Subject
title
Certificate of Recognition for the Wootton Acatonics A Cappella Team National Competition Wins
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends Mayor and Council present a Certificate of Recognition to the Wootton High School Acatonics A Capella Team for their wins:
1. The SingStrong New York A Cappella Festival - High School Competition Win
2. The International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) - Winner of the Mid-Atlantic Region Quarterfinal Round Competition
Discussion
The Acatonics are the premier all-gender a cappella group from Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland. The group consists of vocalists from a range of backgrounds who all share a common passion for making music. The Acatonics have been fortunate to attend and place at national competitions. Most recently, in February 2024, they won both the Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal Round of the International Championship of High School A Cappella Competition and the High School Competition at SingStrong New York. In addition they won best soloist and best vocal percussion at both competitions as well. Aside from competitions, The Acatonics perform at many events around the Wootton community, for many meetings and celebrations for Montgomery County Public Schools, and at events around the greater Washington, DC area. In addition to performing together, the Acatonics just love being around each other and take any opportunity to celebrate the community this group provides them at school.
They are directed by Wootton High School Choral Director, Keith Schwartz.
The SingStrong New York A Cappella Festival
The SingStrong New York a cappella festival is renowned for showcasing some of the most talented vocal groups from across the nation, providing a platform for both established and emerging talents to demonstrate their prowess. It is a three-day weekend filled with coaching, clinicians, workshops, classes, and performances. This year, the high school competition was especially fierce, featuring an array of exceptionally skilled groups, each bringing their own unique style and energy to the stage.
International Championship of High School A Cappella Competition
The ICHSA - International Championship of High School A Cappella - was founded in 2001 out of the growing interest in a cappella singing at the high school level. It has since seen an explosion in participation and talent, and many of the high school groups now compete at a college level. The tournament now has grown to include 150 groups competing in quarterfinals and semifinals in 8 regions nationwide. We compete in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
The list of students:
|
Emmanuel Awusu |
Dominic Lising |
Jake Silverman |
|
Margo Brown |
Megan Lomotan |
Gurnoor Sodhi |
|
Ashley Chan |
Grant McGraw |
Daniel Son |
|
Jake Cheng |
Naysa Mustafa |
Claire Spivak |
|
Aiden Feng |
Joy Nadda |
Lucy Stanton-Shepherd |
|
Shravan Kannepalli |
Victoria Olanrewaju |
John Yi |
|
Charles Liddle |
Rayna Panikulam |
Kelvin Zhou |
|
Kenneth Lin |
Stuti Patil |
|
Congratulations to the Wootton High School Acatonics A Cappella Team for their amazing competition wins!