A Capella Groups End Year With Spam Jam

Spam Jam is their final performance of the 2017-2018 school year, featuring performances from Harmonaires, Triple Trio, and Spirens, all in a year-end culmination of blood, sweat, and tears.

With set lists highlighting all singers of all ages, freshman to senior, the singing groups have displayed immense passion and intensity their performances. “It’s kind of the end-all-be-all for us. Ever since September, we’ve been talking about how this will be good for Spam Jam, or that needs to be cut, etc.,” stated Spiren Maddie Mulligan ’19. Graley Turner ’20 of Triple Trio displayed similar sentiments, describing the event as an  “ode to the hard work everyone has been putting in all year.” She highlighted the higher stakes of Spam Jam: “This is my first year in a capella at Hopkins and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I want to do a great job with my solo at Spam Jam to celebrate a successful first year!”

The excitement surrounding Spam Jam has increased over time. When it began, Spam Jam was a smaller gathering that occurred in Heath, but has grown into one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. “It has definitely ramped up from when I was a freshman,” said current Triple Trio co-head Georgia Doolittle ’18. “As a senior, it fills me with pride to see how Hopkins a capella has changed and how Caitlin [Gilroy ’18] and I have left our mark on the group.” Joey Rebeschi ’21, a newly initiated Harmonaire, said that “even though it is my first year in Harmonaires, I have already experienced the pride and exertion we put into making this great, and I feel proud to be a part of the enhancing of a capella over the years.”

For the a capella groups, it is of the utmost importance to “go out with a bang,” said Doolittle. Future head of Harmonaires Sam Jenkins ’19 said; “It’s heartbreaking when I have to think about singing without the seniors next year. I just hope that I can be as good of a leader as they were.” McKinley Palmieri ’20 commented on the tight-knit nature of Spirens, “This year we are only losing one senior, but it feels like we’re losing so many. Erin [Knox ’18] is our fearless leader and has definitely contributed to how close we all are.”

For the Hopkins community, Spam Jam is a chance to kick back, relax, and enjoy good music with friends or family. For a capella groups, it acts as something of a reunion for current and past Hopkins a capella singers. Alumni of the Spirens, Triple Trio and Harmonaires started dropping by The Hill as early as mid-May to watch their old a capella groups prepare for the big event. Liza Kottler ’17, a  previous head of Triple Trio said, “There is nothing like coming back to campus and listening to your old a capella pals. It fills me with pride to see how they have grown.. I cannot wait to see them kill it in June!”