Noteworthy, an all-woman's a cappella group, is having auditions tonight from 6-9 p.m. in room 1170 TMCB for all girls who have a love for singing and want to be in a performing group.

Esther Yoder, a 20-year-old student from New York majoring in recreation management, started the a cappella group because she loves music and singing. She had participated in the Vocal Point music group and wanted a challenge so she created an a cappella group just for girls.

"Esther is a real go getter," said Neil Harrington the faculty advisor for Brigham Young University A cappella club. "When she started the group she did it very professionally. She even created a contract for the girls to sign."

That group, Noteworthy, started in January of this year with nine girls in the group. They were together for two months and disbanded the group for spring and summer semesters. They are now looking to get it started up again.

There are four spaces available for the girls to audition for. The group is also hoping to find a girl who can do vocal percussion.

Rosa Parma, a sophomore who is an open major from Ohio is one of the current girls in the group. She tried out last year and said if she could give a tip to girls trying out this year, it would be to not worry about the number of girls that get chosen.

"I went last year and found out how many girls were accepted, and I thought 'Well, there's no chance,' but I made it," Parma said.

Parma said that girls don't often realize their abilities, and that they should just come, try out and be themselves.

The group sings songs that range from blues, jazz, ballads, barbershop, pop, middle eastern and anything else out there.

As they perform their songs, Parma said that they are able to communicate a spiritual feeling even while singing pop and other songs. "We are participating in missionary work," Yoder said. "[People] notice a difference in our music."

Because they sing a cappella, they are able to add their own style to the music.

"We take music and other church songs and make it our own," said Parma. "That's the beauty of a cappella."

The group plans on having 20-30 songs that they will learn and perform. This is more than double from the nine songs they performed before.

The group will be performing in the A cappella Jam that takes place on campus in November. They will also be holding their own concerts off campus and plan to have a joint concert with Vocal Point in March.

Yoder said the group changes the lives of the girls who participate in it. She also said that because the group is together so often and they get to know each so well that she has met some of her best friends through the group.

"It was the most wonderful experience," Parma said about singing in the group.



Copyright Brigham Young University 3 Sep 2004