By Asha Matthews
Contributing Writer
It’s back! It’s fresh! It’s the rebirth of Bonacoustics! After the graduation of the Class of 2012, the group was left on shaky ground before it finally dissipated at the end of Spring 2013. The Bonaventure a cappella group needed new leaders to take control.
Conor Hynes, freshman music major, and Stephanie Kennedy, freshman strategic communications major, used this opportunity to indulge in their musical aspirations by becoming co-presidents.
As of right now, both leaders are still spreading the word and determining just how many people are interested in joining the club. The number one goal for Bonacoustics this year is perfectly described in one word by Hynes: fun.
“I want people to come, have fun and enjoy music,” Hynes said.
This vocalist, who is sharing what he wants to do with the rest of his life and fulfilling his passion for music, wants his audience to know there is a story behind every song and an internal beauty within every lyric.
Hynes, playing the role of music director, wants there to be original enthusiasm as Bonacoustics is back with new blood.
His partner, Kennedy, is also looking forward to the rebirth and bringing the “Bonnie” back to Bonacoustics.
“Being a Bonnie and music are two very different things, yet they are so similar in their places in my life,” Kennedy said. “Being a Bonnie brings everyone together on campus because we are all one big family, just like music brings people together in the best and in the worst of times.”
Kennedy emphasized her expectation of teamwork for the musical family this semester. As this is important in every other club and organization on campus, the rebirth of the group cannot be successful without adequate teamwork. The skill and talent of all members can be taken to new limits by listening to each other, knowing everyone’s strengths and weaknesses and strengthening each person’s artistic ability.
Josh Apker, freshman accounting major, also leads the newly reformed and expressionistic group on campus. As the treasurer, he simply wants Bonacoustics to be an opportunity for people to be musical.
Apker also agreed the a capella group should be fun and said he wants to be proud of it.
“I hope that this year’s leadership, in contrast from previous years, will cherish the amount of fun that our students should have to put on a good and genuine show,” Apker said. “There should not be strict rehearsals or a developed sound within the group. Instead, every rehearsal should be dominated with charisma and every performance should be unique.”
David Bryant, freshman English major, is also working in collaboration with Hynes, Kennedy and Apker said he has high hopes for the newly formed group.
However, he is a little apprehensive about the new freshmen leadership. Despite this, he said he’s determined to make the group a success. He is ready to encourage people to express and identify themselves through music as he does.
“I live, breathe, and sleep music,” Bryant said. “I’m ready to share my own talent and art in front of an audience with my fellow a cappella family. I am hoping for a ‘Pitch Perfect’ sort of thing and embrace the music within.”
Bonacoustics is well equipped with ambitious leaders who are ready to build a reputation and establish a professional group on campus. Each of the leaders hope to perform on campus and really show off the group’s musical talent at any opportunity they get—including collaboration with community service projects or possible competitions. Bryant proposed that even though it may be ambitious, he looks forward to one of those a cappella competitions.
Something St. Bonaventure students can look forward to is the recreation and musical flow of our own a capella group, Bonacoustics. This is fitting since the new freshmen leaders can take the group a long way with fun and dedication.
