Sweet Signatures gains regional win, heads to semifinals

Nuri Abdur-Rauf / Copy Editor

What do you get when you put together a group of 14 Elon female vocalists, an extremely important competition, and a tight practice schedule? Magic.

So was the case with Sweet Signatures, Elon’s all-female a capella ensemble, consisting of Cara Leidy, Lexy Apostolou, Cara Antosca, Tara Dykes, Sara Hodges, Brannon Dellinger, Christine Piche, Lauren Redmond, Kacie Kelly, Andrea Palmer, Virginia Galvez, Ellie Lightburn, Diana Nolan and Natalie Newman.

The group traveled to Duke University’s Baldwin Auditorium Jan. 31 to compete in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella against five other schools; leaving with the first place title for the southern region.

With this win, Sweet Signatures will advance to the semifinals at Clemson University Feb. 28, and then on to New York for the finals if they receive first place again.

Lexy Apostolou, a junior vocalist, was very enthusiastic about the victory.

“We not only placed, but we got first. It was really good for the group; we’re all very excited about what’s to come. I think we have a really good chance at placing in the semi’s.”

The ladies’ exhilaration has much to do with the sheer happiness of earning accolades, but it also has a lot to do with this positive outcome after so much hard work and dedication.

Due to the fact that so many of its members were either completing internships or studying abroad over Winter Term, Sweet Signatures only had the three days before the competition to completely prepare their selections.

“We basically put in six hours of hard work,” Apostolou said. “It wasn’t the most opportune of times, but we pulled it together.”

The ladies sang three selections, including “Boys of Summer,” “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Sweet Child of Mine.”

Their contenders included two other all-female groups, two co-ed groups and one all-male group from schools such as Rice University, Florida State University and The University of Georgia.

Still, even this sampling of talent from colleges in a variety of southern states could not outshine Sweet Signatures.

“We have a group of talented girls and when we come together, it sounds amazing,” Apostolou said.

In addition to the first place win, senior Christine Piche took home an individual certificate for Best Soloist.

The group includes one freshman, five sophomores, four juniors, and five seniors;

Coincidentally, the five graduating seniors are the founding members of the team, having dedicated their time for four years. The end of this year brings what Apostolou calls a “kind of a turning point” for the group.

Sweet Signatures has a CD for sale as a fundraiser, titled “Time After Time,” in the campus shop with a collection of its songs so Elon students can hear their winning vocals for themselves.

They plan on returning to the studio in the spring to record their second CD.

There are also several performances on campus throughout the year. Concerts are held every semester.

“Our spring concert will be mid-April; we’re still setting an exact date.” Apostolou said.

Photo courtesy of Lexy Aposolou

Elon’s all-female a capella singing group, Sweet Signatures, above, won first place for the southern region of the International Championship of Collegiate A Capella. Pictured from left, back row are: Virginia Galvez, Ellie Lightburn, Diana Nolan and Natalie Newman. The middle row from left is Cara Leidy, Lexy Apostolou, Cara Antosca and Tara Dykes. The front row from left is Sara Hodges, Brannon Dellinger, Christine Piche, Lauren Redmond, Kacie Kelly and Andrea Palmer.