Trojan singers hit the right notes on The Sing-Off


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Trojans and Bruins were in perfect harmony Wednesday night.

Several Trojan singers have been competing on NBC’s The Sing-Off with their a cappella group the Backbeats, a collection of college-aged vocalists from USC, UCLA and BYU – and on Wednesday, the Backbeats advanced to the show’s  final round.

The Backbeats performed a Lady Gaga medley Wednesday night, giving several of the group’s best singers a chance to shine while incorporating creative – but not over-the-top – choreography. The performance was well-received by the judges.

“You guys work together really well and you’ve got so much depth on the bench,” Ben Folds told the group.

In the second hour of the show, after surviving elimination, the Backbeats sang “Landslide,” with Joanna Jones, a musical theater major from UCLA, taking the lead. Jones’ subdued but powerful performance, with strong backing vocals from the rest of the group, brought members of the audience to their feet, and brought tears to group member Courtney Jensen’s eyes.

Judge Shawn Stockman, of Boyz II Men, said after the performance, “I could’ve closed my eyes and been somewhere else, it was that beautiful.”

The Backbeats’ fate now lies in America’s hands. Voting is open to anyone, and on Monday, Dec. 20, the winner of the competition will be revealed. The winning group receives $100,000 and a Sony Epic Music Contract.

The group, which was begun by two Trojan singers,  includes former members of the SoCal VoCals and the Trojan Men, two USC a cappella groups.

The Trojan members of the Backbeats are graduates Catherine Ricafort ’09 , Todd G. Levin ’09, Kenton Chen ’10 and Eitan Nir ’10; seniors Kelly Jakle and Rachel Saltzman,  both communication majors; and junior Thomas Henry, majoring in business administration.

To vote for one of the four finalists, click here.