Best of College A Cappella

Best of College A Cappella. Commonly known as BOCA, it is an annual compilation album series showcasing the finest performances from collegiate a cappella groups across North America. Founded by Deke Sharon in 1995, the series is produced by the Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA) and serves as a premier anthology and de facto championship for the genre. The selection process involves a highly competitive submission and judging system, making inclusion a prestigious honor within the a cappella community.

History and origins

The concept was pioneered by Deke Sharon, a pivotal figure in the contemporary a cappella revival, who sought to create a definitive annual record of the genre's evolution at the university level. The first compilation was released in 1995 under the Contemporary A Cappella Society, an organization Sharon helped lead, which also oversees the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. The series emerged alongside other foundational projects like the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), which Sharon also co-founded, creating a synergistic ecosystem for collegiate vocal music. Early volumes were instrumental in connecting disparate campus groups, providing a shared benchmark for musical excellence and production quality that helped standardize and professionalize the entire community.

Compilation albums and series

Each annual volume typically features 20 to 25 tracks selected from hundreds of submissions from groups at institutions like Yale University, University of Michigan, and University of Southern California. The albums are curated through a blind judging process by a panel of experts from the a cappella and broader music industry, often including producers and past champions from the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. The series has spawned related spin-offs and influenced similar compilation projects for high school and professional ensembles, solidifying its anthology model. Distribution has evolved from physical CD sales through retailers like Tower Records to digital platforms including iTunes and Spotify, reflecting changes in the music industry.

Notable groups and performances

Inclusion on a BOCA compilation has launched or highlighted the careers of many celebrated groups, including the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the University of Oregon Divisi, and the Tufts University Beelzebubs. The series has featured groundbreaking arrangements of works by artists ranging from The Beatles and Queen to Beyoncé and Radiohead, demonstrating the genre's stylistic breadth. Notable performances that gained wider recognition through BOCA include the Stanford University Mendicants' cover of "Africa" and the University of Virginia Hullabahoos' rendition of "Somebody That I Used to Know." Many groups featured, such as the University of North Carolina Loreleis and the Brigham Young University Vocal Point, have also seen success on television competitions like The Sing-Off.

Impact and cultural significance

The series is widely regarded as the most influential curated collection in collegiate a cappella, setting annual trends in song selection, vocal percussion, and studio production techniques. It provided a critical, centralized platform for exposure and networking before the rise of social media, effectively creating a national conversation and community among collegiate performers. BOCA's success helped legitimize a cappella as a serious musical pursuit, contributing to its explosion in popularity as depicted in media like the film Pitch Perfect and the television show Glee. The compilation's judging criteria and featured tracks have directly shaped the competitive standards at events like the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella and the Harmony Sweepstakes.

Awards and recognition

Tracks featured on BOCA compilations are frequently nominated for and win Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) in categories such as Best Mixed Collegiate Song and Best Scholastic Arrangement. The series itself has received multiple awards from the Contemporary A Cappella Society for its contribution to the genre's development and outreach. Inclusion is often cited as a hallmark of achievement in groups' biographies and is a coveted credential that enhances a ensemble's reputation for recruiting and securing performances. The enduring legacy of the series is evident in its continued relevance as a historical archive and aspirational goal for new groups entering the vibrant collegiate a cappella scene.

Category:A cappella albums Category:American music competitions Category:Recurring events established in 1995