USC’s a cappella groups are planning a scary fun Halloween concert on Thursday night, October 27.
As many as 11 groups of costumed singers will perform a medley of songs at SoCal Vocals’ house with free admission for all.
Doors open at 8:30 p.m., and the performance will range from somber ballad “Stop this Train” by John Mayer to a “meme song” composed of various viral snippets. This will all be complemented by “some super cute choreography,” according to assistant music director of UnderSCore A Cappella, Maheen Haseeb.
All Hailoween is a USC a cappella tradition, which stems from their more formal “All Hail” showcase typically held in September for prospective new members. The themed concert gives newly initiated members a chance to perform with the group for the first time and doubles as a recruiting event for those interested in joining later in the semester.
“It’s supposed to be a showcase where people can see a cappella groups and decide if they want to audition and just get a feel for the groups,” said sophomore Yohanna Bauerdorf, business manager and choreographer of SoCal Vocals. “All Hailoween is a lot more lax [than All Hail] though. We dress up, and it’s just a lot of fun.”
SoCal Vocal, USC’s oldest and most decorated a cappella group, is hosting the event. The group was founded in 1996, and aims to “bring colorful southern California pop into the a cappella world,” according to their website. They won five International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) titles and released their eighth studio album, VoCabulary, in 2016.
Eight of the 10 other USC a cappella groups are expected to perform, including The Sirens, USC’s first and only women’s a cappella group, and the Varsity Blues, the newest addition to the campus a capella arsenal.
Stella Malone of the Varsity Blues says attendees can expect “a new set of people, a new set of vibes, fun costume coordination, and it’s Halloween day, so a little bit of magic, I guess.”
All Hailoween will be held at 1146 W 27th St and all are encouraged to join in on the festivities.