VoiceLine performs with charisma, harmony

December 5, 2014

3 min read

Photo credit: Amanda Hollman

The fine acoustics of the Ragan Theater were filled with the harmonious sound of UVU’s a capella group, VoiceLine, on Thursday evening with the largest audience that the group has ever had.

The nine young men were sharply dressed with green ties, tan suit coats, suspenders, and topped off with classy sneakers. The icing on the cake was the members’ charismatic personalities throughout the performance.

A member gave an introduction to the song before they performed it. The descriptions varied from entertaining to inspirational.

“Everyone goes through challenges..but this room is full to the brim with potential,” said Koltyr Wright, tenor, before VoiceLine performed a cover of Fix You, by Coldplay.

Each member’s talents were featured throughout the show. VoiceLine’s own Josh Groban sound-alike, Brandon Webb, baritone, was the solo for Raise Me Up. Greg Wright, baritone, took the solo on Coldplay’s Sky Full of Stars.

The group gave the stage to their vocal percussionist, Matt Newman, to show off his skills. The audience was blown away by his ability to duplicate a variety of percussion instruments.

VoiceLine performed a compilation of many well-known songs: The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Lean on Me, Lollipop, Kiss the Girl and Goodbye. During the arrangement, the group acted out various humorous dance moves. Wright skipped around the stage pretending his microphone was a lollipop; Steve Koplin, tenor, sang so high in his register that he pretended to pass out and Jonah Hadlock, bass, resuscitated him.

The performance brought the largest audience that the group has had since its founding. The spectators varied from current students to friends of the members who traveled from out of state to attend. Members of the Board of Trustees also came to see the show.

Josh Olsen and Koplin created VoiceLine in 2012 with the help from faculty member Connie Jensen, who became the advisor for the group. Their goal is to raise $5000 to purchase a set of microphones so that they can perform at off campus venues and give workshops.

“To uplift, inspire and bring joy to all within the sound of our voices” is the group’s motto. This theme was evident throughout the performance with each member’s personable attitude and the songs that were chosen.