The Achordants are an all-male a cappella group at UNC-Chapel Hill. They were founded in the Spring of 2001 in an attempt to widen the range of opportunity for male singers on campus (the group's introduction essentially doubled the amount of UNC all-male a cappella groups). Since then, the Achordants have grown tremendously, both in size and in presence; the group has supported a tremendous amount of charitable causes and other on-campus events, and has also established an expansive repertoire, released a studio recording, and taken First Place at the 2005 ICCA South Regional. With so much activity in just its first five years, the group can only imagine what the future has in store!
Who founded the Achordants?
The Achordants were founded by Derek Vanderpool, Arash Jahanian, and Eric Ellis.
So what does "Achordants" mean, anyway?
Look up the word "harmony" in a thesaurus and you'll find "accordance." From this word, the creators simply added the musical "chord" pun, threw out some letters, added a "t", and voila, you've got "Achordants!"
We're open to absolutely any kind of music. In just our short time as a group, we've performed the genres of rock, jazz, country, techno, barbershop, R&B, doo-wop, and Latin. We've also performed a Scottish folksong.
Who writes your arrangements?
Over the years, many members have contributed to the Achordants music library with their original arrangements (although we've performed some published arrangements as well). In our Music Page, you can find a full list of our songs and who sings/arranges them.
How do you decide on your songs?
Why, through a highly-organized democratic process, of course. There's never any yelling, arguing, fighting, or Phillip throwing a desk. Ever.
How can I hear you guys?
Check our Gigs Page to see where we'll be performing soon! Aside from at posted gigs, you'll often hear us singing around dorms or in the Pit, because, well, singing's fun! We also have a concert every semester, so be sure to check back periodically for details on that. Finally, you can purchase our studio album, Polluted With Style, through this site!
What if I want you guys to perform at my event?
If you're interested in the Achordants performing at your event, visit our Contact Page for relevant information.
For the love of the music, the love of the performance, and the love of charitable causes. The Achordants have long made it our primary mission to strongly support charity groups and multicultural organizations here on campus. Also, performing a cappella at UNC-Chapel Hill is a great way to become immediately involved with our bustling campus. We work hard, have fun, and rock people's faces (and socks) off!
What are auditions like?
Auditions are your chance to get to know our group more personally - as well as chill with us for a bit. They're also our chance to get to know YOU more personally, and chill with YOU for a bit. Of course, there's some singing involved too. So prepare a 30-60 second solo that you feel shows off your voice the best, and get ready to sing it for us a cappella. For those taking notes, that's some ancient language for "without accompaniment". Your selection may be of any genre; remember, the Achordants are always interested in new and exciting types of music! Also, we'll be finding your complete vocal range through some simple warmups, and learning about your ear with some pitch matching exercises. Warm up before you walk in the room for best results!
How should I prepare for my audition?
The best thing to do is get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. The more relaxed and hydrated you are, the more pleased you will be with your results. You don't need to have the lyrics memorized, but holding a lyrics sheet means you're more likely to look down and lose the connection with the audience. The bottom line is, if you're confident and comfortable with your piece, you'll be great!
What voice parts are you looking for?
Male.
No, I mean in particular. And how many slots are you trying to fill?
We try our best to tailor our part assignments around voices available, instead of auditioning only certain voices. So don't worry about voice part, we take care of that after auditions. As far as size goes, our group generally will peak at 16 members, but that is a flexible number.
Okay, I'm not the best singer around, but I've got some badass VP (Vocal Percussion) skills. Can I join?
Come to the audition with a badass example of said badass VP skills, and if a significantly badass level of badassitude is reached, we'll consider you based on that alone. Generally, we look for members who can sing as well, but if we're impressed enough, go for it! Be aware that a cappella VP is done generally in a different style than other forms of beatbox, since the percussive sounds must be very loud acoustically. Plan accordingly.
Wow, sounds like the ultrahotness! What am I waiting for?
It's important to us that we have many diverse people who are actively involved on campus. However, being an Achordant is a significant time commitment, and one we do not take lightly. Two or three rehearsals per week plus gigs are not uncommon and attendance is mandatory. Also, when concert season or auditions approach, the workload rises. We compete, record albums, and party up. Oh, yeah, and we have a Fall Break tour. But that's definitely something to look forward to! On the whole, expect the Achordants to be your primary extracurricular activity.
Does this cost any money?
To this date, there have NEVER been required membership fees. And we plan to keep it that way.
Do you guys travel?
We do travel several times a year. Fall Break is usually our time to get away, sing in new, strange places, and get closer as a group. We also travel for competitions and when we sing at neighboring schools. We've been known to sing spontaneously in restaurants.
I've seen some people wearing Achordants shirts. How can I get one?
We sell our shirts at concerts and when we sit in the Pit, which is usually around concerts and auditions.
What about CDs/DVDs?
Our studio album, Polluted With Style, is available and can be purchased through this site. We also have high-quality DVDs of our concerts available for purchase. To order one of these, send an email to .
What's with the Kung Fu guy and the gorilla on your shirts/CD cover?
FAQs