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For many high school music groups, graduating a majority of members would mean a rebuilding year. For Severna Park High School’s (SPHS) a cappella group SOL, it meant a fresh start, and an extraordinary one at that.
After most of last year’s award-winning ensemble graduated, only four returning members remained: Brooklyn LaBrier, Kayelin Bowerman, Bella Holmes and Syrenna McNutt. With eight new voices joining the group, SOL essentially began the year as a new ensemble.
And yet, on February 7, this reimagined group took the stage at St. Charles High School to compete in the Mid-Atlantic quarterfinals of the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) — a national competition that showcases the top high school a cappella groups across the country. Schools compete in regional quarterfinals and semifinals, with the strongest advancing toward national finals. The level of talent is elite, and simply qualifying to compete is an achievement.
SOL didn’t just compete. They earned second place among nine powerhouse groups, an impressive feat considering they were one of the smallest ensembles performing.
With only 12 members, SOL somehow creates a sound that feels orchestral. There are no instruments, no backing tracks. Just voices.
And that’s exactly what makes it so remarkable.
“The biggest challenge without instruments is that we need to rely on each other and our voices,” said Bowerman, a senior. “We need to learn how to sound like a trumpet, a drum, guitar and any other instruments we may need.”
SOL member Jacob Young agreed. “The biggest challenge of performing with no backing track is staying on time and the rhythm assigned to your part. If you mess up the rhythm, it can really mess up timing, which makes doing choreography along with it much harder.”
In addition to their second-place finish, SOL also received two prestigious individual awards:
Panitz credited his inspiration to former SOL beatboxer Robert Heath. “He taught me everything I learned and is genuinely one of my favorite people ever,” Panitz shared. “I try to balance technical skill with musicality by adding dynamics and matching the tone of everyone else.”
For McNutt, the recognition came as a complete surprise.
“I was actually in shock when I got that award,” she said. “It was so cool seeing something I wrote come to life. I really like the idea that music can make people feel certain things; it really is a sixth sense.”
SOL’s haunting arrangement of “Creep” by Radiohead, featuring soloist Destiny Felder, has left more than a few audience members visibly moved.
“For me, this song speaks to that inner voice we all have, the one that tells us we’re not good enough or that we don’t belong,” Felder shared. “As teenagers, I think we hear that voice louder than ever. That’s what makes this song feel so personal.”
Earlier in the season, the group received feedback encouraging them to lean further into emotional storytelling onstage. Felder, an avid theater lover who plans to pursue performing arts after graduation, took that to heart.
“One night, I decided to just let myself fully feel it,” she said. “I stopped worrying about how I looked or sounded and just let the emotion take over.”
The response caught her off guard.
“Afterward, people came up to me saying how much it affected them and made them cry. I didn’t know whether to say, ‘I’m sorry,’ or ‘You’re welcome,’” she said with a laugh. “I never expected it to have that kind of impact. But that’s the power of music: when you’re vulnerable, it gives other people permission to feel something too.”
Jacob Young called the arrangement “really interesting and cool,” adding that it’s the song he’s most excited for audiences to experience live.
While the accolades are impressive, what stands out most to members is the closeness of the group.
“The smaller, tight-knit nature of an a cappella group makes us closer and makes it feel almost like a family,” said Kathryn Rojek.
McNutt added, “I was first inspired to join SOL because of all the people in it. They are all so incredible and I never knew it would feel like such a family in the end.”
Bella Holmes noted, “The most noticeable difference between SOL and other performing ensembles is the level of teamwork required. From learning music to choreographing to carpooling, we are always relying on one another.”
For many members, SOL has been transformative.
“When I first joined, I was more quiet and reluctant to be myself,” said Isla Crawford. “Now I feel like I can be authentic. SOL has brought me some of my closest friends.”
Bowerman put it simply: “I fully believe that I would not be half the artist that I am if I had never joined SOL.”
Earlier this season, SOL participated in an intensive eight-hour workshop with Deke Sharon, widely known as the “father of contemporary a cappella,” producer of “Pitch Perfect” and founder of ICHSA. The workshop allowed the group to refine two of their competition pieces alongside other high school ensembles and receive professional critique before their quarterfinal performance.
That dedication showed.
“It feels surreal,” Bowerman said of advancing to semifinals. “For my last high school a cappella experience, to have the opportunity to go to semifinals again is amazing.”
Holmes said, “I am beyond excited. I truly feel that we have earned it.”
The community will have a chance to see this award-winning group perform at home. SOL will take the stage at the SPHS auditorium on April 17 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, available at the door.
With just 12 voices, SOL creates something far bigger than sound; they create connection, vulnerability and power.
And this year’s “new” group? They’re just getting started. Keep up with their events on Instagram at @sol_acapella.
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