By Laura Franklin
PandemoniUM, a co-ed a cappella group at the University of Maryland, performed their Fall Big Show at Hoff Theater on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The show was free, but the student-run group relies mainly on donations. According to senior behavior and community health and french double major Abby Hines, the members enjoy singing for the community free of cost.
“We like to have as many people to be able to come to see us sing and not be hindered by the cost of a ticket,” Hines said.
Hines is one of two musical directors of PandemoniUM. Her and Sahana Chakravartti, a junior biology major, run the rehearsals, organize the parts for each singer and arrange the set list.
The singers, who call themselves “pandas,” performed a variety of songs, ranging from French singer-songwriter Elias to pop star Sam Smith. At the end of the show, current members were joined by alumni to perform “How Deep is Your Love” by Calvin Harris.
The group chooses three new songs to sing every semester, and the rest of the songs are ones that they’ve chosen in the past. The singers bring in their suggestions and the songs go through an audition process to find the songs that work the best for the singers and their voices.
“We work hard and we like to have a good quality product but at the end of the day we just like to have fun,” said Hines.
Unlike other a cappella groups on campus, PandemoniUM consists of mostly non-music majors, who joined the group because of their love of singing.
PandemoniUM has been at the university for 25 years. The group performs at events on campus, as well as private events such as churches and weddings.
Sophomore environmental science and policy major Naomi Lichtenstein found a way to continue her passion by joining PandemoniUM.
“I’ve always been singing my entire life, and I knew the moment that they accepted me into the group that it was going to be an amazing experience,” Lichtenstein said. “I found a family.”
Pandemonium will be attending the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella next semester. PandemoniUM was awarded first place at the ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinals of both 2016 and 2017 Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinals, advancing to the semifinals and placing third in 2016.