Women of On the Rocks get more out of A’Cappella than just singing

On the Rocks is CU’s only all-female a’cappella group in a musical genre that is traditionally male-dominated.

Collegiate a’cappella has been around since 1873. Visiting Associate Professor of Choral Studies Mary Geston explains that the tradition comes out of the Catholic Church at a time when women were excluded.

Geston explains, “There were literally restrictions against women, who were not allowed to sing in church.”

Although this has since changed, Geston says there’s still a gender bias against the female voice.

On the Rocks represents a minority in the world of a’cappella, as only 15% of colleges across the nation have all-female groups (according to music experts).

The women of the group use this as motivation.
“I think that’s just more power to us, we just rock it. We have limitations and that’s what we build off of,” says junior beat-boxer, Becca Droz.

The group is made up of 19 women who meet twice a week to do what they love. They arrange all their own music, incorporating beat boxing, higher pitches, and imitations of the instruments they sing.

On the Rocks is brought together by the women’s voices, but say the music and their close bond makes them a family.

They perform three to four major concerts per year, with their next one coming up later in the Fall on November 11. More information is available on their facebook page, which can be found at .