THE ART OF ACAPELLA

De Novo

A FRESH START FOR XAVERIAN A CAPELLA

By Jaden Lim (G11)

In the vast sea of songs artificially enhanced with today’s technologies, the natural and organic human voice finds its place in the art of a cappella.

To revive its craft, people have formed ensembles composed of talented singers who have honed their abilities enough to create the entire structure of songs solely with the voice. The world famous quintet Pentatonix is a testament to the capabilities of the voice, but so is De Novo, the homegrown Xaverian a cappella group that has displayed the musical potential of young Xaverian student-singers.

The Founding of De Novo

The Xavier School Glee Club closed its doors in 2015 after the unfortunate passing of Mr. San Gabriel, the club moderator. Choirs for school events and Voice of the Youth Concert (VOYC), a committee that organizes a singing ensemble to perform for the school fair variety show, then became the only opportunities for studentsingers to exhibit their vocal talent. Mr. Odoemene, the 2015 VOYC Moderator, took on the challenge of creating a new, full-time singing ensemble at the start of 2016. Having gathered three students from VOYC, he held auditions right away in February to help the small group grow. From three students and a teacher, a family of nine came to be. Forming a new group meant an eager start, with their first practice session taking place in May in preparation for the XS60 faculty lunch in June.

Legato: De Novo’s First Concert

Although De Novo may have seemed like an amateur ensemble due to its sudden emergence, it was able to perform 30 times from June 2016 to July 2017. To celebrate its success in gaining support in and out of the Xavier School community, it held Legato, the very first concert organized by De Novo alone. It underwent a tight schedule, foreseeing the success of the event through advertising, selling tickets, searching for an excellent sound system, and, of course, perfecting many songs and medleys that the members arranged by themselves.

DE NOVO MEMBERS PERFORMING ONSTAGE Come show night, the fruits of their labor showed itself through the full house and their applause throughout the 18 song numbers. Justin Lim (XS ‘18), one of the performers, felt very satisfied with how the concert transpired; “I’d say our performance went surprisingly well. The concert ran as well as we hoped it would, and there weren’t many problems with our vocals. The sound system we found was also really good. It amplified our voices really well, so I think that really helped our audience enjoy the show.” Legato ended as a successful chapter for De Novo, but something in 10 days caused them to remain focused. They, for the first time, would see themselves in Singapore for an international competition.

The 2017 Asia-Pacific Arts Festival

Another avenue to showcase De Novo’s talents was laid out by the Student Activity Programs (SAP) Office through an invitation to the 2017 Asia-Pacific Arts Festival. Not wishing to waste the opportunity to join a formal competition, De Novo applied as

a contestant. Participating, however, added to their busy and grueling schedule. While preparing their song numbers for the concert, they also intensively rehearsed their chosen piece for the festival: the OPM classic “Anak” by Freddie Aguilar. Starting May, Mr. Odoemene would meticulously pinpoint each error and polish their output to perfection. They struggled often with correcting their mistakes, but the support from one another helped them leap over hurdles.

With the two months of rigorous training over, they packed their bags and departed for Singapore.

After having a few final practices in their hotel rooms, they approached the stage, shaking off all feelings of anxiety. At the signal of Mr. Odoemene, their conductor, they were ready to unleash their musical talent and prowess to everyone watching. Emerging from the mouths of these Grade 11 and 12 students were resonant and harmonious voices working hand-in-hand to paint a melancholic sound. Their rich and choral sound drew the audience in an atmosphere that solemnly conveyed the remorse Aguilar sought to express through his work. Their performance took the spotlight as De Novo won the title “Festival Champion” of the 2017 Asia Pacific-Arts Festival. More than each member’s individual talent, their strong commitment to the art of a cappella undoubtedly brought them to great heights.

Continuing De Novo’s Legacy

After taking home the championship title and making a legacy for their ensemble, De Novo returned to its routine procedures of rehearsing for different events. Whether it was school programs, proms, or even private parties, the group never failed to serenade the audience. Some of its most popular numbers being “How Deep is Your Love,” “She Was Mine,” and “One Day More.” While the original members have graduated, a handful of young auditionees have been welcomed into the De Novo family and are now performing both in and out of Xavier School. Just like their seniors, they quickly became adept singers, and even managed to organize Viaggio, the club’s very first virtual concert in February 2021. The pandemic shut down their opportunity to compete abroad in December 2020, but their unwavering discipline in the art of a cappella brings hope in achieving whatever future endeavors they set.

De Novo: A Family Bonded Through Music

Although being in De Novo may seem taxing, each member mentioned that he felt a sense of companionship that helped the members endure the challenges a cappella brings. Many cited the practice sessions and performances because these have always been memorable to them. Being able to cooperate and harmonize independent voices, then unleash what they have trained much for on stage was a special feeling that strengthened their bonds with one another. Mr. Odoemene shares this sentiment as he considers De Novo a home, “‘Pag nasa bahay ka, comfortable ka, you feel accepted, at mahal ka.” He highlights the camaraderie they have formed with one another through their shared passion for singing. Even though it is hard and tiresome to train and come up with a good show, the homey feeling always keeps their attention away from the stress, and enables them to show the gift of song Xaverians possess.