A Capella group Hooshir performs Jewish, Israeli music

Hooshir A Capella performed its spring concert Thursday night in the Grand Hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.

About half of the group’s members are Jewish, and the religion features in the group’s performances. The group performs songs by American, Hebrew and Israeli musicians.

The group formed in 2006 and has grown in the years since its inauguration. Hooshir performs throughout the year and competes at various competitions across the country.

This year, Hooshir was crowned champion at the third Kol HaOlam National Collegiate Jewish A Capella Championship, the group’s first national championship.

The group entertained the crowd with renditions of some popular top-40 songs, including David Guetta’s “Titanium,” fun.’s “Some Nights” and Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.”

The evening’s performance also featured Jewish and Israeli songs “Lecha Dodi,” “Ana Bekoach” and “Shoshanim Atzuvot.”

Senior group member Julie Womack said the group is collaborative and encourages input from all members on song options.

“At the beginning of the year, each person is asked to come with their own arrangement, whether it is American, Israeli or Jewish,” Womack said. “We then choose our repertoire from that list.”

In addition to official performances at ceremonies and functions around campus, the group has also performed spontaneously at venues like Starbucks and the Sample Gates. The group has even put on flash mobs in the past. While a capella groups like Straight No Chaser and Another Round have more of a presence on campus, Womack said what makes Hooshir special is its Jewish ties.

“I think the biggest difference between us and other groups is simply the fact that we sing Jewish and Israeli music,” she said. “We’re also supported by Hillel instead of IUAA, like other groups.”

Womack said the final performance is an exciting moment in the group’s season, and she hopes the group is able to always put on an exciting, entertaining show.

“We have a lot of fun singing and being on stage together,” she said. “Hooshir loves nothing more than spending time together and making music and sharing it with everyone.”

– Carolyn Crowcroft