Pitches Be Trippin’ is injecting a new brand of femininity into AU’s a capella community this semester.
Joanna Sobieski, a junior in the School of Communication, was an active member in AU’s co-ed a cappella group Blends with Benefits last year, but she decided to leave the group in April because she wanted to generate more opportunities.
“In the past few years, there’s been a surge in interest in a capella,” she said. “I was really upset because I thought there were a lot of talented girls who weren’t getting in.”
Several girls who auditioned for Pitches Be Trippin’ cited the movie “Pitch Perfect” as their inspiration, according to Sobieski.
Sobieski set out to develop an all-female a capella group with a feminine style that extends beyond stereotypical girliness. The name popped into her head and struck her as a perfect summation of her goals for the group.
“We’re very punny,” Sobieski said.
She started out by seeking out talented singers who failed to make the cut at previous Blends auditions, such as SOC junior Hannah Katzen.
“Joanna hunted us down,” Katzen said, who is now the group’s assistant manager.
The Pitches recently performed a cover of Neon Trees’ “Everybody Talks” at the a capella concert during All American Weekend after making their debut in early September at the A Capella Showcase.
“Since we were so new, we didn’t have a chance to perform a new song,” Katzen said.
Instead, the group decided to compose a catchy jingle to introduce Pitches Be Trippin’ to their potential new fans.
For this task, the group turned to Performance Director Lucette Moran, a sophomore in the School of International Service and the School of Public Affairs.
“I want people to come see an a capella performance, not an a capella recital,” Moran said. “The audience should leave having learned something or felt something, or experienced something.”
The Pitches held auditions after the showcase, attracting more than 60 contenders for only seven spots.
Erica Pierce, a freshman in College of Arts and Sciences, said she is excited to be with the group at its outset. She made the group after performing Miley Cyrus “When I Look at You.”
“I actually heard about them over the summer,” Pierce said.
Going forward, the members hope to branch out into a variety of genres, citing artists like Train, Queen, Extreme, Ellie Goulding, Frank Ocean and Sweet Honey in the Rock as ideal contenders for future setlists.
“We’re all excited about this,” CAS sophomore Heather Rosoff, a member, said of the group. “Great group of girls.”
