An Insider Scoop of the A Capella Scene
During my a cappella audition at Welcome Week, three judges sat across from me as I stumbled through an unaccompanied rendition of the song ‘Secondhand White Baby Grand’. They tested my vocal range and asked if I had any particular groups I was interested in. I remember arriving extremely nervous, but leaving feeling encouraged rather than discouraged — though I still berated myself over a voice crack on an octave jump. A week later, I received a callback email and found myself at the group audition for Noteorious, the University’s mixed-gender—and oldest—non-competitive group. Since then, a cappella has become one of the most valuable parts of my university experience.
Edinburgh University A Cappella Society currently has eight groups, all of which perform at biannual showcases in each semester. The society is split into three competitive and three non-competitive groups, along with two barbershop quartets. Each has its own atmosphere. Apart from Noteorious, the non-competitive groups include two groups for women and non-binary singers: the Edinbellas, known for enjoying baked goods during rehearsals, and the Shirley Tempos, which have a tradition of post-rehearsal pints.
The competitive groups are Cloud IX, for men and non-binary singers, Licence to Trill, who perform music by women and queer artists, and the mixed-gender group Tone Up. Cloud IX placed second at the Scottish A Cappella Championships in 2023/24, while Tone Up won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Quarterfinals in the United Kingdom this year — the competition made famous by Pitch Perfect!
The final two groups, Fourtissimo and 4Play, are four-person barbershop quartets. Fourtissimo is mixed-gender, while 4Play is for women and non-binary singers. Unlike the larger groups, their small size means they work especially closely as an ensemble. The two quartets also frame the annual showcases, often opening or closing performances with the close-harmony sound characteristic of barbershop. This displays how varied the society can be. You can audition for a competitive group, a more social non-competitive ensemble, or something much smaller and tight-knit.
The competitive side of Edinburgh a cappella expands with some competition groups releasing their own music. Tone Up’s EP All At Once was nominated for Best European EP at the 2026 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards, and the group also made its Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut show, called Nae Instruments Needed.
So, how competitive is it to join? Singing ability certainly matters, and there is a focused audition process. Yet it is about much more than having the strongest individual voice. Group auditions also test how well you sing with other people, how you connect and communicate with a group, and whether you can share a stage with others. Prospective members are in turn asked to give input about the kinds of environments and commitments they are looking for.
That is perhaps something I appreciate the most. There is competition, but the environment is also very supportive and encouraging. As a Noteorious Musical Director was describing, they may take on extra responsibilities and commitments, but every member is still an important part of the group.
Would Edinburgh win the riff-off? I think it has a decent shot. More importantly, though, Edinburgh a cappella offers something Pitch Perfect occasionally forgets between airborne microphones and dramatic key changes — that singing with other people is fun! There is nothing quite like laughing while learning from mistakes in rehearsals, celebrating at socials and after shows, and experiencing the power of a collective of human voices in performing beautiful music. It is an amazing community to audition for and find your place in it.
Image by Owen Clark (@owen.jpegs) for press use
