Elon University’s annual ROCKapella show brought students and their families together as the university’s a cappella groups took the stage during Family Weekend.
The event, held in Alumni Gym, featured performances from all seven of Elon’s student a cappella groups. ROCKapella has become a recurring part of Family Weekend, with the university offering two performances to accommodate demand for tickets.
For performers, the show serves as more than an opportunity to entertain families. Tucker Mattison, a junior music production and arts administration major and music director for Rip_Chord, one of Elon’s all-male a cappella groups, said the event provides an early look at what audiences can expect from the groups throughout the semester.
“It’s like an introduction to all the groups for people who don’t know too well,” Mattison said. “It’s like the bar setting for how people perform this semester.”
Mattison said the Family Weekend audience also gives a different atmosphere to the performances than a typical show. With parents, siblings and other family members in attendance, students have an opportunity to perform for people who may not regularly see them on stage.
“That’s what makes the energy of this audience particularly special,” Mattison said. “You know who you perform to. You want to show off.”
For some audience members, attending ROCKapella was an introduction to Elon’s a cappella community.
Rasana Mamdani, a sophomore public policy and music education major, attended the show with friends and family. Mamdani highlighted the dancing in the show, saying it was her favorite part.
“I just liked all the little dances, and all the choreography was good,” Mamdani said.
ROCKapella is one of several Family Weekend events designed to give families opportunities to experience student life at Elon. Family Weekend ran from Sept. 25-27 and included academic programs, athletics, performances and other activities for students and their families.