With 10 groups on campus, there’s space for every student involved to find their rhythm
This January, Cohen Auditorium hosted a highly anticipated battle. The competition? Eight of the 10 a cappella groups at Tufts fought for the title of Riff-Off champion, competing in themed singing rounds to win over the audience’s vote.
The event is just one highlight of the robust a cappella scene at Tufts, which has fostered an environment that allows its singers to shine.
Groups all have their own niche—like Full Sound, which specializes in music by Asian artists. All-femme group The Ladies of Essence focuses on music from the African diaspora and African traditions, as does the all-male S-Factor, which performs songs by Black, R&B, gospel, and hip-hop artists. Shir Appeal performs Jewish music, including modern songs by Jewish singers as well as liturgical pieces. Enchanted dubs itself Tufts’ “most magical” a cappella group, performing arrangements of songs from animated and childhood classics.
Members of the a cappella groups said their shared love for singing has given them a sense of belonging and a creative outlet at Tufts.
“The a cappella community is always fun, supportive, and encouraging,” said Wyatt Phillip, president of S-Factor. “We have this space where it’s OK to mess up and we honestly just try things. When the harmony is there, it all just sounds so satisfying and fulfilling.”
“Joining Shir Appeal was one of the best decisions I’ve made at Tufts,” said Nicole Leon, president of the group. “I found my best friends through it. It’s such a special thing to be a part of.”
Tufts Enchanted, an a cappella group that performs original arrangements of songs from animated features and childhood classics, performing at the 2026 Riff-Off. Photo: Anna Miller
There’s a place for all different kinds of singers at Tufts. One group, the Low-Keys, doesn’t even require an audition to join. Founded in 2023, it’s the newest addition to the a cappella scene on campus and has grown to nearly 30 members.
Low-Keys President Samantha Coleman said the ensemble’s experience is true to its laid-back name. “We accept all experiences. We sing what we want. It’s a really fun environment to be around other people who also really enjoy singing without the pressure to be competitive,” she said.
A cappella at Tufts has a legacy that reaches far beyond Medford. The Beelzebubs, who’ve been around since 1963 and are known as the Bubs, lent their voice to the Dalton Academy Warblers on the musical dramedy television show Glee.
Plus, Tufts helped inspire the college a cappella comedy movie series Pitch Perfect. Two former Bubs music directors, Deke Sharon, A91, and Ed Boyer, A04, were part of the vocal arranging team for all three movies in the franchise. That inspiration has now gone both ways. Tufts’ Riff-Off was inspired by a competition in Pitch Perfect, where various campus groups compete in themed singing rounds.
In front of a sold-out crowd on Jan. 30, students took turns on stage spinning a wheel to pick song categories. Then, groups burst into music that fit the themes.
One round was songs about Boston. The Jackson Jills sang Noah Kahan’s “Homesick,” the Beelzebubs sang “Sweet Caroline,” and the Amalgamates sang Chappell Roan’s “Femininomenon.”
The other categories were quirkier, including inanimate objects, songs by “nepo babies,” villain anthems, the seven deadly sins, and songs you wouldn’t listen to with your mother. Following the rounds, audience members cast their votes via an online form for the winner.
Maya Godard singing with the Jackson Jills at the 2026 Tufts Riff-Off. “People from all different realms of the school are brought together by this one thing that we have in common,” she said. Photo: Anna Miller
The oldest all-gender group at Tufts, the Amalgamates, came out victorious. President Stella Becir said the key to the group’s success is the bonds that members have created through song.
“I think it’s really special to be in a room full of your friends and you all get the same rush from a certain harmony or part of an arrangement,” she said. “There’s something so special when it all clicks together.”
Anson Kwan, a member of all-gender, all-genre group sQ!, said the variety of groups on campus makes Tufts a cappella special.
“You have all these different niches that students can tap into and enjoy,” Kwan said. “We are a very inclusive school, we do as much as possible to make everybody feel seen, feel heard. I think the number of groups and the wide diversity of groups is a nature of our Tufts culture.”
Maya Godard, a member of The Jackson Jills, shared that sentiment. “What I think is actually really cool is that Tufts a cappella groups have people who are doing all sorts of different things academically and all sorts of other extracurriculars,” Godard said. “People from all different realms of the school are brought together by this one thing that we have in common.”
Nicolai Bokavich, a first-year student in Enchanted, said the accepting nature of Tufts students has helped the a cappella community to grow to its current size. “Tufts kids aren’t afraid to show what they’re excited about and what they love to do,” he said.
“Singing is such a vulnerable thing,” Coleman said. “It’s a really easy way to bond so closely with people. I think everyone at college is kind of just looking for that safe space to connect with people. Those bonds and friendships that you always see in the movies, you’re just like, ‘I just want that to be my life,’ and I think music is a great way to build that.”
