by Allison Flanagan
When we are young, you always have goals that you want to achieve in the future. You want to be an astronaut when you grow up, or a teacher, or a pop star. Sometimes these plans fall through, but other times, they become a reality. This happened for VoicePlay, an Orlando-based all-male a cappella group. What started as three friends from high school who bonded over their passion for singing, became a world-renowned a cappella sensation. A cappella has become increasingly popular through the years, most likely due to the 2012 release of Pitch Perfect, a musical comedy franchise that centers around an all-female collegiate a cappella group on their journey to the finals, as well as The Sing-Off, a television program where a cappella groups compete for a recording contract. Since this time, a cappella has taken the world by storm. VoicePlay’s charming sounds have been heard around the world since their appearance on season four of The Sing-Off, where they covered titles from No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak” to Pitbull and Christina Aguilera’s “Feel This Moment.”
Before their claim to fame, VoicePlay performed at different theme parks around Orlando. Since their appearance on The Sing Off, VoicePlay has become a world-renowned a cappella sensation. During their time on the competition show, they say that they “learned how much [they] are capable of in such a short period of time and to trust [their] instincts.” Their experience performing under such high stakes prepared them for opportunities in the future. VoicePlay performed at SUNY Geneseo for the first time in 2014 in Wadsworth Auditorium just one month after the release of their album Collide. This album features hits from the 2010s such as “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus, “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk, and “Talk Dirty” by Jason Derulo. Their charming voices lit up the crowd as audience members were familiar with the songs that they were performing. Their performance also marked one year since The Sing Off ended, which made their performance all the more special because they learned some of their best techniques while working on that show. Two years later, they did a special residency in Disney World for the 2016 holiday season at their “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties.” After their residency, they went on a 2017 tour across the United States, and ended up back in Wadsworth Auditorium at SUNY Geneseo for the college’s Homecoming and Family Weekend. They were such a hit back in 2014, that they were booked again, this time for an even bigger audience. Although they did not have an album release in 2017, they released singles tributing Rent’s “Seasons of Love,” The Chainsmokers’ “Something Just Like This,” and Charlie Puth’s “Attention.” Performing in front of a few hundred Geneseo students and their families, VoicePlay shined on stage with their strong voices, amazing stage presence, and comedic theatrics. They were truly a perfect fit for Family Weekend.