The Brown & White

Lehigh's male a cappella group, A Whole Step Up, placed third at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Mid-Atlantic quarterfinals on Feb. 2 at Pennsylvania State University.

The group performed "Nur Für Dich," by the German a cappella group The Wise Guys, "Love Song for No One" by John Mayer, a mix of "Hooked on a Feeling" by B.J. Thomas and "500 Miles" by The Proclaimers.

This year is the first time that Lehigh has three different groups competing in the ICCAs. A Whole Step Up and The Melismatics are new to the ICCAs, while The Echoes competed at the event two years ago.

Dan Halle, '08, musical director of A Whole Step Up, said their third place finish means the group performed well enough to place, but they will not move on to the semifinals.

"Third is technically runner-up," Halle said. "If one of the others can't go [to the semifinals], third-place will fill in."

First place went to Vocal Point from the University of Rochester, while Shades of Blue from Penn State took second.

"We knew the other two groups were our biggest competition," said Jake Schwartz, '09, business manager of A Whole Step Up and a member of The Melismatics.

Luke Ranieri, '08, A Whole Step Up publicity manager, said although the group didn't win, it was probably one of the strongest performances thus far.

Besides placing third, A Whole Step Up also received awards for Best Musical Arrangement by Dan Halle and Best Choreography for the song "Nur Für Dich."

Ranieri said they were the only group to sing a song in another language.

Halle said the judges appreciate eclectic song choices.

"The German song is one they haven't heard before and we got a lot of praise for it," Halle said.

All three songs are currently up on YouTube.

Ranieri said there is a huge debate over whether "Love Song for No One" is better than the original, since the video was linked to a John Mayer fan site, Ranieri said.

Halle said that the group had a great energy at the ICCAs.

"After the performance we were so excited," Halle said. "We gave each other high fives for half an hour."

Heidi Shonbeck, '09, musical director of The Echoes, said it's great The Whole Step Up placed third.

"They're such a young group that it's just so cool they could get third," Shonbeck said.

The Melismatics and The Echoes are looking to take this energy with them when they perform in the ICCAs on March 1 at Drexel University.

"Whole Step did amazing," Brittany Peace, '10, said. "It definitely set the bar for how the Mels and The Echoes should perform."

Tom Ludlow, business manager of The Melismatics, said they will perform a set of three songs. They will sing "I'll Be There" by the Jackson Five, "Toxic" by Britney Spears and "Happy Ending" by Mika.

Halle said he is confident The Melismatics can do well with a full month to practice and perfect everything.

Shonbeck said The Echoes' will perform "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens, "Do You Know What it Takes" by Robyn and "It's a Beautiful Life" by Ace of Base.

Since The Echoes and The Melismatics are competing at the same round of quarterfinals, there is an added element of competition, Shonbeck said.

Schwartz said the groups agreed that if one places, they will both travel to the semifinals for support.

"It would be nice to have either one of the groups place just so that we can have that experience," Schwartz said.

Peace said it is a priority for the groiups to support each other.

"We're not there to be rivals," Peace said. "It would be amazing if we could both place first and second, and make it to the next level."

The ICCA is the only international a cappella competition for students. The competition is sponsored by Varsity Vocals, an umbrella organization responsible for programs aimed at high school and college student a capella, according to the Varsity Vocals Web site.

The competition takes place in seven regions. Each region hosts seven quarterfinal competitions, according to the Varsity Vocals Web site.

The top two groups of each quarterfinal proceed to the semifinals. The winner of each semifinal will go to the finals held in New York City's Lincoln Center, according to the Varsity Vocals Web site.

All three groups will also perform at the Lehigh Invitational on Feb. 16.