What Is A Cappella?
‘A cappella’ (not acapela, acappella, accappela, acappella, or any of the other spellings you might have seen!) is a broad term used to describe unaccompanied close-harmony singing. Whilst literally meaning ‘in the style of the church’, the modern use of the term has come to mean something much more specific, though still encompassing a wide range of different singing styles, including close harmony, barbershop, gospel and more.
Modern A Cappella in its most common form, however, refers to a style made popular in the United States that has spread across the globe and has been launched into the public domain by international competitions, TV shows and movies. If you’ve seen Glee or Pitch Perfect, listened to Pentatonix or Naturally 7, or even sung along to ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ by Bobby McFerrin, you’ll have heard some modern a cappella.
The UK A Cappella scene is much younger than its US counterpart, but is thriving, thanks to organisations such as the Voice Festival, The International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, The London A Cappella Festival, and many more! Schools, universities, and individuals across the country are bursting at the seams with exciting new a cappella groups, and the UK is building a name for itself on the international circuit.
What is UKACS?
The UK A Cappella Society (UKACS) was founded to be a beacon for the UK a cappella scene; to provide a hub for those wanting to find out more about a cappella, to educate the public, and to offer events, services, guidance, and a platform for a cappella singers across the UK to have a voice and to be able to create the music they are passionate about.
Anyone can become a member of UKACS and access the exclusive content that we offer, as well as guidance from experts in the field, resources, connections and much more!
Have a look around our website to find out more about what we offer and how you can become a member.
How Can I Get Involved?
A cappella groups exist all over the UK, but are most commonly founded in universities and schools. If you would like to find out more about UK groups and where to find them, check out our Group Directory. You can also have a look at our Useful Links page to find out more about other amazing organisations that are involved with helping a cappella across the UK.
How Can I Set Up My Own Group?
We have partnered with experts in a cappella; Group Founders, Musical Directors, Alumni and more to provide lots of learning resources and information about how to successfully set up your own group, offering advice on topics such as:
Arranging
How To Run A Successful Audition
Being A Musical Director
Group Marketing and Online Content
Check out our other resources to get you started on your a cappella journey!
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