If you drive by Goodwin Hall on Sunday evenings, you may hear sounds that take you back to the days of the barbershop quartets.
These sounds are actually coming from Auburn's very own AU Cappella.
The all-male group was founded by Steven Hirner, vocal major and president of AU Cappella.
Hirner said he thought of the idea his sophomore year and talked to the department chair and choir director about forming an a cappella group.
They told him chances of achieving faculty support right away were slim, and he should start on the student end first.
They also said if the group becomes successful, it may eventually become an official ensemble of the department.
"So that's our ultimate goal is to get to that point," Hirner said.
Currently, the group has 14 members and is open for anyone to join.
Hirner said almost all majors across campus are represented, including vocal music education, instrumental music education, chemical engineers and business majors.
"It's not this weird, close-knit group of music majors," Hirner said.
James Rogers, vice president of AU Cappella, said auditions are held at the beginning of each semester.
"They have a prepared piece, we find their range and then we put them all together and check blends," Rogers said. "Then, depending on who's all there, we just kind of decide on what's best for the group."
Hirner said being able to show up and commit the time is the most important thing.
"Regardless of talent, the biggest thing is coming to rehearsal," Hirner said. "You don't have to be a music major."
AU Cappella rehearses as a group every Sunday for two hours, and each section practices one additional hour per week.
Currently, the group is hard at work preparing for their debut.
Hirner said the first half of the show will focus on serious a cappella literature, including a piece called Samford Tower, while the second half will be more relaxed.
"We are closing with a pretty popular song here on campus," Hirner said.
Hirner said he didn't want to disclose the song, keeping it a surprise.
Final music selection is done by Hirner and Rogers.
Hirner said the floor is open for any suggestions from members and that he and Rogers don't want to be the only ones deciding the repertoire.
Hirner said he and Rogers look at the pieces, determine the difficulty and see if the pieces are possible to pull off.
"Then we eventually make the final decision, but on the front end the whole group gets input," Hirner said.
Jimmy Kaczmarek, first tenor and chemical engineering major, is excited for the Renaissance Motet piece the group will be performing in the first half of their show.
"Basically (it is) just a fancy way of saying it's an a cappella piece that was written way back in the Renaissance period," Kaczmarek said. "It is interesting in that it has a lot of weird voice blendings, but it's really cool."
Kaczmarek, while not a music major, has been singing his entire life, participating in church choir and holding leads in musicals.
"This is such a great outlet for me," Kaczmarek said. "I love to perform."
AU Cappella also uses their talents for community outreach.
Later in April, the group will be performing at the Wright's Mill Elementary after-school program, and they are also coordinating with the Boys and Girls Clubs.
AU Cappella's debut show will be April 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Goodwin Hall. Admission is free. AU Cappella is sponsored by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, which supplies the group money to purchase uniforms and music.
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