The Parent & Family Weekend a cappella showcase, Voices & Sounds, was a grand affair. Its location in the sold-out E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall at the 560 Music Center had something to do with that grandeur—the venue is big and opulent, giving any performance a weight of importance. But what really shaped the atmosphere of Voices & Sounds were the a cappella performances themselves.

Clearly catered to the parents, many of whom matched the concert hall in terms of fanciness, the a cappella performances were not the usual mixture of peppy, energetic songs I have become accustomed to at Wash U. Instead, each group performed more emotional songs meant to show off their vocal talent. And it was beautiful, because Washington University a cappella has so much vocal talent to show off.

Grace Bruton | Student Life

Elena Biske and The Aristocats perform “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” at the Parent & Family Weekend a cappella showcase.

The showcase’s theme of slow and emotional songs was most clearly seen in Mosaic Whispers’ performance of “Say Something,” More Fools Than Wise’s set (“Somewhere Beyond The Sea” and “Loch Lomond”) and The Stereotypes’ “I Won’t Give Up.” All utilized subtle arrangements, often singing only the lyrics with no accompanying beat. The soloists were impressive as well, their voices often low but always strong and packing an emotional punch. I even found myself tearing up once or twice—that’s how good they were.

Still, I found myself missing the energy I’ve come to expect from a cappella at times. That’s why The Aristocats’ second song was my favorite of the show. They performed “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” from The Lion King with all the enthusiasm and passion the song requires. Soloist sophomore Elena Biske strutted around stage proudly, at one point even bringing in some Fortnite dance moves with a wide smile on her face.

There were other notes of humor as well. The Pikers rushed onto the stage in their usual disorganized manner, carrying their soloist by the legs. Their second song, “What A Feeling,” captured their humor, with the arrangement miming the emotions conveyed in the lyrics, from wiping away tears to doing push-ups onstage, though the first song in their set, “Mime,” was the first of the night’s many mournful offerings. The Sensasians added a rap to their song, and their passion was evident in the arrangement’s wide smiles. During their montage of classic movie themes, The Ghost Lights mimed Darth Vader using the Force to choke an enemy as they sang the Imperial March.

Still, those light-hearted moments were few and far between in the two-hour concert. That’s not to say the show’s serious note was bad—The Aristocats’ “Beauty and the Beast” captured all the magic of the movie itself. A slow, somber song, Staam’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” was the perfect finale to the concert. With no soloist, the arrangement allowed for members to take turns singing lines, giving the song an almost religious feeling. It was beautiful, and I enjoyed seeing a side to Wash. U. a cappella I hadn’t often seen before, even if I did find myself missing the pop and joy I’d grown used to.