Vocaldente returns to campus

"Germany's most successful a cappella export makes 2nd visit to campus
International a cappella champions in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. make tour stop in Marion

The Ohio State University at Marion Campus Activities Board (CAB) in cooperation with student a cappella group InChant and Great Lakes vocal band 4 THE RECORD, is pleased to welcome internationally renowned a cappella music sensation vocaldente to Morrill Hall Auditorium, Friday, April 16, 7 p.m.

"Audience favorites", "award winners", "globetrotters", "vocal artists", "entertainers" or just plain old
"singers"? Somehow all of these are fitting, but how best to describe vocaldente? The press is unanimous: vocaldente's singing technique is "professional", their "verve is phenomenal", and they're "sparkling with imagination". Critics say they offer a "high level in singing performance", with their "funny spoken interludes" and "imaginative, passionate choreography" - and that they're known for the "professionalism in their performance": Onstage they're "fitting and harmonic", "witty and fresh", "charming and professional"... simply "harmonic, funny and good" with a "refreshing naturalness".

The press is not alone in its praise of vocaldente. The group has managed to convince jurors from all areas of vocal and a cappella music, from classical style to voice pop, such as John Potter (former The Hilliard Ensemble member), Ward Swingle (founder of The Swingle Singers) and Anders Jalkéus (The Real Group). The quintet has prevailed at the biggest and most significant national and international vocal and a cappella competitions in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

They won first prize at the International Contemporary A Cappella Competition 2008 in Taipei (Taiwan), theTampeeren Sävel 2007 in Tampere (Finland) and the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival 2008 in San Francisco (USA). By winning the world-renowned U.S. contest, vocaldente can call themselves the acting National Champions of the world’s biggest a cappella competition, becoming the first foreign speaking, and only the second ever non-American winners. They’ve also been successful at competitions in their home country and the German speaking area, at the 2007 Jugend Kulturell Förderpreis of the HypoVereinsbank, as well as the International A Cappella Competition vokal.total in Graz (Austria). Wherever they competed, they won special awards for best and most popular group; just recently, they were honored with the First Prize of the Jury and the Special Awards for Best Choreography and Stage Presence in Taiwan.

But despite all this success, vocaldente are mostly known for their passionate care for an art which is nearly lost: performing a cappella without microphones, which conveys the feeling and verve of 100 years of musical entertainment in its most authentic way. Purely acoustic and taking a cappella back to its proper roots, they are artfully shaping tunes and harmonies to create an exceptional sound that’s deeply touching the audience. Their well thought-out choreographies take the vocal experience to a visual level, to delight not only the ears but also the eyes of the audience, perfecting a captivating vocal journey. So who are these five young men who, using their own ingenious arrangements and without the aid of microphones, present us with the charm of the 1920s, the drive of the 1960s and the sound of contemporary radio?

Founded in 2004 by members of the Hannover Boys Choir and the Hannover University of Music and Drama, vocaldente have evolved in just four years from passionate suburb singers to virtuosic vocal globetrotters. Performing in more than 100 shows in 2008, the five committed singers have explored their home country Germany as well as wider Europe; extensive tours and fleeting trips have led them numerous times to the U.S., Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Over the years they attended master classes and workshops with The King’s Singers, The Real Group, and Naturally 7.

Vocaldente are frequently competing at the most renowned national and international a cappella festivals, such as Vokal Total Munich, Voicemania Vienna and the East Coast A Cappella Summit in Washington, D.C., the biggest of its kind in the USA, and have won over the audience wherever they've appeared. To put it concisely: "Germany’s most successful a cappella export!" This is vocaldente - this is a cappella art.

Tickets for vocaldente are available in advance or at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased in Maynard Hall, Room 245 or by calling Wayne Rowe in the Ohio State Marion Office of Marketing & Communications Office at 740-725-6316. Tickets are $10 general admission, $9 seniors, $8 Marion campus faculty & staff, $4 students.