A capella groups get along at ‘Sibling
Rivalry’
Wesleyan Argus- December 7, 2001
by Beth Mitchell, Contributing Writer
The entire lobby of Olin Library was filled with a cappella enthusiasts
(otherwise known as procrastinators) Tues. night at the Cardinal Sinners’ and
Wesleyan Spirits’ “Sibling Rivalry” Concert. A welcome study break for many
students struggling to catch up on three months worth of reading, the event had
an atmosphere that was playful and invigorating.
The Sinners, one of the University’s two all-women’s a cappella groups, and the
Spirits, the only all-men’s group, identify themselves as brother and sister
organizations.
“Not only did I come for the singing, I also came to see the hot men and women
of the Wesleyan a cappella groups,” commented Conor Gately ’02. “Their inner
beauty is perfectly complemented by their striking good looks, lithe forms and
keen fashion sense. Also, their sweet supple voices are rich in timbre and
evidently coming from a place deep down in and below their hearts.”
The Spirits opened the show with “Short People,” a song that centered on the
message that, as the lyrics state, “Short people got no reason to live.” At
5’10”, soloist Steve Morgan ’04 was not the shortest member of the group, but he
won the solo as the shortest Spirits frosh last year.
The Sinners then continued with “Bachelorette,” a Tori Amos composition, sung by
soloist Stephanie Jones ’03. The two groups then alternated places for the rest
of the show. As they do in every concert, the Spirits sang a traditional
University song, this one about ringing “the bells of old South College.”
The show ended with the Sinners’ rendition of “Lady Marmalade,” from the film
Moulin Rouge. After audacious solos and inspired dancing from Sarah Kavanagh
’04, Bridget Palardy ’05 and Kelly McFarling’05, applause was
said to have reached the farthest corners of campus—or at least into the stacks.
Though the concert was identified as “sibling rivalry,” there was surprisingly
little interaction between the two groups. They took turns singing one after the
other, but they never joined voices in song, and they never fought over whose
turn it was next.
In an interesting twist of the sibling rivalry theme, Sinner Robbin Friedman ’04
admitted after the concert that she not only “really like[s] singing in Olin.
The acoustics are fabulous,” but “I’m desperately attracted to every one of the
Spirits.”
Kavanagh added, “I feel the same way about the acoustics, but I am desperately
attracted to every one of the Sinners.”
Many audience members were impressed by the evening as a whole.
“I was disappointed—there were no instruments,” quipped concert-goer Ryan Ungaro
’04. “But a cappella’s great and it’s here to stay.”
Jesse Appelman ’04 jokingly expressed his enthusiasm.
“It had to be lip-synched,” he said. “It was a little too good.”