The members of the Academy Choir, all aged between 12 and 18, gathered together to record a new a cappella version of a popular song. This time, the choir was going to take on ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ by Alicia Keys — a singer known for her powerful, acrobatic vocals. Music Man readers wouldn’t be blamed for wondering whether these young singers would be able to keep up with the impressive original singer’s performance. However, when they hear them start singing, all doubt will vanish.
The young singers’ voices came together to make a sound that was unbelievably powerful, growing to unexpected heights just moments into their performance. The arrangement made sure that not only did their individual talents stand out as their voices separated into various harmonies, but it also highlighted the strength behind their voices as they came together in unison.
What struck me about their performance, besides the singers’ incredible talent, was the passion that shone throughout. It seemed that every single member of the choir managed to connect emotionally to the song. This then seemed to influence the way they moved as they sang and the way they connected to each other, catching each other’s eyes throughout. This emotional connection made the performance even more powerful for me, as the young singers poured their hearts into their singing.
A Cappella Academy, the home of the Academy Choir, has now been running for over ten years. While its ensembles have grown and changed over the years, the talent of its singers has been impressive ever since its early days. An early 2014 performance of Paramore’s ‘Ain’t It Fun’ featured an 11-member group called Pop Rox, making it much smaller in scale than the Academy Choir’s more recent performance. Even so, Music Man fans will be amazed by the talent that has clearly been a staple since the organisation’s inception.
The Academy Choir gives young people the opportunity to come together, hone their musical skills, and bond with others over their shared love of music. Not only does this organisation nurture the talent of young musicians, but it also clearly nurtures their passion for it, making their performances all the more powerful to listen to. With A Cappella Academy still going strong and applications open for its 2027 programme, there is no doubt that we will have more incredible covers to look forward to.