Three a cappella clubs from Central competed at ICCA on Saturday, Jan. 24.

One of the clubs to compete was Fantastic Forte.

Established in the fall of 2012, Fantastic Forte’s 11 members performed and competed against other a cappella groups from around the United States and Canada.

In the days before the competition, Fantastic Forte spent extra time to adequately prepare their songs.

Jourdyn Payne, independent studies senior and the club director, helped direct and instruct the other members while they practice for the big event.

“Typically we practice an average of six hours per week; right now, it’s more like nine hours a week,” Payne said.

Payne said that it takes time and dedication to prepare for a competition like this.

Regardless of the general fatigue and anxiety surrounding the upcoming event, club members are involved because they love music and singing.

“My mom always told me that I couldn’t sing,” Payne said. “She was kind of right.”

Payne said that his interest in music began in sixth grade, when he participated in band.

He was originally a music major at Central, but it wasn’t until the formation of Fantastic Forte that he began singing as a hobby.

Kim Roberts, junior history education, is also a member of Fantastic Forte.

Roberts said she is excited for the competition and feels optimistic about their overall performance.

“We have definitely improved a great deal this year – and improved faster – compared [to] last year,” Roberts said.

Fantastic Forte will be competing alongside the other two a cappella clubs from Central: Boots n’ Cats and Nada Cantata.

In the weeks before the competition, Fantastic Forte practiced for several hours daily.

In the evening, after quick dinners and classes, but before long nights of studying, members gather and harmonize through a list of peppy tunes they’ll showcase at the event.

Payne said entering the competition involves several steps.

The group needed to produce and film a video that demonstrated their best singing ability.

The video had to also show their overall professionalism. This was followed by lots of paperwork and money spent, Payne said.

Despite that, all of Central’s a cappella clubs were accepted to compete at ICCA.

Fantastic Forte, along with the two other clubs, are just a few of many collegiate groups that performed Saturday in front of a panel of five judges.

The groups were scored on overall presentation, the quality of their music and their visual professionalism.

“[Winning] would mean a lot of hard work paid off,” Roberts said.

Payne said if Fantastic Forte places in the competition it will mean more work to do, and more money to spend.

Singing and instrumental groups have gained attention in pop culture thanks to television, movies and even YouTube.

Pitch Perfect, about a high school a cappella club, Glee, a TV show about a high school glee club, Nick Pitera, a  YouTube a cappella singer, and a cappella group Pentatonix, whose Christmas album “That’s Christmas to Me,” made over 1 million dollars in sales last December.

“[Glee, Pitch Perfect, and Nick Pitera] have certainly increased the visibility and popularity of a cappella groups,” Payne said.

What’s more, Payne believes that the popularity of the television, films, and performers has increased interest directly at Central.

“I think there’s more of an interest [in a cappella groups] now, because of them,” said Payne.