An acapella group based out of the Ohio University School of Music with roots connected to the tenor and bass choir Singing Men of Ohio, would form Section 8.
Through creative dynamics and interactive performances, the group harmonizes well to produce music for all music lovers. More than just a musical collective, Section 8 also fosters a strong sense of brotherhood among its members, making every rehearsal and performance a celebration of friendship and creativity.
Section 8 is an acapella group in the OU School of Music that runs out of the SMO choir. SMO has around 50 members, and members do not have to be music majors to join.
According to Nate Nylander, a senior studying communications and Section 8’s music director, SMO wanted a smaller ensemble to perform at smaller venues when the organization originally formed. This was how Section 8 was born.
For members to join, there is an audition process. Nylander said auditions have become more formal over the years, with changes being made after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“(When) I came in as the music director, we started taking as many as we could,” Nylander said. “We quickly realized that wasn’t the way to go about it … So this year we made it a lot more formal where you had to learn a piece outside of the audition to see if you could sing your part correctly and be in time with everyone else.”
Ben Christiansen, a junior majoring in communication studies, is the president of SMO and Section 8 and helps make the decisions with Nylander to select the final roster. This year, around 15 people auditioned and 12 members were selected. Nylander and Christiansen consider factors like scheduling, musical ability and solo voices when selecting their final roster.
Once the group is selected, they typically meet to rehearse three times a week. Nylander said it used to be two days a week, but having three allows for more flexibility in members' schedules. Christiansen and Nylander are at all three rehearsals, and they said meeting three times a week also allows for the group to achieve more throughout the week.
The major difference between SMO and Section 8 is how interactive the group is. Section 8 likes to sing popular songs like “I Want You Back” and “Bye, Bye, Bye” by NSYNC. Nylander even arranges some of the songs the group sings. Depending on the song choice, the group will interact with the crowd by pointing at people while singing or even dancing with someone in the crowd.
Jacob Gertsburg, a freshman studying film, learned of the organization through Christensen, who is his “big” in SMO. After attending rehearsals and auditioning, he fell in love with the group because of its energy.
“I think the energy (Section 8) brings, I don't think I've seen this kind of energy from any other group,” Gertsburg said. “I've sat in on a couple of other group rehearsals. But just the energy and the vibes of this group are immaculate.”
Aiden Wickham, a sophomore studying environmental science and sustainability, said Section 8 performances are different from SMO stylistically. SMO is more classical with more choral arrangements on risers, versus Section 8 does more pop songs to get more reactions from the crowd.
“A Section 8 performance can be anything you want it to be,” Christiansen said. “A lot of the time, we are just going to go out there and just go absolutely crazy. We're going to commit to the bit … We may not be the greatest acapella group you've ever heard. But we're going to be the most fun one that you're going to see.”
Outside of performances and rehearsals, there is one thing that sticks out in the organization: the sense of brotherhood. Section 8 has a unique connection with each other that allows for the music they sing to come alive.
Gertsburg said when he was in high school, being in the choir was nothing like what he had experienced in SMO or Section 8. He said the members of SMO were funny and welcoming, making it more enjoyable to be a part of. However, he described Section 8 as an enhanced version of that because of how well everyone in the organization gets along.
“We’re all so tight,” Gertsburg said. “We hang out outside of singing and stuff. So we're all actual friends, which I think shows in the singing and the performance aspect of it as well.”
Section 8 embodies the spirit of creativity, camaraderie and lively musical expression within the OU School of Music. As the group continues to evolve, it remains dedicated to bringing joy to audiences while fostering lasting connections among its members.
Whether it's engaging with the crowd or simply enjoying time together outside of practice, Section 8 proves that the heart of music lies in the bonds people create together.
"I think having that kind of connection with people, makes the music come alive a bit more than if it was just a bunch of musicians who did not meet outside of rehearsal at all,” Nylander said. “So I think because of those kinds of factors, that's why we're doing so well this year.”
