Kicking off the spring a cappella season, female a cappella group Sweet Signatures held their annual spring concert in a jam-packed Whitley Auditorium on April 12.
After a guest performance from all-male a cappella group Rip_Chord, Sweet Signatures took the stage in white dresses and opened with the song “Burn” by Ellie Goulding.
The concert was especially significant for members of Sweet Signatures because many alumnae were present to show continued support.
Senior music director Lauren Speranza said, “I just hope they are impressed with our musicality and dynamics. I hope they enjoy it.”
The close-knit group describes themselves as a family, and that is what initially attracted many members to join Sweet Signatures.
“I chose to join Sigs because I was so impressed by how talented all the girls were, and they seemed like such great friends,” said freshman Holly Brueggman, who joined the group last fall.
Sophomore Bri Marino had a similar experience when she went through the audition process.
“You could truly tell they were a family,” she said. “Seeing that cohesion made me want to be a part of that as well.”
The nature of sharing art fosters this sense of closeness.
“You always have a special bond with someone when you perform and put it all out there on stage. It’s going to be sad to leave those girls because we all truly care about each other,” Speranza said.
For the seniors who will graduate in May, this performance was particularly emotional. During one of the last songs that featured the seniors, they embraced each other as a few tears were shed.
In honor of the seniors, the rest of the members prepared a special song as a surprise for them as they continue their journey after Elon. They chose to perform “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts.
Sweet Signatures recognized the alumnae and invited them to join the group onstage to sing a final song together, “Ever After,” by Marianas Trench. This demonstration captured the bond between the members and showed that the friendships formed by members of a close knit group last beyond college.
“We truly are a group, and we sing as one,” Marino said. “When it all comes together, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.”
Sweet Signatures performed a diverse repertoire of pieces, from country group Lady Antebellum’s song “Compass” to pop star Katy Perry’s “Roar.”
Sweet Signatures members agreed that interacting with an enthusiastic audience is one of the most rewarding aspects of performing.
“Getting to share our talent and love for singing with an audience who appreciates it — I think our favorite part is getting to stand up and sing. We work so hard and put together an amazing product,” Speranza said.