Martina Mills, communications sophomore, participates in Green Envy, the oldest a capella ensemble at Tulane University. She auditioned last year as a freshman because Loyola didn’t have an a capella group. But because of their passion to sing and have fun, Mills and Teresa Kaesberg, music education senior, are forming a new a capella group at Loyola.

Even though she is not a music major, Mills participates in the concert band at Loyola as well. Mills and Kaesberg wanted to start a group that enjoys singing in a “fun-type” manner that would be geared toward non-music majors.

Kaesberg explained that many colleges, specifically on the West and East coasts, have a capella ensembles that are very popular.

In a capella, Kaesberg said that there is one soloist and many vocalists. She said that she loves hearing a capella because “it is so much warmer.”

Because of the academically demanding programs at Loyola, the a capella group can sing at many different school activities to lighten up the atmosphere, she said.

They can participate in school activities by singing things such as the Loyola Alma Mater, Mills said.

Mills wants the a capella group to be a mixture of men and women. She is holding call-back auditions and is trying to come up with a name for the group.

The group has eight females but needs two more members to charter the group. Both Kaesberg and Mills express concern about getting more men to join the group.

Mills has tentatively scheduled two-hour rehearsals twice a week beginning next week.

If a member of the group wants to compose songs for the group, they’ll be allowed to, Mills said. But, she said, the group mostly will arrange its own music stemming from pop songs, called collegiate a capella.

“The a capella group will be professional,” Mills says, “and it will truly be deserving of a title for a Loyola organization.”

After the final call backs for auditions, the girls will petition the Student Government Association to charter the group.

Kaesberg said they already have written a constitution for the group.

In order to charter an organization at Loyola, an application has to be submitted to the Students Activities Office along with two typewritten copies of the constitution and a typewritten statement explaining what the organization can contribute to Loyola students.

Two copies of the signature lists of students participating in the group need to be turned in with the signature of the adviser for the group.

“I want to make sure the group stays together,” Mills said.

If the group’s charter passes, Mills will be the president, and Kaesberg will be the music director.

Laura Gallien of University Ministry will be the adviser for the group.

Mills announced that auditions for men will be held soon and that general auditions for the group will be held again next fall.

“You can make music where ever you are, whether it’s in the car or the shower. You should just have fun with it,” Mills said.