The Pendulum
Features
Page 15 • Thursday, September 11, 2003
With CD and new members, Twisted l\/ieasure starts on right tune
Leigh Wiley
Reporter
The crowd hushed in antici
pation, as a group of 12 students
took the stage, all dressed in
black T-shirts that declared
“Twisted Measure” in bold red
letters. Students eagerly waited
as the group began to harmo
nize, echoing through the gym’s
rafters.
Twisted Measure performed
for the first time this year, open
ing up for Tom Deluca, the hyp
notist in late August.
“it was just incredible to
watch; it would be even more
incredible to be a part of it,”
said sophomore Audrey Ball,
who was in the audience and
recently became a new member
of Twisted Measure. If audition
numbers are any indication, she
was not the only one to think so.
Like many with other Elon
organizations, the a cappella
group Twisted Measure has just
started to prepare for the this
year.
Members of the group said
that Saturday was a nerverack-
ing day for most, since they
held auditions all day for inter
ested students.
With 40 students auditioning,
competition was fierce. Call
back auditions were held
Sunday and freshman Taylor
Barr, tenor. Ball, alto, freshman
Katie Olsen, soprano, and fresh
man Barrett Risley, tenor, were
added to the group. All new
members said they were excited
to be a part of such a close-knit
and talented group of singers.
Ball admits she was nervous
during auditions because her
competition could be heard
through the door.
“It was so amazing that there
was so much talent in one place
at one time,” said Ball.
Twisted Measure members
have to be dedicated, said Jason
Smith, the group’s president.
He said members must have a
good solo voice and blend with
the group well. Some members
also play the piano and arrange
and sight read music.
Singing in Twisted Measure
can be a time commitment.
Twisted Measure practices are
three to four times a week for
two hours each session.
During the year, the group
performs and competes all over
the state. Last year they partici
pated in the International
Competition of Collegiate A
Cappella and took second place.
Smith also won Best Soloist
with the song “Gone” and the
group received Best Vocal
Percussion. Brian Hecker,
Twisted Measure’s musical
director, received Best
Arrangement for “Demons” by
Photos by Mary-Hayden Britton / Photographer
On Tuesday night Twisted Measure had its first rehearsal with its new members. They stood in a
circle harmonizing and then broke off into individual voice parts. Left to right: Katie Howel,
Audrey Ball, Michelle Payne, Jason Smith, Barrett Risley, Leslie Price and Kelly Bonner.
From left: Katie Olsen, Bill Cleveland, Taylor Barr, David
Parsons, Andrew Frace and Brian Hecker practice their songs.
Guster and the group’s cover of
Blu Cantrell’s song “Hit ‘em Up
Style” was a runner-up in the
same competition.
“I joined Twisted Measure
my second semester of fresh
man year, and it was by far the
best thing I’ve been a part of,”
said junior Katie Howell. “The
people in the group that have
come and gone have touched
every member’s life in some
way, and every present and for
mer TM [Twisted Measure]
members hold a near and dear
place in their heart for the
organization.”
Twisted Measure began four
years ago during Parents’
Weekend. Two years ago they
officially became an organiza
tion and were named Best
Student Organization With
Under 30 Members in 2003.
“I think that Twisted
Measure stands out because of
the group’s dynamics. You can
tell that we all love what we’re
doing when we’re on stage,”
says Howell.
The singing group is small;
they try to keep membership
between 12-16 students, which
Smith said “is the perfect size
for our kind of style and music.”
The group uses no instru
ments. Instead, they make up
the beat and background music
themselves. While one or two of
the members performs a song,
the rest sing backup or add
sound effects.
Twisted Measure sings con
temporary songs which have
been re-arranged by different
members of the group, which
adds a personal tone to each
song. Other songs in their reper
toire include some by the Red
Hot Chili Peppers and Vanessa
Carlton.
The group picks new songs
by taking five suggestions from
each member and then voting
on those songs to pick a reason
able number to learn every year.
Songs are chosen by majority
vote.
The group is in the process of
putting together a CD that will
be released this fall.
Members said that the CD
can be pre-ordered for $15.
Twisted Measure will perform
on Friday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. and
Sunday, Nov. 16 in Whitley
Auditorium, They are also
scheduled to perform with
Sweet Signatures and other a
cappella groups at
Acappellooza Sept. 27 at 2 and
7:30 p.m. at the Academic
Village.
Members said they hope for
even larger crowds from the stu
dent body and community to
attend their concerts.
Students can purchase tick
ets for both shows for a total of
$5.
Check out their Web site at
www.elon.edu/twistedmeasure.
Contact Leigh Wiley at pendu-
lum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
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