Chordials

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The Chordials are a co-ed a cappella group at Cornell University that perform a mix of rock, soul, R&B, and pop music.

Contents

[edit] History

The Chordials were founded in 1997 by Elana Wolff ('01). The group has traveled all around the Northeast to Penn State, Haverford, Rutgers, Muhlenberg, RPI, Buffalo, Johns Hopkins[1], Rochester, and the Ithaca area.

The group produced their first album Shaken... Not Stirred in the spring of 1999. The album features songs such as "Come on Eileen" and "Killing Me Softly." The group's second album Not For Minors premiered in the fall of 2002, with songs including Sarah McLachlan's song "Angel" and Madonna's "Like a Prayer", now the Chordials' alumni song. Their third album, The Third Chapter, features renditions of "Echo" by Incubus, Gladys Knight's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", and "One Sweet Day" as recorded by Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey. The group's fourth album, Arrival, was released at their tenth anniversary concert "Cocktail Hour X".[2] Group member James Cannon ('07), via his production company "The Panic Room," acted as the recording engineer on the new album. Arrival features complex arrangements of songs as performed by artists such as Puddle of Mudd, Snow Patrol, Nine Inch Nails, and others.

In 2001, the group made its debut at the ICCA (International Championship of College A Cappella) quarterfinals in Rochester, NY, during which member Gabi Kornfeld ('04) received the award for Best Vocalist for her performance of "Angel." In subsequent years, the group received additional awards at the ICCA including Best Choreography, Best Soloist, Best Arrangement, and Best Percussion. In 2004, the Chordials became ICCA Finalists, placing third at the ICCA Finals in New York City's Town Hall Theater (ICCA Website)[3]. Every year since 1998 the group has produced at least one major concert per year, including their annual "Cocktail Hour" concert in the spring semester.

[edit] Recent Events

The Chordials celebrated their 10 year anniversary in 2006 with their first-ever appearance on the annual BOCA (Best of College A Cappella) album for their rendition of Nickelback's "Photograph".

In December 2006, The Chordials embarked on a week-long "Winter Tour" across the southern regions of New York State and northern New Jersey, giving performances and workshops at various high schools with the goals of spreading their name and inspiration to a young, college-bound audience. Among the locations at which the group performed was the town of Washingtonville, New York, home of current musical director Ari Goldman ('09).

The group recently released their fourth studio album, titled Arrival, on April 14, 2007.

[edit] Awards

Awards
Year Presenter Award Result
2001 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal Best soloist Won, Gabi Kornfeld
2002 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal Best choreography Won, Randi Dublin and Jay Legaspi
2003 ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal Overall 3rd place
Best soloist Runner-up, Jay Legaspi
2004 ICCA Northeastern Quarterfinal Overall 1st place
Best arrangement Won, Sam Coffin
Best choreography Won, Jay Legaspi, Jackie Pribil, Felicia Williams
Best vocal percussion Won, Jay Legaspi
ICCA Northeastern Semifinal Overall 1st place
Best choreography Won, Jay Legaspi, Jackie Pribil, Felicia Williams
Best soloist Won, Felicia Williams
ICCA Finals Overall 3rd place
2007 BOCA "Photograph" opb. Nickelback

[edit] Albums

[edit] Shaken, Not Stirred (1999)

  1. One Fine Day
  2. She Has A Girlfriend Now
  3. That Lonesome Road
  4. Independent Love Song
  5. Return to Innocence
  6. In the Still of the Night
  7. Heaven
  8. Sweet Surrender
  9. Come on Eileen
  10. And So It Goes
  11. Come Go with Me
  12. Killing Me Softly
  13. Take on Me
  14. Trippin' Billies
  15. Dream

[edit] Not For Minors (2002)

  1. Spiderwebs
  2. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
  3. Like a Prayer
  4. Kate
  5. Landslide
  6. The Longest Time
  7. Black Balloon
  8. Linger
  9. Bed of Lies
  10. What a Feeling
  11. With Arms Wide Open
  12. Angel

[edit] The Third Chapter (2005)

  1. All For Leyna/I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight
  2. Bright Lights
  3. Echo
  4. Precious Things
  5. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
  6. Center of Attention
  7. I'll Be Okay
  8. Love You Madly
  9. One Sweet Day
  10. Alegria
  11. You And I Both
  12. Paper Bag
  13. Please Don't Go
  14. One By One/Circle of Life

[edit] Arrival (2007)

  1. Let Me Entertain You
  2. This Is How A Heart Breaks
  3. Blurry
  4. Breathe In
  5. Farther Away
  6. Chasing Cars
  7. Who Knew
  8. Waiting For You
  9. Perfect Drug
  10. Photograph
  11. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

[edit] References

  1. ^ "A cappella scene boasts variety" in The Johns Hopkins News-Letter (9 December 2005) accessed 5 May 2007
  2. ^ "Chordials celebrate ten years of Cocktail Hour" in The Cornell Daily Sun Online (20 April 2007) accessed 5 May 2007
  3. ^ "Chordials Compete" in The Cornell Daily Sun Online (6 May 2004) accessed 5 May 2007

[edit] External links

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