Resonance (MIT)

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Resonance is a student rock/pop a cappella group from MIT. Founded in the 2000-2001 school year, the group is co-ed and typically consists of sixteen undergraduate and graduate students (though its size varies). It is one of six a cappella groups at the school, and is known across campus for its frequent free performances and its funny, edgy interludes used to keep audiences amused between songs.

Nationally, Resonance is perhaps best known for its recognition through CASA, the Contemporary A Cappella Society, as well as a berth on the 2006 Best of College A Cappella compilation CD. The group is also known for regularly hosting the International Championship of College A Cappella New England Semifinals.

The group has produced two albums, its latest being Left on Red released in Fall 2005.

1 Founding
2 Name
3 Performance and Music
4 Discography
5 External links

[edit] Founding

Resonance was envisioned by Sara Jo Elice who, with her friend (and eventual co-founder) Jessica Hinel, fleshed out the original idea while waiting to auditions for a MIT Musical Theatre Guild production. Jay Humphries was auditioning for the same production and ended up becoming an inaugural Resonance member as well. In 2001, the MIT Association of Student Activities recognized Resonance as its seventh a cappella group on campus at the time.

[edit] Name

The Resonance Logos, 2003

The name Resonance follows an established joke among MIT a cappella groups of using a science or math-based pun to name the group. In science, resonance has to do with vibration and harmony. Specifically, resonant frequencies are the frequencies that cause natural amplification of signal - a commonly cited example being the singer who can, at the right frequency, break glass with their voice. Keeping with the theme, the resonance name is often formatted as "Res(((o)))nance" and displayed alongside a logo of a shattered wine glass.

[edit] Performance and Music

Resonance regularly performs on the MIT campus, at the minimum presenting a single full-length concert per term. Each concert is primarily composed of a collection of songs, both covers and originals, selected and arranged for a cappella by members of the group. Over sixty different songs have been performed by the group since 2001.

Resonance, like many a cappella groups, has a single "alum" song, taught to all members and used to close almost all performances. Group alumni are invited to join the current members on stage to finish the night. Resonance's alum song is "Easy People" by the Nields.

[edit] Discography

First Harmonic (2003)
Left on Red (2005)
Best of College A Cappella 2006 (2006) - Collection, features "Mystify (Atrévete)" by Chenoa as performed by Resonance

Both Resonance full-length albums are available only through the group directly, while Best of College A Cappella is produced and distributed to various retail sources by Varsity Vocals.