The music, pop and jazz, was very upbeat.
The crowd – only half the auditorium – was polite, listening to the a cappella group, m-pact, Nov. 3.
Fletcher Sheridan, member of m-pact, said before their performance, “Live music is an energy exchange, it’s a moment for us to connect with others in the audience. I hope that [the audience] enjoys the journey they are taken on.”
Trist Curless, the bass voice for m-pact, also said he loves performing.
“My favorite part of performing is the same about every other part of my life. I love sharing music. Whether it would be me sharing a link on YouTube or writing a song for people to listen,” Curless said.
However, only 200 people – half the Akin Auditorium – attended the latest event, part of the Artist-Lecture Series, to hear the group that performed their own spin on a few classics like “Why” by Michael Jackson and “Come Together” by the Beatles.
“It was fun hearing them put their own spin on each song,” said Bobby Joe Nielsen, a political science sophomore. “There were times where [the audience] we could clap along with the guys. I really enjoyed it when the beatboxer included the audience to make a cool beat.”
Jocelyn Brown, mechanical engineer sophomore, said, “[I’m here because] it sounded interesting and it is a requirement for honors. I don’t think I have ever heard of m-pact.”
Katie Pendergrass, music sophomore, said, “I just thought it sounded fun, and I had never heard of the group before and wanted to see what they were.”
Jamie Gardner, mathematics and art senior and member of the Artist-Lecture Series Committee, said she expected an amazing performance from m-pact because she loves a cappella groups.
“[I like a cappella groups because] there is a variation they don’t need instruments, and it’s pretty interesting,” Gardner said, of the group that cost $8,000.
And Maxyna Cottam, a fine arts freshman, said she enjoyed the show but that the audience could have been more engaged.
“I thought the group was really good,” Cottam said. “I enjoyed their performance. I just wish the audience was more alive, then the show would have been better.”
Debbie Coughran, assistant to dean of students, said the committee votes on the final performances picked for the lecture series for the season. She also said the committee is made up of seven or eight students, along with a faculty members, but they don’t get a vote, they just get to voice opinions and bring ideas to the table.
“It was my second year here and Pentatonix came, and I asked if the committee was accepting people and they said yes, and I joined and loved it. It is my second year being apart of the committee,” Gardner said.
Coughran explained the Artist-Lecture Series committee started coming up with ideas in late March and early April to pick who they want.
“It takes a few weeks [for the process of picking performers]. We met once to brainstorm, and then we met a few more times to pick and choose and take everyone’s opinion into account,” Natalia Quiroz, sociology senior and member of Artist-Lecture Series committee, said.
Curless said performing at colleges and universities is a common part of what they do.
“We perform at a lot of performing arts centers, which are typically a part of universities,” said Curless.
Additional reporting by Emily Richburg.
