HIGH POINT, N.C., March 15, 2016 – High Point University’s male a cappella group, the Toccatatones, has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall on the most prestigious concert stage in the U.S.
The group will join singers from across the country in forming an a cappella choir for Total Vocal, the second annual celebration of contemporary a cappella music. The concert is at 2 p.m. on March 20. Tickets are available for purchase through Carnegie Hall’s website.
Hosted by music director, arranger and producer Deke Sharon, the show will feature musicians from “Pitch Perfect 2” and “The Sing-Off.” Songs to be performed include classics like “Come Fly with Me,” and a Beatles medley as well as contemporary hits like Adele’s “Chasing Pavements” and John Legend’s “All of Me.”
The Toccatatones, founded in 2001 in memory of music professor Todd Owen Carter, is one of HPU’s premier student-led ensembles. The 13-member group performs a variety of music at campus events and for audiences across the Southeast.
After their song “Happy” was featured on the album “BOCA 2015: Best of College A Cappella,” the Toccatatones received an invite to perform at Carnegie Hall from Distinguished Concerts International New York, the concert’s organizer.
HPU senior Anthony Boucher, Toccatatones president, says this is a special opportunity for the group to show off its talents and earn name recognition among the country’s a cappella elites.
“This is by far one of the greatest achievements for the Toccatatones,” he says. “We are establishing a prominence among collegiate groups and within the greater a cappella community. Seeing the group rise to this level of performance is something I’ve dreamed of. We are incredibly honored to be able to perform on one of the most prestigious stages in the world, all while doing what we love to do.”
Boucher adds that the group is working hard to learn the music and prepare for the performance, especially since they will be singing with a full choir.
“We have a lot of music to learn at a high level, but the experience is extremely rewarding,” Boucher says. “We’re looking forward to the trip and are so thankful that it’s being made possible in part through a contribution from the family of one of our members, Dylan Houseworth, which is making it more affordable to travel.”
March is an exciting month for the Toccatatones. The group is releasing its fifth album, “Volume,” on March 22. The CD will be on sale on campus and will be available through iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.