Jason Savio
Photos by Tammy Woodward

Some of Worcester’s best vocalists are teaming up to hit a high note for local education.

On Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m., singing groups from three Worcester high schools and five colleges will compete in the annual WEC‘Apella singing competition at Mechanics Hall to decide the two best a cappella singing groups in town. The high schools will compete among each other as will the colleges, with a winner selected for each.

The high schools that will be taking part in the action are: Doherty Memorial High School, Abby Kelley Foster Charter School and 2018 winner Burncoat High School. Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross and last year’s champion Worcester Polytechnic Institute, will fill the college slots.

Now in its fourth year, WEC’Apella is put together by the Worcester Education Collaborative (WEC), an independent non-profit advocacy and action organization founded in 2010 that, according to the group’s website, “works to ensure that students in the Worcester’s public schools are given the opportunity to succeed at the highest possible level and to acquire the skills and knowledge to master the challenges of the 21st century.”

WEC succeeds in its mission by partnering up with different schools and businesses to create events like WEC’Apella. Other programs WEC organizes include Reading Together, an initiative to prepare children, beginning in kindergarten, to read at a third-grade level by the time they reach Grade Three; and Worcester Hears, a program that “trains teachers to recognize the signs of childhood trauma and consider the social and emotional needs of the child,” said WEC Chairperson Allison Chisolm Hansen.

So where might singing come into all of this?

WEC’Apella is a celebration of sorts, to give everyone a taste of what students are doing and applaud them for their efforts.

“We’re trying to showcase the musical talents in the Worcester public schools and it’s an extension of our support for excellence in education,” said Hansen. “Showcasing a cappella music was a great way of demonstrating the strength of students in Worcester and how they can pull together and produce some amazing performances.” But this isn’t any singalong walk in the park; it’s a competitive showing that will rate the performers based in part on harmony, vocal quality and overall performance. Troy Siebel, Executive Director of the Hanover Theatre; Ruth Berman of a capella group Boston Accent Quartet; and Berklee College of Music Assistant Professor of Voice, Jerome Kyles, will make up the board of judges who will decide the two winners.

The winners will receive a “very gaudy trophy”, said Executive Director of WEC, Jennifer Davis Carey. They will also earn the opportunity to participate the next day in the SALMON Health and Retirement Master Class, an acappella-intensive training session with award-winning vocalist and Berklee College of Music Vocal Professor, Donna McElroy. “It’s one of our major events for the year,” Carey said.

Perhaps most importantly is that all the money raised from WEC’Apella will benefit WEC and its initiatives, said Hansen. Last year they raised $30,000 and their goal this year is to do the same, if not more, she said. Hansen also sees the event as one that provides the high school students with an understanding that they can carry on their music education into college.

“We’re trying to help these high school students see that there’s a future for the music that they’re enjoying in high school at the college level,” she said, “to build a pipeline between high school and college.”

WEC’Apella contestants in the past have performed a variety of songs, from doo-wop and barbershop to American Idol hits. Add MC Noah Lis from NBC’s “The Voice” into the mix, who will also perform – and you have an evening that promises to be full of top notch singing.

“It’s going to be a fun night of great music,” said Hansen. “There is a lot of enthusiasm.”

Tickets for WEC’Apella can be purchased at the Mechanics Hall box office or website. Prices are $20 for adults and $10 for students.

For more info, visit: www.wecollaborative.org/