Ok, not really "insider secrets;" but I did get to ask Miss Emily Avery, the social chair for the Virginia Belles, a few questions about the a cappella group and their upcoming fall concert.
Fall means fall concerts. Which means a cappella. Which is my favorite. And the fall concert I'm most excited for — yes, I'm biased — is coming up this week, the Virginia Belles.
Here's some background: the Belles are no joke my favorite a cappella group on grounds. Hands down. And thankfully I have been friends with Emily for so long that we don't even have a clear memory of meeting each other for the first time, so she graciously let me ask her a few questions before their annual Fall Concert (Virginia Belles Present: Saturday Night Live!) which is being held on Nov. 22. Here we go.
What made you want to be a Virginia Belle?
Strangely enough, I wasn't even planning on auditioning! I was walking down the Lawn at the beginning of my first year, and saw that the Belles were holding auditions. From the moment I found out that I was a "nubile" (new Belle), I knew that this was the perfect group of kind and down-to-earth ladies. I decided to take a chance, and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made since coming to UVA.
What do you think makes the Belles special or unique?
I think the Belles are unique because as individuals, we each have very unique voices. But somehow we are able to take the stand-alone voices and blend them together to produce a cohesive full-group sound.
What are some of your best memories or experiences you've had through being a member of this group?
Besides singing at super cool gigs and making beautiful music with my closest friends, some of my best memories have simply been the little moments. The fact that Michelle couldn't walk past a nightgown printed with cats without buying it for Mary (a ferocious cat-lover) shows that we all care about each other so much. We really are each other's support systems, so little things like riding in the car during Fall Roll, walking back from late-night rehearsals, or even hitting up Club Clem together are just additional reminders of how close all of us are.
If you had to perform ONE song, for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would probably perform "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oats for the rest of my life. You can't go wrong with an upbeat classic!
You got some new Belles, A.K.A. Nubiles, this fall, and they're being introduced for the first time. So to get to know them better, I want you to give me one word to describe each of them:
Instead of describing them myself, I thought I would ask them to describe each other!
Rose Zilla-Ba: Dauntless
Doris Farje: Effervescent
Cat Wyatt: Fearless
Arden Johnson: Ambitious
Has there been anything seriously funny that has happened in rehearsal?
Sometimes we like to pick on one of our nubiles, Rose. Her hair defies gravity and has this uncanny ability to stick straight up. We may or may not make her hair stand up like a troll when she isn't looking!
The Belle's last CD was amazing — my mom has been obsessed with it for since it came out a year and a half ago. So when is the next CD coming out?
Our next CD comes out next semester! We are so excited for it!
So this whole article is supposed to be about the concert this Saturday, and we haven't even touched it. I was wondering, did you ladies choose a theme for this concert? And if so, is there a specific reason why you chose it?
Yes! Our theme is Saturday Night Live! We thought that this was a fun theme with a lot of room for creativity for posters, the concert video, and song choice.
Out of all the songs that are going to be performed, which are you most excited for?
I'm really excited about "Bang Bang" (by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj). It's such a popular current song, and all of us have such a fun time singing it!
And last but not least, why should people come to the concert?
Our concert has songs from all genres, so it truly has something for everybody. All of the Belles are so excited to share what we have been working on all semester, and I think all of us can agree that this could be our best concert yet!
Seriously, if you haven't been to a Belle concert you're missing out. So go to this one. To buy tickets, you can either find the Belles on the Lawn this week, talk to a Belle personally, or buy a ticket on the website HERE. The concert will be held at McLeod Hall on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. Be there, folks.
