Du dup, du, du, du, du, dup! That’s right. It’s a beat coming from the new Fresno State a cappella group, Resisting-A-Rest, singing in the Music Building’s foyer.

Whether people enter through the front, east or west entrance of the Music Building, they’ll surely hear and see the new a cappella group practicing their singing. They practice every Wednesday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the foyer.

Resisting-A-Rest originated from three students who were in a campus tour during Dog Days, said Joel Mariano, one of the founders and leader of the a cappella group. Mariano, as well as co-founders, Trevor Roberts and Rachel McWilliams, asked students from their choir to participate in the new group.

At first, people weren’t really excited to jump on board, Mariano said. But once students heard what the group had to offer, more students wanted to get involved.

He also said many college a cappella groups have some type of musical pun for their title. He chuckled and said the idea of Resisting-A-Rest can be thought of as a police arrest or a music rest.

There are two a cappella groups. Resisting-A-Rest has 18 members and a smaller a cappella group has five members. The group first had auditions in August of 2011, but continues to have auditions at the beginning each semester.

Group member Sara Sweatt invites students of all majors are welcomed to audition for the group. The group has students who are musicians, math majors and chemistry students. The group looks for students who love to sing, have a good attitude and are teachable, Sweatt added

“The group is a really good outlet for people who aren’t ready or fully comfortable with singing classical music and just want to sing music that they know,” Mariano said. “I think that is the good thing. It’s really open to anyone who loves music.”

Mariano also said a goal of the group is to record a CD.

“We would love to sing at parties, events and to [help] propose to your girlfriend or say something special to someone,” Sweatt said. “We are willing to do it free of charge.”

For now, the group is practicing for the concert scheduled at the end of the spring semester and will soon be a part of convocation Tuesdays or Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall.

“Last semester we performed in the Christmas concert in the foyer. Before the choir concert we did a pre-show,” she said.

Audience members who attended were not aware of the pre-show, and she recalls the concert having a great outcome.

Anna Hamre, the director of the choral activities and the group’s supervisor, said the group did a beautiful job in their December concert.

“They are so awesome. They are doing the rehearsing on their own and the organization on their own. It’s an extraordinary group,” she said.

“Joel is a remarkable leader I’m so impressed with the skills he has both musically and organizationally to make this happen,” Hamre said.

She recommends students to join the group.

“It’s such great ear training [and] such good vocal technique training. They are learning literature, learning ensemble skills and it’s a tremendous experience for them,” she added.

Mariano is also a music liberal arts major and would like to become a choir conductor someday. “I’ve been singing ever since I learned how to talk,” he said. His father is a bass player, his mother plays the piano and both of his brothers are guitar players.

“It’s just something that I’ve grown up with,” Mariano said. “It goes beyond my immediate family and my extended family.”
Sweatt is a vocal performance major.

“I would preferably like to sing pop or jazz,” she said. “My grandma used to basically force all of us cousins to sing.”

She added that her grandparents basically taught her to sing before she could talk.

“And that’s how I learned to talk by singing words,” Sweatt explained. “I’ve always known that I wanted to sing. I want to be a singer for the rest of my life until I can’t do it anymore and then I’ll have to teach.”

Leo Esparza, also a Resisting-A-Rest member, joined the group this semester. He plays the trombone and is a music liberal arts major. He would like to join the army’s performance program when he graduates. Esparza also plays the bare tone, tuba, piano, bass, guitar, percussion and the trumpet.

Not every member has to be as experienced as these three students, the group members said.

“If we find that they are not ready to be in the group now, I can guaranteed we will not leave them out to dry,” Mariano said. “There are so many outlets and choirs. It’s just a matter of pointing them in to the right direction.”

For more information about the a cappella groups contact Joel Mariano at [email protected].