Potsdam Pointercounts Advance to Semi-Finals in National A Cappella Competition

SUNY Potsdam A Cappella Group Cleans Up at Regional Contest, Will Compete at Boston Symphony Hall on March 22

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The Potsdam Pointercounts pose for a photo after winning the ICCA Northeastern Quarterfinals in Troy, N.Y.

POTSDAM, NY (03/06/2015)(readMedia)-- The Potsdam Pointercounts won first place at the Northeast International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella, and is now advancing to the national semi-finals. The all-male singing group is the oldest student a cappella organization at SUNY Potsdam.

The Pointercounts were among three of SUNY Potsdam's a cappella groups who competed in the regional competition, held at the Experimental Music and Performing Arts Center in Troy, N.Y. A total of 10 groups from across the Northeast competed for a chance to move on to the next round.

A panel of five distinguished a cappella adjudicators ranked the ensembles in the areas of vocal and visual performance, including aspects such as professionalism, dynamics and appearance. Additionally, three awards were granted to the groups who stood out in the areas of musical arrangements, choreography and soloists.

The Pointercounts placed first, with a score of 399. In addition, the group was recognized for outstanding choreography (as designed by student Alec Sisco) and outstanding soloist (for student Andrew Pacer). Both Sisco and Pacer are seniors at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music.

The Pointercounts are now preparing to compete in the semi-finals at Boston Symphony Hall in Boston, Mass., on Sunday, March 22. The Potsdam Pointercounts will compete against groups from Emerson College, the Berklee College of Music, SUNY Purchase, Northeastern University, Harvard University, New York University, Hostra University and Vassar College.

Competition information and videos of their performance can be seen at www.pointercounts.com.

The Pointercounts' latest studio album, "Shades of Blue," is also available now on iTunes and Spotify and can be found at the College Store on the SUNY Potsdam campus.

For more information about SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.

Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York's only All-Steinway institution.

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