|
The aka'Fellas were featured in the March 2010 edition of Dickinson State University's Music Review. To seet he full issue visit http://www.dickinsonstate.edu/MusicReview/
_____________________________________
The aka'Fellas are a high energy acapella men’s quintet that has been entertaining area audiences since 2005. Their most recent and extremely successful concert was organized to help benefit Trinity Fine Arts, which is member Bradley Auch's H.S. alma mater.
And since we're mentioning names, lets introduce the members of aka’Fellas, all of whom either came from or are currently a part of the Dickinson State University music department. They are Conway Heupel, Ryan Whipple, Sam Mehan, Lance Rustand and Bradly Auch.
“This latest concert had a fantastic look and sound to it due to a full range of sound equipment and a fully qued lighting system" said Lance Rustand, a DSU music major who graduated in 2004.
The aka’Fellas have made many transitions since their inception in 2005 and they continue to evolve and progress through their careers and life.
“It has really been interesting to know and experience everyone as we continue to grow up,” said Rustand.
The group has performed at a variety of events over the years, including two wedding receptions in which Brad Auch and alum Daniel Clayton ‘08, a past member who is currently in a graduate program in Oregon, happened to be the groom. The group now includes two music teachers (Heupel and Whipple), a retail manager (Auch), an insurance broker (Rustand), and a current DSU student (Mehan).
“It's odd to look at how we have all come to be partners in this blossoming endeavor,” said Rustand. “We are often told that we should leave the area in order to "make it big". But this group has one common agreement and that is that we are making it and we're making it right here. All of us feel that we are bringing the joy of music to the area. We enlighten people with a different sound and it is a sound that people don't expect us to be as good at as we are. We all have been asked where are you guys from again? like we’re not expected to be from this area.”
The aka’Fellas love humor and there is never a shortage of fun at their concerts.
“Our rehearsals are fun, our concerts are fun and we’re happiest when the audience is having fun,” said Whipple. “And the aka’Fellas gives us a chance to go out and perform for other people even though we aren't in college anymore. We all miss the good ole' days at DSU and many of us, whether teaching music or in other lines of work, would lose touch with what we truly enjoy were it not for the aka’Fellas.
For more info about the aka’Fellas, call (701) 290-5998 or email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
