For many musically inclined students, Colgate University’s a cappella groups provide a great way to connect with one another through song. There are five a cappella groups on campus: the Colgate 13, the Swinging ’Gates, the Resolutions, the Dischords and the Mantiphondrakes. Each of these groups has its own identity and history that makes it unique, but the one thing they all share is a love of music.
However, music is not the only thing these groups have to offer their members. Junior Reanna Bartels-Quansah — a member of the Swinging ’Gates — noted her connection to the other singers in her group.
“I think being in the Swinging ’Gates makes me enjoy music more because everyone around me loves music,” Bartels-Quansah said.
Due to their demanding rehearsal schedule and road trips to perform at various locations, many of these groups become incredibly tight-knit.
Senior Jon Castillo of the Colgate 13 described the close-knit atmosphere of the group.
“It’s definitely a brotherhood,” Castillo said. “You are with these guys for so long, not just in rehearsals but just driving for trips in a van. It’s not just like,‘Oh, you are a fellow a capella member,’ there has to be love and friendship there.”
The Swinging ’Gates and the Colgate 13 provide their members opportunities for both work and pleasure. Castillo explained that the Colgate 13 exceeds at maintaining this balance.
“We take things seriously, but we also don’t,” Castillo said. “We try to perform differently than everybody else in terms of, like, trying to have fun on stage. And that’s both on and off stage [that we] try to make a very fun environment.”
Bartels-Quansah expressed how much she enjoys rehearsals with the Swinging ’Gates.
“When we get to see each other, it’s super exciting,” Bartels-Quansah said. “We’re always chit-chatting. But I think our rehearsals are a good balance of intensity but also fun.”
Many first-year students arrive on campus each year in search of a place of belonging. The a cappella groups appeal to these new students because the communities within them are so evident.
Bartels-Quansah recalled why she was originally drawn to the Swinging ’Gates.
“It really appealed to me because it seems like a very close-knit group of friends,” Bartels-Quansah said.
The friendships forged within these groups also prove to be a useful tool for helping members navigate Colgate.
“We all have different ages and years and majors, so I’ve had the opportunity to talk to people in [the] group about things like what they’re studying, where they recommend I look for internships and other things like that,” said Bartels-Quansah. “I feel like I can get a lot of advice because we’re all from different areas in life.”
From football game tailgates to concert halls, Colgate’s a cappella groups have had the opportunity to perform in front of various groups of people.
Castillo recalled that these different performances have created some of the best memories for him, especially over the group’s annual January tour, known as Jantour.
“My favorite memory was definitely the last Jantour when we went to Chicago and performed at a homeless shelter,” Castillo said. “I know we’ve done other crazy things, but this one memory – when we saw the happiness that we gave to these people at this homeless shelter – was just so impactful to me.”
Both Castillo and Bartels-Quansah agreed that their time at Colgate would have been remarkably different without their involvement in their respective groups.
“I cannot imagine being here without the Swinging ’Gates,” Bartels-Quanash said. “I think my experiences navigating Colgate as a whole, navigating social life and navigating friends, would be completely different. So I’m very grateful.”
