robust sound to reel in the crowds. Connell has high hopes for the group's performances.
"I think we're going to get a big following after they hear us and then hopefully that will follow into next fall," Connell said.
"I think it's going to grow outside the campus and hopefully the QCA will start to follow us."
You can be the judge of Bee Sharp when they perform at the Spring Choral Concert on April 25th at 3:00 p.m. in the Galvin Fine Arts Center. Until then, Bee Sharp will continue their practice in hopes of being sharp for their next performance.
For more information about the group or if you are interested in joining, you can email the choir's music director Keith Haan at HaanKeithA@sau.edu.
"I'm the music director [of the group]. I didn't say I was the leader. It really was instigated by students and that's the cool part about. It's been really exciting working with this group because it's student generated and it comes from the students and they are all excited about it," Haan said.
The men of the group have been chasing the idea of Bee Sharp for months. Sophomore baritone Keaton Connell said that he's excited that the group is finally on its way.
"A group of us really wanted to start this last year but we didn't have enough backing by other students. Then we had some freshmen come into the system who were all for it and it just kind of evolved from there," Connell said
Haan agreed.
"We talked about it fall semester and we got a bunch of guys together and then we got a couple of guys this semester and it became an official group," Haan said.
Singing acapella, meaning they sing without the accompaniment of music, as well as being an all male group has its challenges.
"Being an acapella group makes it that much harder. You just have to be confident in what you're doing. Being a college group is also hard. There's no marketing for it so you have to put the word out yourself if you want to be known," Connell said.
But being an all male group and an acapella group has its strengths as well. For Connell, it's the brotherhood that an all male group brings.
"We're all really serious during practice but we all know how to have fun," Connell said.
Haan agreed with Connell, but for a different reason.
"The group has a robust sound. It's a resonant sound. There is a pretty wide range of tone quality," Haan said
And some members of the group are banking on that robust sound to reel in the crowds. Connell has high hopes for the group's performances.
"I think we're going to get a big following after they hear us and then hopefully that will follow into next fall," Connell said.
"I think it's going to grow outside the campus and hopefully the QCA will start to follow us."
You can be the judge of Bee Sharp when they perform at the Spring Choral Concert on April 25th at 3:00 p.m. in the Galvin Fine Arts Center. Until then, Bee Sharp will continue their practice in hopes of being sharp for their next performance.
For more information about the group or if you are interested in joining, you can email the choir's music director Keith Haan at HaanKeithA@sau.edu.
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