N'Harmonics sing-off in Washington

This past weekend, NYU a cappella group N'Harmonics brought their music to the nation's capital. It was one of two guest groups at the annual D.C. A Cappella Festival. Hosted at Georgetown University, the festival featured five a cappella groups, three of which were from Georgetown: the Chimes, the GraceNotes and the Phantoms. The other two were guest groups: Princeton University's Old NasSoul and NYU's N'Harmonics.

The GraceNotes opened the night with renditions of Beyoncé's "Poison." They were followed by Old NasSoul, who did a unique mashup of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" and Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls." Old NasSoul focused on oldies from the '50s and '60s.

The N'Harmonics also tried out some classics; the audience went wild for their rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Son of a Preacher Man." Their music, which featured soul sounds and gospel undertones along with their intense passion, energy and volume, resounded through Gaston Hall. At the end of their act, the N'Harmonics received a standing ovation.

The Georgetown Phantoms are a coed group featuring members from both the Chimes and the GraceNotes. They ended the night by inviting past a cappella group members onto the stage to perform a version of Jimi Hendrix's "Freedom." They also did a tribute to new members and graduating seniors.

Both the Phantoms and the Grace Notes are associated with the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C. The JFK Center funds the annual festival, which almost always guarantees a full house.

"Every year, DCAF sells out in a matter of hours," Georgetown sophomore Allison Villarreal said. "It's the one time we get to see all the a cappella groups at once."

Brianna Dimas is deputy features editor.