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Contemporary a cappella concert coming to York


Beat box artist Chesney Snow said the audience at Vocalosity performances "forget it's a cappella."

That's no musical instruments whatsoever, at all.

"They are watching people create sounds with their voices that they could not imagine that people can do," Snow said.

Vocalosity, a 12-person a cappella group that has been on tour for only a few months, performs at the Strand on Feb. 18.

For an idea of the group's contemporary form of a cappella, check out the cover of Led Zepplin's "Whole Lotta Love" on YouTube.

Once again consider, the sounds are all vocals. The "music" accompanying the lead singer all are other Vocalosity's members' voices.

So, don't expect an entire evening of Gregorian chants, barbershop quartet singalongs or doo wop around a fire in an old oil drum.

"In the world, we often become submerged in technology," Snow said. "When you take everything away, you see the power of the human voice. A cappella reminds us of the power of our humanity."

That aside, Vocalosity is the most recent incarnation of modern a cappella by musical guru Deke Sharon, possibly best recognized recently as the music director and arranger for the a cappella movie "Pitch Perfect."

"A cappella really started becoming popular with the film," Snow said.

"Contemporary a cappella has been Deke's lifelong work," he said. "This (Vocalosity) is the culmination of decades of work by Deke."

Snow said the members of Vocalosity, most who already knew each other, first got together in September to record an album and then set off on a national tour in January.

"It's an audience pleaser," Snow said. "And, it's a fun show for us to do as performers."

If you go

What: A cappella group Vocalosity

Where: The Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, 50 N. George St., York, Pa.

When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18

Tickets: $35, $45 and $55

Website: www.vocalosityontour.com