Keeley McCowan lives for a competitive sing-off.
And she’s performing in one this Saturday against regional rival Oregon State University when University of Oregon’s male and female a cappella groups battle their Beaver counterparts in the Civil War of singing for the first time in history.
The competition will also offer a chance for Divisi, the group of a dozen or so University female a capella vocalists, to showcase its skills after a year of touring.
This isn’t the same Divisi that judges applauded two years ago in New York City. The group said farewell to, and welcomed, nine members just this year.
“It’s very, very intense,” McCowan said. “We had a really big turnover this year. It’s been a great experience because we have bounced back.”
These melodic ladies will belt their lyrical charm at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella this weekend at the Hult Center.
Divisi, who is hosting the event, will even compete to out-sing their brother group On the Rocks at the quarterfinal among several West Coast competitors, including Oregon State’s all-male and female groups, Outspoken and Divine, and students from Southern Oregon University, Whitman College and University of Arizona.
The competition between the two groups remains friendly, McCowan said.
“It’s not awkward,” McCowan said. “We’ve always had a good brother and sister relationship with them. At the end of the day, we want U of O to win.”
If University vocalists woo the judges, they advance to the semifinals in the San Francisco Bay Area and then fly to the national finals in New York City, where judges awarded Divisi second place for a female act in 2005.
Despite the group’s applauded success, McCowan said she still feels pre-show jitters.
“I’m really comfortable performing now,” she said, “I’m just nervous because it’s so important in any formal concert. Everything is so together and right on.”
The girls have been practicing their three-song set – “Don’t You Worry About a Thing” by Stevie Wonder, “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap and “You Had Me” by Joss Stone – for months.
Divisi determines its playlist based on how well the songs will portray the group’s talent, McCowan said.
“We don’t want something too simple,” she said. “We want something impressive. A musical judge is going to hear the intricacies.”
The group performs songs known to the everyday pop culture consumer, and it commits itself to cover female tunes, setting “an example for being strong women ourselves,” McCowan said.
The members’ classy outfits express their commitment to mixing professionalism with style: black pin-stripe pants, black blouses, red ties and red lipstick to match.
The competition begins at 7 p.m. in Silva Hall at the Hult Center. Tickets range from $10 to $15 for students.
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