Skyline hosts first annual A Cappella-palooza (with audio slideshow)

By Tara Cavanaugh, AAPS News Service

More than 200 high school students sang at an “A Cappella-palooza,” held at Skyline High School on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The students were part of 14 a cappella groups from the three high schools.

Mrs. Lindsay Ciechanski, director of vocal music at Skyline, said this was first time all the high school groups got together for one big performance. She said a cappella groups have grown in popularity in the past few years, thanks to reality shows like “The Voice” and dramas like “Glee.”

Many of the groups arranged their own music, borrowing from pop artists and performing hits such as “Rumor Has It” by Adele, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, and “Drops of Jupiter” by Train.

The Men of Skyline A Cappella choir performed an original song titled “Lullaby for Emily,” which was composed by Eric Kaldijan, father of one of the students in the group.

Each performance received thunderous applause. “It’s not a competition between the groups,” Mrs. Ciechanski said. “It’s definitely coming together and showcasing the talent of our district.”