The late August dusk painted the north end of campus in soft amber hues, the streetlamp casting a warm glow. Cicadas buzzed their end-of-summer song, a backdrop to the nervous quiet of my callback group. Having auditioned for campus music groups before, this time felt different. This was my first time running lyrics, nerves buzzing, outside New Apartment, hoping to join Kenyon’s renowned jazz a cappella group, Take Five. My two best friends had joined Take Five during our freshman year, and their stories of fun, camaraderie, and the vibrant a cappella scene had inspired me to audition.
Choir had been a constant in my life for years, but solo singing, especially in front of college students I barely knew, was uncharted territory. Like the other six auditionees, I fumbled with the piano app on my phone, searching for the right starting note. Humming Nat King Cole’s “Autumn Leaves” provided a grounding calmness. My dad’s voice echoed in my mind from our earlier call, encouraging me to choose one of his favorite jazz standards.
“Just adjust the key for your soprano voice, and it will sound fantastic!” he’d said.
“But Dad, what if everyone else does this song?” I’d asked, anxiety creeping in.
“So what? Take your time, get lost in the melody. Enjoy yourself, and you’ll grab their attention, I promise.”
As it turned out, I was right – at least two other guys also chose “Autumn Leaves.” But I genuinely enjoyed the callback, singing and learning jazz tunes alongside the experienced Take Five members. Hours later, a peculiar knock on my dorm room door interrupted my evening. It was another mini-audition, apparently. The group’s president apologized profusely, explaining it was highly unusual and would be quick, all while leading me back to New Apt. Sleep-induced grogginess vanished, replaced by a rush of panic. What should I sing again? Did this mean they were really considering me? I found myself back in the apartment with three other equally nervous and confused faces. But before anyone could sing a note, the entire group burst in with incredible news: we had all made it into Take Five.
