In 2012, a movie was released detailing an all-female singing group in college. Between cat fights and guy drama, the heart of the story was focused on the singing competition the girls were going to compete in. “Pitch Perfect,” while fictional, represents one of the many groups overseen by the Performing Arts Office at Suffolk University, the Suffolk Ramifications.
The Ramifications are the first and only competitive all-gendered acapella at Suffolk, founded in the spring of 2001. In the spring semester of this year, they will celebrate their 25th year anniversary. They are made up of all different backgrounds and majors, including one graduate student.
The entire group holds auditions at the start of the fall semester, with the e-board members present at the preliminary auditions. The e-board consists of members Madison Carr, Nate Kelleher, Olivia Bouzan, Kobe Khuong, Varsha Vijay and Danny Jacobs. They expect a verse and chorus of a song that can be sung with no backing track or karaoke track.
While they expect an a capella song, they do not require a strong knowledge of music, the capability to read music or sight reading knowledge. Music Director Nate Kelleher will also test the vocal range of the person in the audition.
After the primary auditions, they narrow it down to a group who are then called back. Where auditionees learn a song in the group’s lineup after being split into respective voice parts and find out whether or not they can hold a part on their own.
It can be stressful, but members try their best to make everyone feel comfortable. Another big part of callbacks is figuring out whether or not potential new members get along well with current members. Carr shares what makes callbacks so important.
“It’s a lot more of vibe checking than talent checking. Obviously, you have to be able to sing, but just because you’re an amazing singer, doesn’t mean you fit the vibe of the group and mesh well with the people,” said Carr. “That’s something that’s really important to us.”
Carr shares that the group was looking to accept a larger number of members this fall, as they have eight seniors. She shared that they had an influx of auditions this year, and were able to expand the group from 15 members, to a total of 22.
The Rammifications have a practice schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays during activities period and Sunday evenings. Due to members being active in other clubs during those periods they typically do not have all members until their Sunday evening rehearsal.
Ramifications compete in the “International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella” by Varsity Vocals, which involves groups all over the Boston area, nationally and internationally. They submit a video audition in the fall, consisting of three songs showcasing the group as a whole.
The group returned to competing at the ICCA’s three years ago after a hiatus. Originally, the group started competing about 10 years ago, but due to past member’s lack of interest they took a break. Deciding to start back up again when members in 2022 felt that they wanted to experience more from their involvement.
A requirement for the ICCA is that the group must have choreography to coincide with their music. Carr shared that they are lucky to have a student choreographer, Jolie Quintana. Carr shared that they are grateful that Quintana is a graduate student this year, so they can not only have her choreograph, but have her in it as a whole. She shares that they joked last year that once Quintana had graduated they were going to pay her to choreograph. Khuong shared details regarding the beatboxer of the group as well.
“We have one of, in my opinion the greatest beatboxers in the greater Boston area,” said Khuong. “Not an exaggeration. He said that he really liked beatboxing and if he was let in the group he could be the designated beatboxer.”
Khuong and Carr both recalled that during the 2024-2025 ICCA season, before they all went onstage for awards at the end, it was nice to have all the groups just behind the stage. In those moments before going on the stage, all groups held an impromptu beatboxing challenge where both Khuong and Jude Pastorok participated. It was incredibly fun as all eight groups had someone participating where they passed the beat around the circle.
Another memory that was a high of emotion happened during the awards ceremony when the announcers got to the best soloist, they announced one winner. To everyone’s surprise they shared that there were two winners for the category. Quintana was announced to be the second winner of best soloist for her solo in the song “Snow Angel” by Reneé Rapp.
Besides the ICCA, the group performs gigs around the Boston area, as well as a winter and spring concert. In past years, they have performed at Boston University and in Faneuil Hall, where they performed Christmas carols with Art’s Boston.
Carr shares that the Rams are in the middle of preparing for their holiday concert, which includes other campus groups and invited groups from the area. A favorite group tradition is the fact that they wear blue santa hats every year. They just finished learning “Mary Did You Know?” arranged by Pentatonix this past week and are extremely excited to see how everything else forms.
See the Ramifications at their annual holiday concert Dec. 5 at the Modern Theatre.
