Photos by Matt Hembree (C’20)
By Lawrence Rogers
Executive Staff
On November 18, Sewanee’s chapter of the national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO) hosted its 2016 pledge class project, Sound of Sewanee, in Guerry Auditorium. Led by Maria Baker (C’18), the event, which was also the APO pledge class project last year, was a college-wide talent show. The proceeds benefited Blue Monarch, a residential program that supports women and their children who are recovering from abuse, addiction, or economic hardship.
Money was raised via sponsorship, a three-dollar door charge, and raffle ticket sales. Notable contributions came from Woody’s Bicycles, The Sewanee Inn, Shenanigans, High Point, Blue Chair, Kappa Omega, Omega Psi Phi, The Lemon Fair, Mountain Goat, Stirling’s, and Kappa Delta.
Emceed by Lam Ho (C’17) and Baker, Sound of Sewanee provided a platform for students to celebrate Sewanee with their musical gifts. The night was kicked off by the University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Visiting Professor of Music Prakash C. Wright, followed by a soulful medley from the voice and beatboxing duet of Brooklyn White (C’20) and Latoya McIntyre (C’20). Soloist Bre Pactor (C’20) performed “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men on her ukulele, and Annie Corley (C’20) and Alyson Carr (C’17) sang “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac, accompanied by Corley on ukulele.
The first half of the night was capped off by a performance from the Tiger Girls, who danced to “Pep Rally” by Missy Elliott, after which Ho and Baker read the names of the raffle winners. Prizes included gift cards to Stirling’s, Mountain Goat Market, and The Lemon Fair.
The second half of the night began with Sherlock Xu’s (C’17) rendition of Chopin’s “Étude Op. 10, No. 12” (also known as “Revolutionary Étude” or “Étude on the Bombardment of Warsaw”). Jack Grey (C’19) and Monteagle resident Nikki Chavez performed two original songs each on piano, and Charles Stehno (C’20) performed several extemporaneous compositions. The night wrapped up with performances from Sewanee’s co-ed a cappella group Cambiata and a solo performance of The Steeldrivers’ “If It Hadn’t Been for Love” by Cambiata’s president Anna Burklin (C’18).
By the end of the night, Sound of Sewanee had raised more than a thousand dollars to support the ongoing work of Blue Monarch.