Amid the academic rigors of Michigan State University, two singing sisters from Clarkston have found solace making sweet melodies, harmonies and everything else comprising the pop music standards of the day with the Capital Green A Capella group.
‘I use it as a time to relax. With the stresses of class, it’s nice to go to rehearsal and sing,? said Kristi Lewandowski, the older of the two sisters.
A junior communication major focusing on public relations, Kristi’s sentiments are echoed by her younger sister Karin.
?(Singing) keeps me on track. It allows me to use the other side of my brain,? said Karin, a freshman, who is majoring in human biology.
Both girls performed in school musicals at Notre Dame Prep while growing up in Clarkston, but the world of a capella was foreign territory until Kristi touched down on MSU’s campus.
‘I didn’t know the whole a capella scene existed until the second semester of my freshman year,? Kristi said.
Having spent nearly three years with Capital Green, Kristi sings first soprano and has several solos.
Karin, who sings mezzo, was introduced to the world of a capella singing by her sister. Both siblings value the time spent with one another during the rehearsals and competitions the group attends.
Along with the 12 other singers of Capital Green, the sisters recreate the pop charts without need for instruments.
‘With a capella the goal is to make the group put our voices together and sound as close as possible to the background of the pop songs chosen,? Krisi said.
Currently in the group’s repertoire is Michelle Branch’s ‘Are You Happy Now??, Gavin DeGraw’s ‘Chariot,? and ‘Over My Head (Cable Car)? by The Fray.
‘You are replicating instruments rather than voices,? Karin said.
The songs are chosen by a committee and from there are arranged for the a capella format. Kristi estimates half of the group’s arrangements are done in-house, while the rest are purchased from professionals.
‘At the beginning of each semester we tell members to think about what songs they would like to sing. Then we vote on the songs,? Kristi said.
Capital Green’s execution of those arrangements have earned them high regard. On Jan. 14, the group placed second in the ICCA Midwest Divisional, securing a berth in the Midwest Regional Finals on March 25 in Madison, Wisc.
Last year, Capital Green finished second in the divisionals as well and managed a fifth place finish at regionals. Kristi hopes that with her sister in tow and another year of experience for the group as a whole, Capital Green will continue singing right into nationals.