Villanova’s a cappella group, the Supernovas, competed in the ICCA Mid-Atlantic semifinals on Saturday, March 21, at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE. While the Supernovas did not advance to the finals, senior member Hailey Falzone and her teammates still appreciated the journey.
“I was so proud of our group,” Falzone said. ‘I thought we did spectacularly, but the judges kind of decide what they want to see on that final stage, and the group that won had a very different set.”
Predating the semifinals, the Supernovas spent an intense month preparing, anticipating that the competition would be at an unparalleled level. They used the judges’ comments in the quarterfinals and focused on incorporating bigger moments into their choreography.
Gavin Crozier, Villanova senior and Supernova arranger, added multiple dynamic works, complete with different chords and progression, to bolster their sets. The team also had A Cappella Palooza the night before, which gave it a chance to show off its new slick moves before the competition.
When asked what she was most excited about going into this competition, Falzone said that it was getting to perform with her teammates, whom she considers her own family at this point. She also mentions that, as a Villanova senior, every round in the competition would be her last to perform alongside her team, so she knew to give it her all each time.
“You never know when it’s going to be your last one, especially as a senior, so you know at Quarters, it’s kind of just, ‘give it all you have,” Falzone said.
Falzone had much praise for her time at Villanova. Like many of her teammates, she had been dancing and singing since childhood before joining the Supernovas. While hesitant to devote her time and try out, she considers auditioning for the Supernovas one of her best decisions.
“I think Villanova offers a lot of opportunities for you, and I think if you stumble upon something that you’re passionate about and you want to try, I’d say go for it and try it out,” Falzone said.
She says that the best thing one can get from joining an organization on this campus is meeting people, both like-minded and different. They progressively shift from being one’s acquaintances to closest friends, even becoming one’s family.
“It’s finding people who lift you on your bad days and cheer for you on your good days,” Falzone said.
For example, take the Spa Night that the Supernovas traditionally have before the ICC competitions. The members each gather at a team member’s apartment, drink tea, use face masks and hang out as a family before going on to compete the next day.
Falzone describes the ICCA competitions as great networking events. Performers get to meet musicians from so many other universities and form new friendships and relationships. Such experiences demonstrate that being in a performing arts group or participating in a regional competition is not all about the victories or the prestige, but rather the fun that one gets to have.
The Supernovas will perform at the annual Spring Concert on April 12. Falzone, along with Crozier and fellow senior Declan Mahoney, will each perform a unique senior solo in commemoration of their journey at Villanova before graduation. Even after the competition, the group is practicing every day to deliver a grand performance to help close out the year.
“The a cappella grind is always happening,” Falzone said. “But it’s so fun. It doesn’t even feel like work.”
Falzone describes this as the best way for the year to end for the Supernovas, and how proud she is of herself, her team and all the people who helped them get so far.
Students interested in following the Supernovas can follow them on Instagram @vusupernovas. They can also be found on YouTube, VUGroups and TikTok, with links to them each being available on the Student Ensemble section of the school website.
