As summer nears its end, it’s refreshing to reflect on the exceptional Spring Concert by The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Premier Men’s A Cappella group The Madhatters and the work this group puts into their performances as we anticipate their Fall performance.
The Spring Concert, held April 26, 2024, at the Wisconsin Masonic Center, was a wonderful performance housing 900 audience members.
MadHatter Will Brzycki gave insight into this special performance.
“This performance was unique, as it was a single, extensive show, while previous concerts consisted of two smaller performances in one day,” Brzycki told The Daily Cardinal.
The downsize in performances led to an upscale of the audience. This speaks to the support The MadHatters garner from the community, Brzycki said.
The group also showcased entertaining videos during their spring concert. The audience viewed a well-documented vlog of The MadHatters’ trip to Nashville, Tennessee, as well as a “The Office”-inspired skit centered around the group's practices. These creative works added an extra layer of excitement to their performance.
The commitment required to be a MadHatter is substantial. Rehearsals are held three times a week for two hours each, increasing to three hours as each concert approaches. The group also holds gigs, interviews and social media campaigns to generate excitement for their shows.
“[We’re] pretty strict on showing up to rehearsal,” Brzycki said.
The rehearsal process is carefully structured. Initially, the group breaks into voice parts to learn their sections, then reconvenes to integrate them. “We don’t even figure out soloists until we have the whole song learned,” Brzycki said.
The setlist featured a diverse range of songs selected through a collaborative process.
“We keep most songs around for two semesters, with about five to seven new ones each semester,” Brzycki said. The final choices are made by narrowing down a playlist of ideas and putting them to a vote.
After months of hard work, The MadHatters’ spring concert was a success.
Some songs held more challenges than others. Brzycki said nerves were high surrounding “Accidentally in Love,” soloed by Will Bruggeman, due to its recent addition to the setlist, and the added pressure of choreography in pieces like “Dancing in the Moonlight,” soloed by Christian Carter. The amazing turnout in light of these challenges only attests to the commitment and talent of The Madhatters.
Songs like “I Feel Good,” soloed by Jonah Morioka, and “Brown Eyed Girl,” soloed by Alex Schmitz, were crowd favorites, bringing the performers and audience joy. The MadHatters’ “Senior Song,” sung by seniors Asa Rao, Nathan Nguyen and Morioka and Emmett Milligan, elicited a heavy feeling in the concert hall.
“It was a good concert to send the seniors off with. We were all backstage crying afterward because it was such an emotional show. That was pretty rewarding,” Bryzcki said.
Looking ahead, the group is focused on growth and expansion. Brzycki said the Spring concert attracted the largest audience in over a decade. The group has ambitious plans for the future, including more gigs and increased involvement in the community.
The MadHatters will perform their Fall Concert Nov. 23 at Shannon Hall. This upcoming show promises new music and an unforgettable a cappella experience.
