New Group Brings A Cappella Notes to UWM

Eighteen voices merged into one singing “Flesh and Bone,” “Nina Cried Power” and “Stone Cold.” Public Hearing is currently the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s only a cappella group, and it was created in February 2022 by students River Rommel and Tyler Grant. Rhythmic was UWM’s most recent a cappella group that dispersed in 2019. Grant and Rommel held auditions the following month. Sixteen members joined the group including Bella Brundage, Jasmine Cannon, Ella Schneider and Annabelle Guss.

Despite Public Hearing being a year old, they have had immense success such as debuting and opening for The Whiffenpoofs, Yale’s a cappella group and the oldest in the United States. Public Hearing also frequents Port Washington High School as musical guests hoping to inspire high schoolers to pursue a cappella at the collegiate level. Additionally, Public Hearing has competed in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella quarterfinals and semifinals. They placed first at the ICCA quarterfinals at the University of Wisconsin on Feb. 11. With one month apart, the ICCA semifinals were held at the Pabst Theatre on March 26. A new era for Public Hearing commenced after the end of semifinals in which they did not qualify for finals at New York City.

Bella Brundage is a second-year student from Butler, Wis. She is currently Public Hearing’s music manager where she assigns music roles in the group. Her vocal range is under three octaves, from about a D/E3 to a C6. She also plays piano and composes music in her free time.

“My favorite performance that we’ve had so far has to be performing at the ICCA Quarterfinals in Madison this past January,” said Brundage. “I remember the insane applause at the end of our set and having to hold back shrieks of excitement and the rush of happy tears that I got. I will never forget that moment.”

Public Hearing was the only group to receive a standing ovation at the ICCA quarterfinals. Family members and friends drove hours to Madison to support. Members were proud of their accomplishments. Schneider is a second-year student studying film from Richfield, Wis.

“We had to choreograph dances in three weeks,” said Schneider. “When we won, I was shocked, and I started sobbing immediately. It was surreal because we accomplished this as a family.”

Jasmine Cannon is a freshman majoring in Community Engagement and Education. Originally from Saukville, Wis., Cannon discovered a cappella when she was in elementary school. Grant and Rommel went to a high school a cappella performance at Port Washington, where Cannon sang. After performing, the three of them talked about creating an a cappella group at UWM. Cannon auditioned in Sep. 2023 and was accepted.

“I like the community built into a cappella,” said Cannon. “You walk in having one common interest with other members, and it’s good to make friends. The Whiffenpoofs are incredible people, and I love them. When we spent time after our performances, we realized we’re all college kids.”

Annabelle Guss, a third year double-majoring in sociology and music with a focus in vocal performance, is a student officer and social media coordinator for Public Hearing. She sings in soprano one and has been taking voice lessons since she was 14 years old. During rehearsals, Guss can be seen taking notes, singing and suggesting to her peers how to sing certain notes.

“If I were to think about a legacy I would like to leave, I would like us to be honest with each other,” said Guss. “Your personal connections impact your sound more than you think. A lot of musicians can forget this because a cappella is competitive. We have done a great job of taking a step back and remembering that our connections are more important than competing and being perfect. When we strengthen those connections, we sound better. Unity and transparency are things I want Public Hearing to be remembered for.”