Photo Courtesy of Edward Pennock

In a cramped campus rehearsal room, voices harmonize — and somewhere between the laughter and the late nights, a Finals-bound International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) set is born. 

After nearly a decade, Mosaic Whispers, WashU’s oldest co-ed a cappella group, is headed back to the ICCA Finals on April 26. They will be competing against the top 10 groups in the country at New York City’s Beacon Theatre. 

The road to Finals is notoriously difficult. Each year, hundreds of college a cappella groups begin the ICCA circuit in regional quarterfinals, hoping to secure one of 50 semifinal slots and eventually compete for one of the coveted spots in the final round. After falling short of the finals in the past few years, this year marked a reimagining of what the Mosaic Whispers could become. 

First-year and “newbie” Neil Murphy described the group as equal parts “playful, dedicated, and sassy. Everyone has so much character … It really is just like a mosaic.”

For senior Camron Kaiser, this milestone feels like a meaningful send-off. “I feel lucky that I get to go out on this high and that I get to remember this as my end,” Kaiser said. According to him, being part of the Whispers was never just about music — it was about building a community where people feel supported, both creatively and personally.

“As a leader, I was always thinking about how to make people feel confident and comfortable,” he said. “I had to think a lot about the line of when things are good enough and when we should keep working to get better.” This constant balancing act — between pushing for excellence and feeling confident in their art — shaped how the group approached the competition season. 

The set reflects a journey that resonates with both performers and audience members through its regenerative themes, according to junior Sophie Lyman, who co-arranged the set with Kaiser. “It’s this idea of things being good until they’re not … and how difficult it can be to pull yourself out of these low places,” she said. “It’s a story of having confidence and losing it, and when you regain it, it’s all the more powerful than it was before.” 

Each of the group’s three competition songs were arranged by members of the group — a distinguishing factor that sets the Whispers apart from other finalists, some of whom rely on professional choreographers and arrangers. “We do [the arrangements and choreography] all in house, and that makes it even more special,” Lyman said.

For sophomore Bralin Duckett, being recognized at this level speaks to the chemistry of the group. “We let our unique talents and sounds come out in a way that is pleasing to an audience,” he said. But more than that, the recognition speaks to the individual sacrifices and effort that members put into the group. 

“It’s not common in Whispers for people to quit or take breaks, people are so invested,” Duckett said. “Everyone is so passionate about this group.” 

Duckett hopes that the Whispers’ success will help bring more recognition to WashU’s a cappella community at large. “We have such a strong community of 13 a cappella groups on campus,” he said. “We’re lucky to enjoy what we do and practice what we enjoy doing because of the support we have from the University.”

That sense of responsibility — to represent not just their group but the school — has shaped how the Whispers approached their season. For senior and president Natalie Feldstein, Finals feels like a culmination of four years of growth. 

“I’ve learned how to find my voice in leadership,” she said. “I’ve learned to be flexible, to have patience, to listen.”

Now, with Finals just days away, the group is savoring every last moment together. “It’s such a bittersweet feeling,” Feldstein said. “I’m super grateful for the past four years … I’m lucky that I get to feel sad in a way, because it means this was a really special thing for me.” 

Looking back, she said, it’s not just the performances that matter — it’s the rehearsals, the friendships, the shared purpose. “Rehearsals feel like a privilege,” she said. “They’re the highlight of my day.” 

As the Whispers prepare to take the Beacon Theatre stage, the excitement is palpable. They are looking forward to sharing the stage with groups they’ve admired for years. For the Whispers, it’s not just about the trophy. It’s about doing something they love, together.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled Camron Kaiser’s name.