USC's male a capella group receives standing ovationSoundCheck, USC's male a capella group, was scheduled to perform for hit singer, songwriter and producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds at his VIP reception Thursday evening.
Babyface, who was scheduled to receive the Key to the City, was unable to make it to the event due to a flight delay.
However, SoundCheck still performed, singing Babyface's "I'll Make Love to You," to a crowd that did not rest until the group agreed to do an encore.
After the show, SoundCheck President Mike Beck, a third-year business student, said that it was SoundCheck's "best performance so far."
Though the club did not get to perform for Babyface as planned, members were given another opportunity. Babyface, who will perform at USC's Koger Center for the Arts tonight, asked the SoundCheck members to attend a master class he is teaching, a workshop that focuses on the music industry. The group has also been invited to tonight's show.
Alex Pham, a second-year international business student, and the secretary for SoundCheck, was the driving force for arranging SoundCheck's VIP performance. By utilizing connections with Karen Alexander in the School of Music and having a collection of YouTube videos that showcased the group's talent, Pham was able to set up the event.
New members Zach Gould, Benjamin Peele and Ian Jusell recently joined the group. Beck said that they have been great assets to SoundCheck and have "added a lot."
Beck wanted to recognize the level of commitment and hard work that the members of SoundCheck put into the group.
"They've really made things happen these past couple of semesters," he said.
Beck attributes much of the group's success to how hard the guys work.
"SoundCheck would be nothing without them," Beck said.
Beck said that because they have done so many performances in the past, performing in front of someone with a musical résumé like Babyface's will not perturb SoundCheck.
"The nerves are kind of dissipated," Beck said.