Even with a variety of performances throughout the year, not many people know about the talent that is Chock Full O’Notes (CFON), Keene State College’s only acappella group. Formally an all girls elite singing group, CFON has recently become co-ed, giving more of a variety to their sound. CFON recorded their first CD last week in hopes that they will be able to reach out to all members of the Keene community. They get together twice a week, four hours a week, to perfect the sound that they convey to the audiences of their winter and spring showcases. With 11 covers of songs ranging from “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls to “The Ignition Remix” by R. Kelly, the goal was to find songs that most would enjoy, according to music director of the group and senior, Jules Reinoehl.
Reinoehl has been dedicated to CFON for the past four years and is excited about the release of the CD.
“I have been waiting for this for a long time, I can’t wait to see the final product,” Reinoehl said. Reinoehl explained that, although all of the songs are covers, they are all arranged by the group.
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“Rather than having all of the part pre-arranged on the sheet music,” Reinoehl stated, “We take the time to arrange it ourselves to get the sound we want. It usually takes about four to five hours to arrange a song.” Reinoehl shared that every song has at least one soloist, and some of them have as many as two or three. “For example, ‘Pretty Hurts’ by Beyonce, was arranged to have three soloists,” Reinoehl stated, “That way they can harmonize with each other and they can sing on their own at any given point, but then towards the end they come together.”
Another senior group member and president of the group, Katie Tordonato, expressed that after the songs have been arranged, it takes about four to five practices for the group to start feeling comfortable with the songs. “We picked songs [for the CD] that everyone was comfortable with and that we knew the best,” Tordonato stated, “It ended up being a nice variety.”
First-year student, Jenna Ferrini, stated that making the CD was an exhausting process. “It was a lot of hard work and long hours, but it’s definitely going to be worth it,” Ferrini said. Some songs were harder to perfect than others, according to Ferrini. “I’m probably going to have to say that ‘Hopeless Wanderer’ is my favorite song on the CD,” Ferrini said, “It is definitely one of our harder songs, but after we get our dynamics down you start to feel the song rather than think about the notes that you are singing.”
CFON has their spring show on May 3 at 2 p.m. in the Mabel Brown Room. If the CDs are ready by then, they will be available at the show. CFON CDs are free, but donations are accepted.
If the CDs are not ready by the time of the show, message CFON on their Facebook page, Chock Full O’Notes – Keene State Acappella, and they can have one shipped.
Olivia Belanger can be contacted at obelanger@kscequinox.com
