Spring at ‘Nova always guarantees a few things—crowds in the quad, Greek life tables around the Oreo and, of course, a Cappella Palooza. The year’s biggest a cappella concert is a fixture of the Spring semester and yet again, Villanova’s a Cappella directors are hard at work to prep for the concert.

This year, the Directors of Villanova a Cappella  have poured last year’s ticket sales into new sound design for the show. “We had some complaints about sound quality, clarity, stuff like that, after last year’s show” Michael Lee ’17 said, the Supernovas’ music director. “We’re revamping our approach so that the audience can hear more clearly. Every year we get really good feedback that helps us plan.”

That sentiment seems to be ringing true among every group, many of which are logging extra hours in rehearsal to prep for the event. A Cappella Palooza has grown considerably in the last five years, transitions into the Jake Nevin Field House and picking up some new, professional touches. For the audience, it seems like the hyped-up atmosphere makes the concert a lot more fun—though for the singers, it also brings added pressure. “It definitely pushes all of the groups to work much harder, so it pushes us to focus on our work ethic” said Sydney Czech ’17, president of Sirens.  “It’s helpful because we have these higher expectations. We’re expected to perform at a new standard. It’ll be a nice surprise for the audience. More Pitch Perfect.”

Laura Campbell ’17, the Haveners’ music director, is elated to take the stage this year. “The Havs are super excited to be at Palooza and to be a part of this incredible a cappella community,” she said. “It’s fun to work together on a concert this big! And it’s a lot of work, so it really does motivate us to put out our best.” Given the Haveners’ mandatory participation in the Villanova Voices, it’s no surprise that this women’s group has a knack for concert prep. Lee, Czech and Campbell are each DVAC representatives, and the work they put in for the collective is as important as their individual preparations in their respective groups.

As always, a Cappella Palooza promises to be an unforgettable music event. DVAC is hard at work behind the scenes to shape up the presentation and musical caliber of the evening, and the progress shows. “I think it’s going to be better than ever. I really do. They’ve upped their game with the sound and choreography. It’s huge” revealed Music Activities Coordinator Laura Orr. Orr works closely with DVAC on all things a cappella, and her involvement is crucial to the success of the performance. With the plan laid out neatly for the concert, everyone seems to think that this year’s Palooza will be something truly exceptional. If you’re looking for proof, just check out DVAC’s hype video on Facebook or YouTube!

So if you’re in the mood to hear some great tunes, think about picking up a ticket to A Cappella Palooza this Friday, March 18, at 7 p.m. in Jake Nevin Field House. Tickets are available for $8 in advance or online, and $10 at the door, which opens at 7 p.m.