The sounds of the season will ring through the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom tonight.
UF’s a cappella group The Staff will host its annual holiday a cappella concert, called “Falala Cappella,” from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Because the concert has grown each year, this year’s performance will be in the ballroom instead of the music building, said Clyde Montgomery, the performance director and a soloist on The Staff.
“Last year, we were packed, so we realized very quickly we needed a larger venue,” the 22-year-old UF botany senior said.
Performing in the Reitz cost about $400. Donations will be accepted at the door, and all proceeds will be donated to the St. Francis House, said Megan Nardo, who is helping plan the event.
In addition to the concert’s regular performers, like No Southern Accent and Tone Def, UF’s newest group, Gator Awaaz, will sing. Gator Awaaz is a Bollywood-meets-Asian-pop a cappella group, and it will perform renditions of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” and a mash-up of several Tamil and Hindi songs, said Manash Ramanathan, a member of the group and UF biology junior.
To prepare for the show, Nardo, a member of the all-female group The Sedoctaves, has been practicing six hours a week all semester. Because the group spends so much time together, she said it’s like a family.
“It has a sisterhood feel to it,” the 20-year-old said.
The UF communication sciences and disorders junior said she is most looking forward to performing “Settle Down” by Kimbra.
UF applied physiology and kinestheology senior Lara Drondoski said she’s never been to an a cappella show and is excited to see a friend perform. The 21-year-old said she’s looking forward to see Dartmouth Decibelles, who will be traveling to Gainesville from New Hampshire.
“I think they’ll be pretty good,” Drondoski said.
Jacob Kovach, the social chair of The Staff, said he likes that the performance will show how music unites people.
“Music is the universal language, you know?” the 20-year-old said. “It just brings people together.”
The concert is free and open to the public.
