A few people scurry across the brick path down East Lawn, and two squirrels chase each other among the branches. A few dry leaves float to the ground before the stillness of the air creeps back around the dimly lit Rotunda. Suddenly the air is shaken as an angelic voice pierces the silence.
Standing on the steps of the Rotunda, third-year College student Melody Akhavan belts out in song for her boyfriend standing below.
Akhavan's beau, third-year Commerce student Ben Hicks, said he is very interested in encouraging and supporting his girlfriend.
Akhavan, a member of the Silhooettes, was runner-up for the Contemporary a Cappella Society's Award for best collegiate soloist in the nation.
Both resident advisors, Hicks and Akhavan know the dorms are not exactly an ideal spot to practice a cappella. So Hicks often takes her to the Rotunda to sing.
"It gives her adrenaline, and it is more exciting to sing from the top of the steps," Hicks said.
Akhavan said singing for her guy from the Rotunda makes her want to bust out and do better.
"Singing is what I do, and it's kind of like he is seeing me in my element," she said.
Hicks likes listening to Akhavan on the road too.
"When we are in the car, I'll have a song playing on the radio and she'll start singing," Hicks said. "Then I'll turn it up so she has to sing louder to hear herself. Then I'll turn it off and she'll keep going."
Akhavan said Hicks helps her select soloist audition pieces.
"You want to sing a song that fits your personality," Akhavan said. "His opinions are good because he helps me cater to my audience -- a non-a cappella sort."
Hicks said he can tell which songs Akhavan should sing based on how energized she is when she sings the tune.
Although Akhavan and Hicks have been dating for only two months, Hicks said he has gained a new appreciation for a cappella in that time. Hicks owns a copy of the Silhooettes CD and said he plays it for himself when Akhavan isn't around, and also for others when they ask about his girlfriend. Hicks said he also makes sure he never misses live renditions of the songs.
"Before I knew her, I kind of just watched a cappella and just heard it. It was just entertainment," Hicks said. "But by paying more attention to the group and her, I can learn a lot about a cappella. I watch everything and look at the details such as who is directing, the choreography and how the percussion fits in."
Hicks' favorite song that Akhavan sings is "Two Satellites" by Mary Beth Maziarz. The song initially awed him because he didn't recognize his girlfriend's voice. He said it showed her versatility.
To perform her best, Akhavan must spend a lot of time practicing alone and with her fellow Silhooettes.
Hicks, however, said practice doesn't really interfere with their time together.
"It's just part of what she has to do every day," Hicks said.
Akhavan added that it just takes some creative scheduling. When there are chances to include each other in Silhooette gatherings, Hicks' fraternity functions or residence life get-togethers, then they capitalize on those opportunities.
Second-year College student Meghan Bernier agreed with Hicks and Akhavan. Bernier said the a cappella schedule doesn't interfere too much with the time she has with her boyfriend, third-year engineering student and member of the Academical Village People Jonathan Turfboer.
"It is more like, 'How does my schedule interfere?'" Bernier said.
Turfboer added that he sings at a lot of sorority chapter meetings on Monday nights -- a time when Bernier has chapter meetings anyways.
Although Bernier has a full schedule, she makes sure to go to the dorm sings to show her support.
"I am an RA in Woody so I go with my whole hall to all the dorm sings," Bernier said.
Last year, she said she made cookies for AVP during their big practice week before their fall concert. When it comes to having AVP's CDs, however, Bernier is lacking.
"I should say I have all their CDs but I don't," Bernier said. "But I have the most recent one."
Although she doesn't listen to the CD very often anymore, Bernier said she listened to it when she was in high school.
Turfboer and Bernier met at marching band camp before Bernier's freshman year of high school, though they didn't start dating until her junior year. So when Bernier was a senior and Turfboer a first-year, she listened to the CD since she couldn't frequent the dorm sings.
Bernier said she has a real appreciation for anyone who can sing.
"I can't sing," she said. "I was instrumental in high school."
She said her favorite AVP song is "I Want You Back" by Michael Jackson. Bernier also enjoys her boyfriend's rendition of "Seven Days" by Craig David and "You Rock My World" by Michael Johnson. At the moment, she is trying to convince Turfboer to have AVP sing "Kiss the Girl" from the "Little Mermaid."
"All of the girls would swoon over you," she told him.
Bernier, however, is aware that the girls are already swooning over AVP.
"When I tell people that Jonathan is my boyfriend, they will tell me things like they really like a song that he did or he's so cute," Bernier said. "They are entertainers, and they have obviously entertained."
While many of these girls may dream of having a boy sing to them, Bernier is not one of them. Turfboer said she just doesn't like being sung to.
"It's very embarrassing. I hate it," Bernier said. "But he sings to my friends. They enjoy it."
Singing a cappella, nevertheless, remains a talent that Bernier supports and admires. By going to dorm sings or by helping them practice, Bernier and Hicks show their significant others that they care.
"She always does a great job, and it's cool to see how the crowd is entertained by her," Hicks said. "It's something I could never do."
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