If you're looking for something new and interesting to listen to as you walk around Grounds, look no further than the University's own Sil'hooettes, an all female a capella group that has not only been strutting their stuff around Grounds, but earning recognition from the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America in their most recent Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards.
The Sil'hooettes were nominated for a grand total of five nominations for their newest CD Sauce, including Best Collegiate Album, Best Collegiate Soloist, Best Collegiate Song, Best Collegiate Arrangement and Best Scholastic Original Song. When the CARA award winners were announced April 1, the Sil'hooettes won Best Arrangement and were named runner-up for Best Song.
"I am a little disappointed, naturally I think," Sil'hooettes President Lexi Witman said. "Obviously we were pulling for Best Female Collegiate Album, but we are definitely still happy with our wins and our nominations."
Despite their disappointment in the CARA award results, one can definitely see why the Sil'hooettes received such prestigious nominations. Their sound is vibrant and eclectic. They sing a variety of different kinds of music, putting the more typical songs in their concerts and saving the more technically difficult and obscure songs for their albums. Because of their wide range of sounds and styles, it is easy to understand why Sil'hooettes were chosen for this prestigious honor.
Not only are the Sil'hooettes talented in putting on a great show, but their albums take extensive work and dedication.
"Because of the way we operate and because we make and sell a product, we are ineligible for funding from the University," Witman said. "We finance the recording, editing, mixing, production and shipping of our CDs by ourselves."
This is true of most of the a capella groups on Grounds, and there is something to be said for the University having such a large and talented group of a capella groups that have to entirely fund themselves. But funding isn't the only challenge that the Sil'hooettes face when creating an album.
"The most challenging aspect about our new CD was song choice," Business Manager Jenna Pastuszek said. "We didn't want to put the typical girls a capella songs on the CD."
The Sil'hooettes have been recognized for their song choices in various reviews of their albums, so it is understandable this would be extremely important to them. They are capable of performing a wide range of styles, and they work hard to find the best venue for certain types of songs.
The Sil'hooettes also were acknowledged for another talent in the CARA awards: The win for best arrangement is a nod to Musical Director Sara Dougadir's skills in arrangement.
The Sil'hooettes have a bright future ahead of them, marked by their 20th anniversary next year.
"We're very excited as we'll be inviting back all of our alumnae and will feature new and old songs to celebrate the past and present of the group," Pastuszek said. Next spring, the Sil'hooettes will also release their next album. Especially noteworthy, however, is the Sil'hooettes performance at the Kennedy Center, which will take place in June.
What is especially enticing about the Sil'hooettes is how much they obviously enjoy their group and being part of the Uuniversity musical community.
"Honestly, I just love being a part of the a capella community here at U.Va," Witman said.
With such an extraordinary group of singers participating in such a strong community of musical talent, it is easy to see why. 3
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