On Sunday evening, Converse Hall packed from top to bottom with buzzing first-years, as Amherst College's six a cappella groups subtly (and some less subtly) attempted to woo potential new members to audition for their respective ensembles.

The DQ opened the concert with a sassy, sexy, well-sung performance of "Fever." Soloists Marshall Nannes '09 and Jo Ellen Ally '07 sung powerfully and convincingly, entertaining the crowd with their dramatically suggestive acting, dancing and posing. They were followed by the Bluestockings, who were as classy and soulful as ever. Obviously well-rehearsed, the Bluesox awed the audience with their full harmonies and sultry sound. Especially striking were their seamless transitions of tempo during "In the Middle of the Night" (featuring Rebecca Ramer '09).

The Zumbyes snapped the crowd out of its subdued state of enjoyment with their usual outrageous entrance. They captivated the audience with the gospel-style, "Take Me to the River," as they filled every nook of Converse with their powerfully pure sound. As the audience dutifully clapped and sang along, it was clear that the Zumbyes were having just as much fun performing as the crowd was listening. The Zumbyes were followed by Terras Irradient, the College's Christian a cappella group. I was surprised by their unconventionally upbeat repertoire, which included the pop song, "Where is the Love," and a hip-hop-style reworking of the classic "Amazing Grace."

Next to perform were the Sabrinas, who were cheerful and lovely, as usual. Particularly spirited was their medley of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and Christina Aguilera's "Come on Over." Soloist Cecilia Kelly '09 did a wonderful job of channeling the energy of the crowd with her smooth voice and bubbly presentation. Like the Zumbyes, the Sabrinas really seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the crowd fed off of their genuine, positive energy.

Route 9's clean sound and witty humor made an excellent close to the concert. A short, informative skit about the group's history was sandwiched between a gripping performance of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Snow (Hey Oh)," and a clever arrangement of a "Saturday Night Live" skit, "Title of the Song," which mocks the predictability of boyband love songs.

Based on all of the groups' promising performances, the College can expect to enjoy a particularly fantastic year of music. To all of the first-years who plan to audition, good luck, and welcome to the wonderful tradition of a cappella here at the Singing College.