A Dive into the All Female A CapellaGroup: the Rhapso-Ds

The Rhapso-Ds, Deerfield Academy’s Soprano and Alto a cappella group, have finished auditions and are now preparing for their upcoming Fall Koch Friday Concert performance. Every year, many singers across the student body audition for Rhapso-Ds, but that comes with a complex cutting process. Co-leader of Rhapso-Ds Clementine Beanland ’26 explained the difficulties of the audition process, and how her and co-leader Ilsa Borgen ’26 combated these challenges. “If you are a Soprano, and you don’t sing a Soprano song, it is hard to know if you are going to hold your weight as a Soprano,” she said. In these cases, the leaders would give the singer a callback, to “get more of a feel for their voice,” Beanland continued. In the audition process, Beanland and Borgen looked for those who could fill the positions as Altos and Sopranos. Beanland emphasized how important commitment is to being a part of Rhapso-Ds: “We had so many girls audition, and it came down to who would be able to put in full-time. If you are not going to pull your weight, there are other people that will.” Returning members of Rhapso-Ds are still required to audition. Nevertheless, Beanland mentioned that prior experience in the group guarantees a spot: “If you’ve been in Rhapso-Ds for three years, you deserve to be in the group,” she said. Bealand explained that returning members have demonstrated commitment to Rhapso-Ds over the years and have put in a lot of effort to remain in the group. During rehearsals after every Tuesday and Thursday night, members work to perfect their harmonies. Each rehearsal starts with a vocal warmup and then singers are broken off into groups so everyone can practice their piece in sections. After reviewing their individual parts, they come back together to rehearse in unison. When listening back to their singing, the singers “work on their blend and do finishing touches,” Beanland said. Beanland also commented on the environment she hopes to cultivate within the Rhapso-Ds. As a leader, Beanland stressed the importance of fostering an authentic and loving bond within the group. She mentioned that “in past years, there has been, sort of like, a toxic environment within the Rhapso-Ds,” adding that she feels like “not everyone has come to the table and been willing to come throughout the season ready to learn and sing.” However, Beanland and Borgen both emphasized the importance of being your authentic self while always having fun. This year’s environment and dynamic, specifically, has changed for the better. “I think this year, especially, people are really excited… [It feels] less like me being your leader and more like your peers that are here to help,” she said. This positive environment within the group has helped combat the negativity of competitiveness. The inclusive nature of the group allows the members to truly bond with each other and influence their performances. “We really do try to make Rhapso-Ds a democracy,” Beanland explained. Beanland and the members have many goals for the future of the Rhapso-Ds and future performances. One important one, Beanland said, is “trying to get a lot of songs done this year and really put in the work and effort.” As the Rhapso-Ds is a small sized group, singing and learning new songs as an a cappella presents challenges. Each singer must understand their part clearly to allow efficient rehearsals. One of the main focuses is to “learn how to transition from one song to another,” Beanland said. “When you start bare and start new, it is challenging to see if you have a really hard song.” Looking to the year ahead, Rhapso-Ds will be performing their songs during All School Meetings, a capella fest, and school events.