They stand in formation, tall, graceful, hands at their sides, smiles wide on their focused faces. Constant chatter drowns out the notes of what sounds like a french horn playing softly down the hall in the MarArbel B. Frohnmayer Music Building.
You might think this lively group of students stumbled right out of a harmonious scene from “Sound of Music,” singing round after round of “Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do” to warm up their voices. The group members play off each other’s voices, making eye contact and grinning as they sing during rehearsal.
The University’s only co-ed a capella group on campus, Mind the Gap, has expanded to include 15 members this year after an intense couple of days of auditions.
“We try really hard to make auditions fun,” said University senior Russell Kamp, who created the group in fall 2007.
The group welcomed two new members last spring and two more this fall. This year, Mind the Gap will grace audiences on campus with nine men and six women.

Mind the Gap recognizes the inclusion of both genders in the musical group for the first time, Kamp said. He added that he works hard to set the group apart from other a capella groups by choosing different music and maintaining a unique style.
At the beginning of their weekly practice, Kamp taps his purple Converse shoes to the beat, snapping his fingers, counting the group off.
Their knees sway to the chords as they bounce up and down, re-acclimating themselves to the familiar sound of each other’s voices.
Though the windows in the room bring in gusts of cold air; it’s as if the music suddenly warms their bodies and all is right with the world as soon as the group breaks into song.
These motivated students meet twice a week for 2 1/2 hours to perfect their performances, which they give Fridays at 3:45 p.m. in the EMU amphitheater.
“Some of us just like singing, and some of us wanted to get back in a group,” member Meredith Williams said. “The diversity of our group is pretty big.”
When the group practices a new song, there’s no groaning if they don’t master it on the first try. They stand attentive, intently focused on the notes in front of them. In between rehearsing, members whisper advice to each other, clarifying the last chord to ensure the success of the song. It takes a few tries to get certain transitions to where Kamp wants them. He splits the members into subgroups so they can master their own sections. When they re-group, Kamp says the song sounds much more polished.
Throughout rehearsals, talk surfaces about the upcoming International Championship of Collegiate A Capella auditions.
Kamp and Williams introduce a new hit song they’d like to try. He explains the group appears to be missing an edgier, upbeat song with lots of energy and more complex choreography. They are missing a “girl’s song,” as well – one in which a female member sings lead. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he moves toward the front of the room to play the demo he and Williams recorded the previous night. Kamp warns his colleagues to be kind, defensively prefacing the demo by admitting he and Williams recorded the song in the wee hours of the night.
After an initial listening period, the group sings high praise for the new tune. Each member has something to say about it.
“This has ridiculous opportunities to make fun of ourselves,” said Kamp.
“This song appeals to the teenage girl in me,” Tyson Biggerstaff says, sending the rest of the group into hysterical laughter.
University sophomores Taylor Duty and Cody Schvaneveldt agree they weren’t fond of the song at first, but as they listened on they grew more fond of it.
“If we play it up right, maybe change a couple of the lyrics, I think it could be really good,” Duty said.
She and Williams agree the potential for the song remains strong.
Kamp, hesitant to adopt a song that leaves many in the group apprehensive, surveys the group again.
“I won’t compete (at ICCA) with a bad song,” Kamp said.

By the end of rehearsal, energy remains strong after wavering a bit in the middle. The group gathers for a huddle to signify the end of the session.
Once rehearsal ends, most of the friends linger.
University sophomore Evan Thomas looks exhausted, but content. Thomas, who made it to rehearsal with a sprained ankle, marvels at the turn his college career took toward the beginning of fall 2007. He joined Mind the Gap when his alternative plans fell through.
“I was going to rush a frat but I didn’t have any money,” Thomas says, chuckling. “Now these are some of the closest friends and singing partners I have.”
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