Ask any of my friends about how many activities I’m involved with at Northwestern, and I guarantee the response you receive will be “Too many!” I’ve never been one to shy away from an opportunity. My honest answer for least favorite things about Northwestern is that there isn’t enough time to do all the things, which I’m told is too cheesy an answer to be acceptable, but it’s true!

Heading into my senior year, if there’s one thing I could still make time for, it would be auditioning for an a cappella group. This might seem a bit funny to people who know that I’ve never had any affiliation with the a cappella scene at NU, but I secretly think it’s awesome and wish I could have found time for it. I remember my freshman year when the Marching Band (NUMB) went to the Gator Bowl, a couple of my buddies in ShireiNu started singing “Sugar We’re Goin’ Down” and I came in with backing vocals so Greg could stay on the vocal percussion. It was fun and interesting, but I knew I didn’t have enough singing ability to bother with auditions. Even after making it through required music courses in theory and aural skills (which means a lot of singing practice), I’m still not sure I’d make the cut, but I’d be a lot more interested in trying!

I’ve enjoyed my brushes with similar experiences a lot, like managing a small ensemble with The Panini Players or arranging pop tunes like “It’s Raining Men” for the Boneheads (NUMB’s trombone section), so it definitely seems like something I could get into. Alas, there are only so many hours in the day, and eventually, I’ll have to find time to sleep and go to class. To the a Cappella groups of Northwestern: know that I’m slightly envious of the music you make, and even if I can’t see all of your shows, I’m watching your Youtube videos.

–Jim Alrutz