While it might be a problem for most student groups to lose more than a third of their members at graduation, it’s not an issue for the ScatterTones, who will be losing seven of their 18 members at the end of the year. The group remains confident in their ability to recruit new talent in the fall.
Having become one of UCLA’s most well known a cappella groups, ScatterTones claimed their second win in two years at Spring Sing 2009, performed an inspirational and engaging rendition of John Legend’s “If You’re Out There” and managed to break the stereotypical association of a cappella with barbershop quartets or doo-wop groups that may have been lodged in the minds of many new UCLA students.
“Every year, thousands of students crowd into the Rose Bowl to see our football team do what they love best ““ play football, … or into Pauley Pavilion to see our basketball team do what they love,” said Valerie Caleca, a fourth-year international development studies student and ScatterTones’ social chair. “We are a group of people who had the opportunity to get together and do something we love ““ to entertain not only ourselves, but also our peers.”
With the end of the year approaching, the graduating seniors of the ScatterTones reminisce about their college experiences.
“My first year with ScatterTones, the thing I most remember is feeling so welcome and thankful that I have a group of friends right off the bat. College would have been so scary if I hadn’t had Scatts!” said Katrina Veldkamp, a fourth-year English student and ScatterTones’ business manager.
Caleca did not join until her second year; however, she echoes Veldkamp’s sentiment about joining the ScatterTones.
“It was the first time I really felt like I was part of something at UCLA. I remember thinking “˜Wow, … these people are like my family, and they let me sing.'” Caleca said.
As in any group, each year new members join and the group inevitably changes with unexpected results.
“This year, we made a very difficult decision to select no girls and take five boys. At first, we thought we’d be overwhelmed with testosterone. Instead, we were taken aback by talent,” Caleca said.
Each one of these new members had qualities to contribute to the group: an incredible ear, a ridiculous gift for composition, a rich bass voice, arranging skills or a natural ability to beatbox.
Matthew Flesock, next year’s business manager, is one of the talented males who were inducted into the ScatterTones this year.
“The seven graduating seniors have affected me in ways they can’t even imagine,” said Flesock, a first-year history student. “It’s great to be doing what you love, and for these seniors, they have defined their college careers with the ScatterTones because they truly love it, and that whole concept of doing what you love is what I will take from them.”
With seven of the 18 ScatterTones graduating, the remaining members may have to face a period of further renewal.
However, Flesock said he is confident that they will not have to alter recruiting strategies to account for the loss of so many members.
“It’s definitely going to be hard losing so much talent and such amazing people, but I have faith next year will bring some great new talent,” Flesock said. “There’s no reason to change our audition process ““ it is competitive and our group has high standards.”
Caleca added that she agrees that keeping the current audition process will lead to success.
“There is so much talent in this group, I have no doubt they will succeed,” Caleca said.
Overall, the graduating seniors look back on their experience with ScatterTones fondly.
“I think they are going to be just fine,” said Nathan Nambiar, a fourth-year physiological sciences student and current ScatterTones president, “Every year the group has compensated and moved on.”
So as the seven graduating seniors move on to new things, the remaining members look forward to new beginnings.