ORIGIN

The idea for SHARP All Male A Cappella came to co-founders Danny Murcia and Zach Vargas-Sullivan in mid-September of 2011. Outside of Wallach Hall on Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus, the two sophomores decided it was time to part ways with their then a cappella group to develop something new that would fill a musical void at Columbia. They had no specific plan, but established two basic principles that would guide this new group: 1) it would be all male and 2) it would be stellar, giving all of the a cappella groups at Columbia a run for their money. They planned on accomplishing this by performing a wide range of musical genres, not limiting SHARP to one or two as had been done by other Columbia groups in the past.

 

But apart from this lofty set of goals, they didn’t really have much of anything: a name nor a group of singers. But with the dream in mind, they got to work, reaching out to friends and untapped: asking them to come along for the ride. Within the first week, the then-unnamed ensemble had recruited six more guys: Justin Cacciatore, Geoff Hahn, Jesse Lou, Edwin Mejia, Cole Rainey, and Danny Tejera. Now eight members strong, it was go time. These eight guys came together on October 16, 2011 in a cramped Hartley Hall residence lounge for their first meeting. By this time, and with a lot of thought, Danny M. developed a name that not only had a musical implication, but also, and more importantly, spoke to the aesthetic the group sought to achieve. From its beginning, SHARP aimed to be a group of clean cut, professional gentlemen who would croon and walk with confidence both on and off Columbia’s campus. It is an ideal that the Men of SHARP have come to embody: Sexy. Smooth. Soulful. Sharp.

 

Soon after the group’s first official meeting, the performance opportunities slowly started rolling in, starting with the Chinese Student Club’s Night Market: a performance set up by SHARP’s first Business Manager Jesse Lou. It was the group’s first performance and a lot was riding on the group’s ability to deliver publicly for the first time following the hype that surrounded it from its inception. And to add to the group’s nervous energy, this performance was outside on a chilly evening not even two weeks after the group met for the first time. But somehow, Ne-Yo’s “Sexy Love” brought the house down and SHARP immediately became an a cappella force to be reckoned with.

 

Nothing, however, braced the Men of SHARP for their second active semester. The spring brought with it an immense amount of performance opportunities and five new members: Peter Calello, John Kenney, Pin-Joe Ko, Josh Liebman and Dhari Noel. Until they brought their new energy, ideas, and musicianship to the group, SHARP didn’t know what it was missing. The original group was now complete and after a few months of performances throughout Manhattan, the group was ready for its official debut performance.

 

The 13-member group performed for a packed house in John Jay Lounge on May 1, 2012, drawing an audience of nearly 300 attendees: a turnout of ridiculous proportions for Columbia a cappella. With only 120 chairs available, the audience barely packed into the lounge: standing, sitting, and squatting in the aisles. It was an overwhelming experience for every member of the group, and the founders couldn’t have been more thankful to the guys who helped make SHARP a reality. In SHARP’s first official program, the founders wrote the following:

 

We’ve spent so much time rehearsing and performing together that SHARP has turned into more than a singing group; the 14 Men of SHARP have developed a brotherhood that will last all of us a lifetime. We consider it an honor to call these guys our brothers and hope you all appreciate the hard work they have put into making SHARP what it is today. The success of this group depends on how much they put into each rehearsal, how much they care about this group’s future, and how much they are willing to push themselves. We could not be fuller of pride and respect for the incredible gentlemen who have helped us make SHARP a reality and success.

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MOVING FORWARD

 

SHARP began as a team effort and today the team effort is still going strong. These guys have come together to build a community grounded in hard work, mutual respect, creativity, and musical spirit. But that’s what it means to be a Man of SHARP. It is a group that celebrates inclusivity and creates an environment where members can truly be themselves. We are incredibly proud of that.

 

The Men of SHARP look forward to the group’s continued growth and appreciate you being here supporting them every step of the way.

 

Sexy.

 

Smooth.

 

Soulful.

 

SHARP.

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