Manhattan University Manhattones.
@MUMANHATTONES / INSTAGRAM
Flynn Myers, Contributor
On Jan. 20 in Thomas Hall, the Manhattan University acapella club, Manhattones, held their spring 2025 auditions. The auditions for the group are traditionally held semesterly, with the spring auditions usually aiming to fill in any leftover spots. As they now prepare for their upcoming performances, such as their spring concert on April 27, the group has hope for what’s to come.
For their spring auditions, Landon Scofield, senior adolescent education/English major and president of Manhattones, discussed his thoughts on the turnout for these auditions. He emphasized that since they are technically in the middle of a school year, less people tend to audition due to prior commitments. Regardless, the group is still having a successful season due to their fall tryouts.
“We didn’t get a lot of auditions this semester unfortunately, but that is the norm for spring tryouts,” Scofield said. “Most people when the spring semester rolls around are already committed to the clubs they want to be a part of so there are definitely less auditions in the spring. But in the fall we had a lot of talent auditions and normally see a lot of people there.”
As for future events, the Manhattones continue their preparation for their spring concerts, and other outings. Isabella Kola, senior biochemistry major and vice president of the club, discussed the regular schedule that the group follows as well as how excited she is to see what the spring semester has in store for the group.
“We have group rehearsals and sectional rehearsals once every week,” Kola said. “In previous semesters, outside of practicing singing we go on little trips out to the city like the San Gennaro Festival. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities for outings this spring as the weather gets nicer. In terms of music gigs, everything we do is in preparation for the Spring concert in April which we are all super looking forward to. Plus, little gigs here and there with basketball games to sing the national anthem, singing for school ceremonies, etc.”
Since they will not be holding any further auditions for the spring, the next audition season will be held in the fall for anyone that is interested. John Deljuidice, a junior computer engineering major and secretary of the Manhattones, discussed what new things he would like to see implemented for the Manhattones group, such as funding and being granted official club status.
“Well, we have a lot of members who are seniors currently, so the first hope is that we have enough interest coming into next year that we have a full group,” Deljudice said. “I hope we just keep going. We’d like to get official recognized club status, which I don’t think we have yet, so that we can have a budget that would improve the amount of stuff we can do. But right now, we keep the interest up and keeping everybody happy and sounding good.”