In recent weeks, Ohio University has welcomed not one, but two new co-ed a cappella groups to campus.
Heart of Worship, a Christian group, focuses on sharing the message of Jesus Christ through a variety of songs, such as gospel, contemporary and Christian rap. Unofficially founded by Aaron Comstock, a graduate student studying music, in fall of 2009, the group meets twice a week to sing, study the Bible and hold a prayer circle.
The group became an official student organization last month and is mentored by the Mustard Seeds at Boston University.
With the many different organizations on campus, faith is not always a priority for college students, Comstock said. As a result, membership fluctuates in the group.
Our goal is to lean on faith
Comstock said. By faith we will get to where we need to be.
Made up of students that are mostly non-music majors, HOW uses songs arranged by Comstock that have a four-part bar for tenor, bass, alto and soprano. Their latest project is an arrangement of I Will Follow You by Chris Tomlin, a Christian singer.
HOW also uses a beat boxer for rhythm in its songs. The group has performed in multiple venues such as Grace Christian Church, Campus Crusade's 180 and in bars and churches in Columbus. Often, the audience does not mind that HOW is Christian - but they enjoy the music, said Comstock. Their last concert had 800 attendees.
We're here for students to show that we are not shy about professing our faith to the community Comstock said.
New Chords On the Block, the brainchild of Sarah Mason, a sophomore studying music, will join Heart of Worship on the coed a cappella scene.
Mason created the group in Fall Quarter 2010 by talking to friends who wanted to join an a cappella group.
Before becoming official, Mason and interested friends met during Fall Quarter.
We talked about what songs we wanted to sing and asked the people we know if they can and will arrange the songs
Mason said, adding that the group will sing songs from any genre.
Not everyone in the group can read music, but they can hear the tune and point out errors.
It's a group effort. We stop and fix it together (if we mess up)
said •Michael Scheidegger, the group's vice president and a sophomore studying music education.
The group meets twice weekly and is advised by Dr. Paschal Younge, associate professor of multicultural music education.
New Chords on the Block will sing Kalliolle Kukkulalle
a song in Finnish, during the World Music and Dance Concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium.
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Culture
Leisha Lininger
