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Kaixin Chen, Natalie Anderson

April 3 BLOOMINGTON, Ind.

From a little practice room in the Jacobs School of Music, voices layer upon each other creating a perfect harmony. Inside, a circle of singers warm up for rehearsal, joking between songs and correcting each other’s parts politely. There is no conductor or lead singer, just a group of women making something from scratch, building off of each other’s talents. 

For the members of The Bloomingtones, an all-treble a cappella group at Indiana University Bloomington, performance is only half of their narrative. In just two years, the group has become a creative space, where members are musically challenged, gain performance opportunities, and a sisterhood that sings together. “I wanted more performance opportunities”, said Julianna Banfe, the co-founder of Bloomingtones. “Being in an all women’s space was very important to me.” 

Founded just two years ago on the top of Goodbody Hall, The Bloomingtones were formed to provide more a cappella opportunities for treble-voices students, and at the heart of the project was Julianna Banfe and Ella Fox. Fox explains how the group 

That culture starts at the top. Fox and Banfe, who help lead rehearsals and arrange songs, have seen the group expand in both sound and spirit. Banfe says, “Leading rehearsals, arranging music for us to sing, obviously that stuff is difficult, but it’s also so rewarding because it leads to just a great outcome.” 

Performance to The Bloomingtones is about so much more than product, but about the process. Although they rehearse faithfully and push each other musically, the group appreciates the process and the growth that comes from challenging themselves, trying out new arrangements, and learning to sing with a single voice. That validation is rewarded at performances, where the group’s cohesion and hardwork shine through. Whether they’re singing at a campus showcase or the ICCA’s, audiences see more than just their vocal talent but their teamwork. 

Of course it takes work to achieve their hard work. The ensemble rehearses several times weekly, and members pour out extra hours arranging music, designing the show program, and helping grow the club even further. At a university that is competitive, especially among performance majors, The Bloomingtones offer a welcome community. It is a musical outlet built on community, and is proven by their success.

Ella Fox and Julianna Banfe lead the group in practicing for their upcoming performance. The group brings together a variety of music lovers, all coming together for the love of music.

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