Vocal group named among the best




UNACCOMPANIED—Unstrumental,  Calabasas  High  School’s coed a cappella group, has been named on the annual Best of High School A Cappella compilation. A CD recording by the 17student  group  was  one  of  19  tracks  chosen  from among 600 submissions to represent the best of the best in all-vocal groups.

UNACCOMPANIED—Unstrumental, Calabasas High School’s coed a cappella group, has been named on the annual Best of High School A Cappella compilation. A CD recording by the 17student group was one of 19 tracks chosen from among 600 submissions to represent the best of the best in all-vocal groups.


Unstrumental, an a cappella group at Calabasas High School, has won a place on the annual Best of High School A Cappella (BOHSA) compilation.

The coed a cappella (vocal) group has 17 students—nine girls and eight boys.

The group’s CD was one of 19 tracks chosen to represent the Best of A Cappella collection this year. There were more than 600 tracks submitted worldwide. The group’s winning song was “Are You Happy Now” by Michelle Branch. “I am really proud of Unstrumental and how dedicated all of the members have been,” said Danielle Gaines, a 12th grade student and the group’s director. “They have all worked so hard and I am so proud to be a part of this group,” Gaines said. “All of the success we have had lately with BOHSA and the awards we received at the . . . competition (outstanding choreography and outstanding soloist) is just an amazing reward for all of the hard work and dedication of everyone contributing to this year’s group.”

Josh Barrell, the school’s music director, acts as an advisor to the group, but students make all decisions regarding music selection and rehearsals.

“They are a very dedicated group of students who work very hard to succeed,” Barrell said.

Unstrumental was founded in 1999 by Eliza Poehlman and Kim Weisberg to promote a cappella singing at CalabasaHigh School. Since then, the group has been singing pop and rock a cappella arrangements aschool concerts and other locavenues, including Los AngeleChildren’s Hospital, the University of Southern California, and local city c o u n c i l meetings.

Winning groups in the competition earn international recognition on the BOHSA website, www.varsityvocals.com/bohsa.

The Best of High School A Cappella compilation CD is sold to the winning high schools at cost. The high school groups then sell the CDs and use the profits for their music program, songbooks and sheet music purchases, or to help make next year’s CD.

In its seven years of existence, Unstrumental has sung everything from Michelle Branch to The Beatles while continually expanding their repertoire.

“Are You Happy Now” was the first song the group ever recorded. They have recorded four other songs and hope to put together a CD within the next few years, said a BOHSA spokesperson.

Three years ago, Calabasas High created what has become an annual A Cappella Nite. The concert features Unstrumental, Bare Rythym (CHS’ all-female a cappella group), and other high school and collegiate a cappella groups from Southern California. “A Cappella Nite 2006” is scheduled for May 5 in the high school theater.

Unstrumental also will perform at the school’s spring concert on March 2.

Eitan Nir, a senior at Calabasas and an assistant director of Unstrumental with Michelle Denov, has performed with the group for two years.

“With 11 new members this year in the group of 17, it has been a big change and the group has a great motivation to excel,” Nir said. “Unstrumental has been one of my most important and best high school experiences. It has been so great to be able to be a part of such a talented and fun-loving group of people.”

Unstrumental 2005-2006 includes the following students: Max Artsis, Stephanie Bayan, Brian Blaker, Brian Brown, Jane Brownstone, Michelle Denov, Danielle Gaines, Geena Glaser, Mallory Glaser, Alex Horwitch, Amy Israels, Harrison Meloeny, Eitan Nir, Keely Sibilia, Shanley Wang, Greg Waxler, and Andrea Weisz.

The Best of High School A Cappella 2006 compilation will be available through Calabasas High School, or on-line at www.a-cappella.com.

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