Black Sounds, White Stages: Black Vocal Music’s Influence on Collegiate A Cappella Styles

Project Title

Black Sounds, White Stages: Black Vocal Music’s Influence on Collegiate A Cappella Styles

Faculty Mentor(s)

Project Description

Throughout the late twentieth and twenty-first century, there has been a boom in the popularity of collegiate a cappella, a voice-only musical style in which groups of students cover various genres of American popular music on college campuses. Many of the sources that examine the development of collegiate a cappella leading up to this spike in popularity cite Eurocentric unaccompanied singing traditions, especially those that came out of the Catholic church in the Medieval and Renaissance periods, as the origin of collegiate a cappella. However, collegiate a cappella styles have more in common with various forms of Black-American vocal music, suggesting that these styles are collegiate a cappella’s origin. By examining styles of Black-American vocal music such as spirituals, barbershop, jazz quartet singing, and doo-wop, I connect their developments and musical hallmarks to contemporary a cappella arrangements performed by collegiate a cappella groups from 2020 onwards. This research adds to the currently small collection of scholarly literature about collegiate a cappella music, as well as tracing strands of musical DNA in order to describe patterns of cultural theft throughout American popular music’s history. 

Why is your research important?

When crafting my research topic, I was so surprised to find that there is so little scholarly research about collegiate a cappella. This project has allowed me to contribute new information to this under researched topic while also combatting cultural theft that has run rampant in narratives of Black American vocal music for decades. 

What does the process of doing your research look like?

My research process consists mostly of reading various existing papers and books on collegiate a cappella and musical styles from which it developed. I also study scores and recordings of existing contemporary a cappella arrangements, examining musical hallmarks such as harmony, texture, rhythm, and form in order to connect elements of contemporary a cappella to Black American vocal styles. 

What knowledge has your research contributed to your field?

My research is contributing new knowledge that connects the cultural theft and rewriting of narratives in vocal styles like barbershop and doo-wop to collegiate a cappella.

In what ways have you showcased your research thus far?

I will present my research for the first time at the Oberlin Summer Research Institute Symposium on July 24th, 2025, and am currently drafting a paper, which I plan to expand on in the coming academic year. 

How did you get involved in research? What drove you to seek out research experiences in college?

I am in an a cappella group on campus, the Oberlin Obertones, and my love for the musical style and the ways that it allowed me to engage with performance, rehearsal, and arranging processes lead me to be curious about its origins. I found out about Oberlin Summer Research Institute from my academic advisor, Kathryn Metz, and with her encouragement, I sought out the opportunity to further explore this research question.

What is your favorite aspect of the research process?

I absolutely love the reading phase of the process, as it encourages my own curiosity and drive to learn. The presentation aspect of research is also incredibly special because of the connections I get to make with audiences and other researchers. Specific to my research, I really enjoy performing score studies; it allows me to apply my knowledge of music theory from the curriculum here at Oberlin as well as my experience in the creative practices of composition and arranging to my academic research.

How has working with your mentor impacted the development of your research project? How has it impacted you as a researcher?

I reached out to Professor McGuire about this research project because of his experience performing and arranging for a cappella, particularly in his time as a student at Oberlin. His passion, encouragement, and facilitation of my learning how to be a researcher has been integral to my success. 

How has the research you’ve conducted contributed to your professional or academic development?  

Research has helped me develop reading, writing, critical thinking, and public speaking skills that are vital in a variety of fields. It has also refined my communication skills through working with a mentor, and has enforced the independent project management skills that I have learned through working on creative projects in the past. 

What advice would you give to a younger student wanting to get involved in research in your field?

Make note of the types of music that you’re passionate and curious about, because you might find a research question where you least expect it! Don’t be afraid to explore a topic that is underrepresented in academic work, and seek out a mentor who shares your interest and passion for your research topic.