Help Me Get to ACA Again!
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IT'S TIME FOR ROUND 2!
Hello everyone! My name is Kaedi Dalley. I'm 16 years old and I'm from New York, currently going to The Taft School, a boarding school in Connecticut.
Now, music has officially become my LIFE. I started singing from five or six years old, and I have enjoyed it immensely, but I didn't fully recognize that singing was my passion until I was 11. I taught myself how to play piano after taking lessons for a year, and I also teach myself how to play guitar. I've never received any formal vocal training; however I have participated in school and church choirs for majority of my life, which I can say have has helped me improve my vocal delivery. At Taft, I am currently a cohead of our Gospel choir group, and the alto section leader of my school's chorus called Collegium Musicum. I am a part of an all-female a cappella group called Hydrox, a student-run club that I am very proud to be a part of. I have also participated in the past three fall musicals at Taft; in my freshman year I was part of the ensemble for "The Drowsy Chaperone," sophomore year I played the role Motormouth Maybelle in "Hairspray," and earlier this current junior year I played the role of Donkey in "Shrek the Musical."
Last summer, I was granted the blessing of being accepted into A Cappella Academy. For those who don't know, A Cappella Academy is a 10-day summer program in California, designed to educate highschool students ages 13-18 about a cappella music, as well as providing the campers with information about writing, arranging, and producing music. This program was created by Avi Kaplan - the bass member of the Grammy Award-winning Pentatonix, Ben Bram - Grammy Award-winning arranger and producer, and Rob Dietz - CARA-winning arranger who was an offscreen percussionist for the Warblers on Season 3 of Glee. These are three people I strongly believe are commendable and successful people in the music industry, a cappella especially. They have definitely shaped the way I define a cappella today, making me realize the authenticity of creating music with just your voice.
Last year I was accepted as one of the 73, the top 13% of 556 who auditioned.
Now, I am proud to say that I also got accepted this year, one of the 78 who got accepted out of 588! I'm extremely humbled to take part in this again, as it was hands-down one of the best experiences of my life. You can check out my audition below!
[ACCEPTED] A Cappella Academy Audition 2017 - Kaedi Dalley
Although I have been accepted into this program, I must do my part in covering my tuition and my traveling expenses, and this is not always possible.
The cost of tuition is $1995, without plane fare.
This is why I created this page.
A Cappella Academy enabled me to learn so much about the world of a cappella, as well as music in general. Whether it was writing, recording, or arranging music, I was always engaged in something new everyday. Each day presented a challange to me physically, mentally, and vocally, but with the help of the numerous directors on campus I could face them head-on.
At the end of the camp last summer, everyone was engaged in showcasing what they had practiced within their groups and genres in a performance that was presented to the public, as well as livestreamed. I was a part of the all-girls group called Dominant 7, representing R&B. You can check that out below.
Dominant 7 - Greedy
There was also a performance where all of the campers sang together. You can check those out too!
Academy Choir - Searching For a Feeling (Thirdstory)
Academy Choir - Wade In the Water (Spiritual)
We will be also coming out with an album soon! More info in the future :)
ACA has provided me with a surplus of knowledge about music that has driven me to carry back what I know to my school community, as well as everyone around me. It affirmed in me that music is definitely a career that I want to pursue, and will continue to persue, because I want to share my passion with others. I remember being told by Avi that music is about spreading light to others, and so I will continue to do so wherever I go.
ACA has also provided me with some of the best and most genuine friendships that I have to this day. At camp, everyone was engaged in whatever activity was at hand, making sure that NO ONE was left out. The friendly, warm atmosphere that was radiating off of everyone made you feel comfortable with your peers and made settling in an easy task. I felt nothing but genuine happiness and love around me, because that was what I was receiving from my friends. I still regularly keep in touch with those that I have engaged with, and our bonds have never been stronger. The camp was all LOVE.
With all the knowledge that I have gained, the music that I have created, and the friendships that I have made, I feel it as imperative that I must take all the opportunitites I have in order to go back again.
If you want a glimpse of what I experienced last summer, and hopefully this summer, check out their website and trailer video!
A Cappella Academy!
Website
Share and donate if you can.
Thank you so much! I appreciate it.
Hello everyone! My name is Kaedi Dalley. I'm 16 years old and I'm from New York, currently going to The Taft School, a boarding school in Connecticut.
Now, music has officially become my LIFE. I started singing from five or six years old, and I have enjoyed it immensely, but I didn't fully recognize that singing was my passion until I was 11. I taught myself how to play piano after taking lessons for a year, and I also teach myself how to play guitar. I've never received any formal vocal training; however I have participated in school and church choirs for majority of my life, which I can say have has helped me improve my vocal delivery. At Taft, I am currently a cohead of our Gospel choir group, and the alto section leader of my school's chorus called Collegium Musicum. I am a part of an all-female a cappella group called Hydrox, a student-run club that I am very proud to be a part of. I have also participated in the past three fall musicals at Taft; in my freshman year I was part of the ensemble for "The Drowsy Chaperone," sophomore year I played the role Motormouth Maybelle in "Hairspray," and earlier this current junior year I played the role of Donkey in "Shrek the Musical."
Last summer, I was granted the blessing of being accepted into A Cappella Academy. For those who don't know, A Cappella Academy is a 10-day summer program in California, designed to educate highschool students ages 13-18 about a cappella music, as well as providing the campers with information about writing, arranging, and producing music. This program was created by Avi Kaplan - the bass member of the Grammy Award-winning Pentatonix, Ben Bram - Grammy Award-winning arranger and producer, and Rob Dietz - CARA-winning arranger who was an offscreen percussionist for the Warblers on Season 3 of Glee. These are three people I strongly believe are commendable and successful people in the music industry, a cappella especially. They have definitely shaped the way I define a cappella today, making me realize the authenticity of creating music with just your voice.
Last year I was accepted as one of the 73, the top 13% of 556 who auditioned.
Now, I am proud to say that I also got accepted this year, one of the 78 who got accepted out of 588! I'm extremely humbled to take part in this again, as it was hands-down one of the best experiences of my life. You can check out my audition below!
[ACCEPTED] A Cappella Academy Audition 2017 - Kaedi Dalley
Although I have been accepted into this program, I must do my part in covering my tuition and my traveling expenses, and this is not always possible.
The cost of tuition is $1995, without plane fare.
This is why I created this page.
A Cappella Academy enabled me to learn so much about the world of a cappella, as well as music in general. Whether it was writing, recording, or arranging music, I was always engaged in something new everyday. Each day presented a challange to me physically, mentally, and vocally, but with the help of the numerous directors on campus I could face them head-on.
At the end of the camp last summer, everyone was engaged in showcasing what they had practiced within their groups and genres in a performance that was presented to the public, as well as livestreamed. I was a part of the all-girls group called Dominant 7, representing R&B. You can check that out below.
Dominant 7 - Greedy
There was also a performance where all of the campers sang together. You can check those out too!
Academy Choir - Searching For a Feeling (Thirdstory)
Academy Choir - Wade In the Water (Spiritual)
We will be also coming out with an album soon! More info in the future :)
ACA has provided me with a surplus of knowledge about music that has driven me to carry back what I know to my school community, as well as everyone around me. It affirmed in me that music is definitely a career that I want to pursue, and will continue to persue, because I want to share my passion with others. I remember being told by Avi that music is about spreading light to others, and so I will continue to do so wherever I go.
ACA has also provided me with some of the best and most genuine friendships that I have to this day. At camp, everyone was engaged in whatever activity was at hand, making sure that NO ONE was left out. The friendly, warm atmosphere that was radiating off of everyone made you feel comfortable with your peers and made settling in an easy task. I felt nothing but genuine happiness and love around me, because that was what I was receiving from my friends. I still regularly keep in touch with those that I have engaged with, and our bonds have never been stronger. The camp was all LOVE.
With all the knowledge that I have gained, the music that I have created, and the friendships that I have made, I feel it as imperative that I must take all the opportunitites I have in order to go back again.
If you want a glimpse of what I experienced last summer, and hopefully this summer, check out their website and trailer video!
A Cappella Academy!
Website
Share and donate if you can.
Thank you so much! I appreciate it.
Organizer
Kaedi Dalley
Organizer
New York, NY
