The 33rd iteration of the D.C. Acapella Festival (DCAF) featured Georgetown University’s six a cappella groups for two nights on the Gaston Hall stage Nov. 2 and Nov. 9.
The annual event is co-hosted by the Georgetown Phantoms, a premier all-gender a cappella group, and the Georgetown GraceNotes, an a cappella group for women and gender minorities. Each group has a designated night where they bring their respective graduates on stage and open and close the festival.
DCAF also featured the performances of Georgetown’s four other a cappella groups. The Chimes, the oldest and only all-male a cappella group, the Saxatones, the only community service music group, Superfood, the only competition a cappella group, and the Capitol Gs, the university’s low-range group.
The Phantoms hosted Nov. 2, where they opened with their Queen medley, which included songs such as “Killer Queen,” “Somebody to Love” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” and welcomed graduates onto the stage at the end of the night.
Zayne Nemry (SFS ’27), the president of the Phantoms, said a lot of hard work and time goes into the planning and execution of DCAF every year, but it is worth the effort.
“We had to begin planning DCAF months ago just to make sure it runs as smoothly as possible,” Nemry wrote to The Hoya. “Every year, the GraceNotes and Phantoms work together to solidify sound, lighting, and cameras to record DCAF, working with PAAC/CSE to figure out budgeting, create setlists for soundcheck and the performance, book Gaston, design flyers, table for DCAF, and so much more.”
Nemry said she feels relieved after the Phantoms’ night of DCAF.
“Gaston Hall is such a special place, so it can be a bit nerve-wracking to not only perform, but also introduce the group, our newbies and our alumni song. However, I also had so much fun, and I know the rest of the Phantoms did too!” Nemry said. “DCAF is the biggest event of the year for us, and it’s so special to see everyone’s hard work pay off on stage.”
Nemry added that even though when she came to Georgetown she wasn’t sure if a cappella was for her, she was glad she involved herself and considered herself lucky to have joined the Phantoms.
“Every Phantom has such a clear passion for singing, and I think it really shows with the level of care we put into our arrangements and performances. The Phantoms have given me so many incredible opportunities that I would’ve never had if I didn’t audition,” Nemry said. “However, what I will always value most are the friendships I’ve made with everyone in the group. The Phantoms have become a second family for me at Georgetown, and I’ll always be thankful for that.”
Saturday, Nov. 9, will be the GraceNotes-hosted night of DCAF.
Ruby Gilmore (SFS ’26), co-music director of the GraceNotes, was in charge of coordinating the arrangements of songs and the practices leading up to DCAF. Gilmore called the GraceNotes “family” on campus, saying events like DCAF connect a cappella groups.
“While a lot of a cappella groups, I think, would say that the other members in their group are friends, I would say the GraceNotes feel like family,” Gilmore told The Hoya. “It’s a group of people that I feel safe around, that I trust, who I know, that I can just come in and leave all my problems at the door and get to just sit there and make music with people who I know care.”
Kayla Barnes (SFS ’26), president of the GraceNotes, said she is feeling hopeful leading up to the performance.
“An alumnote came up to me after our set and complimented us on how precise we were and said, ‘That’s what the GraceNotes were known for back in my day,’ so I’m excited for Saturday,” Barnes wrote to The Hoya. “We also get to sing with our alumni, so I’m excited to sing with them and talk about GraceNotes lore over brunch in the morning.”
Barnes said the tradition of DCAF allows for the talent in Georgetown’s music community to be shown off.
“With it being the 33rd DCAF, I’m shocked that a cappella has maintained such a large space here at Georgetown for such a long time, so I feel that we have the responsibility to carry that tradition on,” Barnes said.
Gilmore said that joining the GraceNotes was the best decision she’s made in her college experience and that she considers the group “girlhood on the highest level of unity.”
“Every single one of the girls is so smart and so passionate and we’re all doing such different things and we all have such different goals,” Gilmore added. “Yet we all have this one thing in common. And that’s our love for music and our love for singing.”
