UnderSCore stays in tune with Trojan community

The USC a capella community boasts USC’s finest singers making up eight a capella groups.  This eclectic community provides singers the opportunity to join their voices and communicate to the larger community. At the start of each semester, the a capella community hosts auditions for singers interested in joining a group.

Sing it! · UnderScore provides many opportunities to bond, including fun outings for delicous Jamba Juice Smoothies. The group makes it one of their biggest priorties to get as close as possible so that they can smoothy work together and accomplish their goals. — Photo Courtesy of UnderSCore

Despite the camaraderie that a capella groups can create, auditions create a competitive environment; the quantity and quality of singers is overwhelming. More often than not, each a capella groups turn down talented singers due to the limited space. Even the best singers may leave a capella auditions disheartened and disappointed. Junior theater major Coral Palmon was one of these singers, but she put her emotions behind her and created the newest addition to the a capella scene: UnderSCore. Created last spring, UnderSCore allowed Palmon to create an a capella group that suited her interests and filled a niche in the larger a capella community.

UnderSCore offers singers a unique and gratifying experience that is remarkably different from already established a capella groups.

“I knew a niche needed to be filled (in the a capella community),” Palmon said. “UnderSCore strives for vocal excellence and participates in community outreach.”

The community outreach Palmon refers to is volunteering at local schools to help children flourish creatively and personally.

“We volunteer at local schools to foster kids’ creativity, confidence and spontaneity because we believe these qualities are all important, especially when kids are developing,” Palmon said.

Community outreach, however, is just one of the many ways that UnderSCore distinguishes itself from other a capella groups.

UnderSCore is the first USC a capella group to have a theater-based repertoire. Palmon began singing at the age of 6 old and participated in musical theatre every year before she started at USC.

“Our repertoire has more musical theatre and Disney songs than the average a capella group, but it’s definitely a mix,” Palmon said. Clearly, UnderSCore performs songs that aren’t from musicals. Though the group deviates from performing songs from musical theatre, it doesn’t lose touch with its theatrical roots. For example, the name UnderSCore refers to the underlying musical background in theatrical productions. But UnderSCore’s name and identity stretch much further.

Palmon notes that singers in UnderSCore are able to poke fun at each other while still working hard at rehearsals. Group bonding occurs at rehearsals, and UnderSCore makes a point to provide its members more opportunities to bond with one another. The retreat the group has planed is something that Palmon is really excited about and will be an amazing experience for new members of the group. Members of the group also identify with one another through their love for the Trojan family. Palmon mentioned that the name UnderSCore makes a reference to USC’s frequently used abbreviation of SC. In this way, the name of the group effectively and appropriately creates unity throughout the group.

UnderSCore made its official debut last semester during one of Ground Zero’s open mic nights. For that to happen, — get to know eachother Palmon held auditions for potential members and found four singers who share her passions.

“I felt like there were other people passionate about the same things, and I found them,” Palmon said. Leading up to the performance at Ground Zero, Palmon worked with her five-person group to establish UnderSCore as a legitimate member of the a capella community. UnderSCore gained eight additional members at a capella auditions last spring. This week marks UnderSCore’s participation in a capella auditions for the second time in the group’s history.

“So many people are coming out to audition. It’s pretty fun, and we’re getting a lot of talent,” Palmon said.

Palmon also said the group developed strategies to get past internal group conflict over which singers to call back.

“There are always bound to be mild disagreements. It’s natural. But we talk it through, and if our members don’t agree, then we drop the conflict,” she said. “We always make sure that we stay respectful of each other’s opinions.”

During auditions this week, UnderSCore looked for capable singers of all backgrounds who have an interest in the community.

“If you like singing and you like kids, it’d be more than a great fit for you,” Palmon said. “There’s not a specific type of person we’re looking for,” she said.

Overall, Palmon described auditions are “overwhelming in an awesome way.”

As for what’s next for UnderSCore, Palmon says they hope to become more integrated in the USC a capella community,  and hope to reach out to more schools in the community and participate in a capella competitions.  UnderSCore will continue to grow this semester and provide more opportunities for students to broadcast their talents to the community.