An Aca-Revival of a Jewish Musical Event
The Northeast Hillels A Cappella Tournament (NHAC), a student-inspired and led initiative, came together through the ideas and hard work of a group of dedicated students. Read on to learn more about Dani Schwartz, whose idea for a Jewish college a cappella tournament started it all. This is the first part in a two-part series about NHAC student leaders.
From chanted prayers to summer camp song sessions to improvised harmonies in niggunim (the wordless melodies often sung as part of services), music is an integral part of Jewish culture.
For Dani Schwartz, a senior at the University of Maryland, competing with other Jewish college a cappella groups is an exciting and meaningful expression of Jewish music culture. That’s why, along with her fellow student leaders, she’s helped organize the Northeast Hillels A Cappella Competition, a new initiative presented by Hillel International.
Dani joined Rak Shalom, one of University of Maryland’s two Jewish a cappella groups, during her freshman year in 2021. Campus communities were finding their feet again after the closures and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the cancellation of the Kol HaOlam National Collegiate Jewish A Cappella Competition.
“The older students [in Rak Shalom] spoke so highly of the experience they had competing with other Jewish a cappella groups,” Dani said. “They got to sing together, and of course that was really fun, but there was also the social aspect: spending Shabbat with the other groups, getting to know them, and participating in something they were all interested in.”
Dani first began considering a plan to launch a new Jewish college a cappella competition during her sophomore year, when she was serving as president of Rak Shalom, floating the idea to a few friends and getting their input. It wasn’t until she raised the subject with her father that things started really moving.
“He mentioned that Adam [Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International] goes to the same shul as our family,” she said. “I’d known Adam as a person, but I never really made the connection with his role until my dad brought it up and suggested talking to Adam about it.”
Knowing that Adam was a member of his own community a cappella group and passionate about Jewish music, Dani approached him the next time she was home for Shabbat.
“I just went up to him and said, ‘Hi, I’m Dani, I’m part of Rak Shalom,’” she recalled. “It was our first in-depth conversation, but when I brought up the idea of bringing back a competition and talking to Hillel about what that might look like, he was so excited. He was so, so supportive.”
That first conversation kicked off many more, and soon, planning for the first-ever Northeast Hillels A Cappella Competition was underway. With support from Hillel International staff and collaboration with University of Maryland Hillel, Dani and other student leaders planned a weekend that would celebrate Jewish music and the community it brings together.
Six student groups will spend a weekend together in prayer, community, celebration, and connection. “We knew it would involve more preparation to do a full Shabbat weekend rather than just an evening’s competition, but when I think about what’s meaningful about being part of an event like this, it’s really about the Shabbat and the community aspects,” Dani said. “So I thought, let’s do it.”
While this is Dani’s senior year, she has high hopes for the future of the competition. “I would love to see it grow to include more than just the northeastern part of the country,” she said. “It’s something that every Jewish a cappella group wants to be a part of, because it’s such an amazing experience,” she said.
And what about winning?
“Well,” Dani said, all smiles, “That definitely would be a plus!”
Best of aca-luck to all the competing groups — may all your pitches be perfect!