CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—At night, it’s quiet outside of the George Watts Hill Alumni Center. However, on the lower level, down carpeted stairs, and through portrait-filled hallways, it’s not so quiet.
It’s where UNC’s Premiere Upper Voices A Cappella Group, better known as the Loreleis, practices. Made up of 15 women, the Loreleis are more than just an all-female a cappella group; they’re best friends.
Ellie Riggsbee, one of the group’s music directors, said she doesn’t think she would have met some of her closest friends if it hadn’t been for the Loreleis.
“It’s just something about being with people all the time, singing with them. You’re a little vulnerable, singing with people and performing with them,” Riggsbee said. “So you get to create bonds that you don’t with a lot of other people in different settings.”
The Loreleis perform everything from oldies to pop to R&B. They admire female vocalists from all of these genres, citing artists like Aretha Franklin, Florence Welch, and Ariana Grande as some of their inspirations.
Riggsbee said women like these are “priceless,” not only for their musical prowess, but for their efforts to empower other women.
“There’s so many current women and in the past, but now too that are just pushing for, artistic equality, sexual equality in so many ways,” she said. “And I think that makes their music even more beautiful and more empowering.”
The Loreleis also look to empower other women. This week is concert week, meaning long practices into the night every day. It can be tiring, but they get through it and shine on stage because of their support for each other.
The Loreleis have been on campus for over 40 years. As Women’s History Month comes to a close this Friday, which happens to be the day of the group’s spring concert, they are reminded of the many generations of women who shared their love of singing to other Tar Heels.
They are also reminded that despite coming from all different walks of life, they are bonded by one thing: music.
“It’s really just it’s so raw. It’s human, 16 human voices,” Loreleis president Sophie Cho said. “I think that’s why it’s just so it’s just so cool, like there’s no other word for it. It’s just really cool.”
The Loreleis spring concert is taking place on Friday, March 31. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Frank Porter Graham Student Auditorium. Student tickets are $10 and can be purchased by clicking here.