Nine is enough: BYU a cappella group gathers national and international recognition

Indecision isn't always a good thing. But it worked for Vocal Point.

Back in 1991, when then Brigham Young University students Bob Ahlander and Dave Boyce wanted to form a collegiate a cappella group, they wanted eight students — basically a double quartet.

But when they held the auditions, the final place came down to two students. They couldn't decide between them so invited both to join. Vocal Point has had nine members ever since.

"It's an interesting arrangement, but it works great in how we divide up the parts," says former member and current Vocal Point director James Stevens.

So, maybe it wasn't indecision, after all, but inspiration. Because the nine-member group has proved to be a popular performing group at BYU — so much so that the university has adopted it as an official entity — and has also garnered national and international recognition.

The group changes each year as members graduate and new auditions are held. But the nine-member limit has held on, as has the group's commitment to quality musicianship.

Over the years, Vocal Point has recorded a half-dozen albums, won three Pearl Awards from the Faith Centered Music Association, and consistently draws sold-out audiences for its performances.

It twice won the regional semifinals, the 2003-04 and 2004-05 competitions, for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. But those groups did not go to the finals in New York City because the event was held on a Sunday.

However, by the 2005-06 competition, things had changed. The ICCA finals had moved to Saturday, and Vocal Point not only won the regional semifinals and went to compete, but it came away with the ICCA championship, recognized as the best collegiate a cappella group in the world.

"They told us we won by the biggest margin ever," says Stevens.

That remarkable run is highlighted on Vocal Point's newest release, a CD called "Nonstop," on BYU's Tantara label (www.TantaraRecords.com), which became available for digital downloads on iTunes, Amazon mp3 and other digital download stores on Tuesday. It will be in stores March 25.

The CD features "showstopping material and top-quality performances" by three Vocal Point groups, says Ben Fales, marketing director for Tantara Records.

And while the CD "boasts the refinement and polish of a studio setting" (it was recorded and produced in Stevens' own studio, in fact), "the groups manage to capture the excitement and vibe of a live show," says Fales.

Included are some of the songs that won the international championship, including "THX/20th Century Fox Fanfare," and the "Spider-Man Theme."