Prepare to be serenaded by the harmonious voices of the Colgate Thirteen as they gear up for a series of captivating capella performances in Beijing. In an era dominated by digital beats and elaborate instrumentals, this ensemble offers a refreshing return to the purest form of vocal music.
Their upcoming shows promise to showcase not only their exceptional vocal talents but also the creativity and passion that have been brewing within the group. From classic tunes reimagined to original compositions, audiences can expect an immersive musical experience that transcends the ordinary. We had a quick chat with group member Ruben Malovrh Kollman, a Beijing City International School (BCIS) alumni and a current senior at Colage College majoring in Political Sicence and President of the Thirteen at Colgate College.
The group will be touring multiple cities in China and wrapping up their tour with a free show at Fun Young on Friday, Jan 17.
Now in its 83rd year, the Colgate Thirteen is one of the longest-running male collegiate a cappella groups in the United States. What does it take to be a part of this group?
[Colgate Thirteen] requires a significant time commitment from our members – 6 hours a week with 3 to 4-weekend trips and a 3-week January tour, so our audition process is pretty intense. The group does two rounds of auditions; the first part of the auditions is musical – pitch matching, how well they blend, and a prepared song. For the second part of the audition, we ask for a joke and story, which lets us get a sense of the guy’s personality and if they’ll be a good fit for us socially and in performance settings. While it’s super stressful the guys who make it out the other end are super close.
What do you love about a cappella?
I love the collaborative aspect. There’s a point when practicing a song that all the voices just click, kind of like gears sliding into place. There’s nothing quite like that feeling,
Tell us about your singing career. When did you start and is it something you always wanted to pursue in college?
I sang on and off throughout middle and high school, but singing clicked for me in 10th grade at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) with the fanatic choral director Michelle Yip. After that, and knowing that all-male capella is sort of a thing at US colleges, I was definitely looking to sing in college. I’m embarrassed to admit the amount of time I spent watching videos of the various groups at the Universities I was looking at.
How do you pick the songs for your shows? Do you go by what’s popular, or do you have a special way of choosing music that will get everyone in the audience on their feet?
We have a super long history with a ton of active alum support so we have a lot of songs in our repertoire that have been passed down from generation to generation. I believe the oldest song we currently sing was arranged by a member of the group in the 1960s. For our new songs, it comes down to what members want to sing. We don’t really look at what’s popular; we try to balance slow and fast, modern and older songs. Our most recent arrangements have ranged from Queen to the Beach Boys to Vulfpeck.
Have you ever had an audience that didn’t seem to know much about a cappella? How did you win them over?
Most audiences don’t know much about a capella—we do get a lot of Pitch Perfect comments, though. I think the way we win people over is just to be enthusiastic and excited. A capella is inherently a little goofy, but bringing good energy really makes an audience buy in.
What’s the most amazing thing that’s happened during one of your performances?
One of the craziest performances and experiences I’ve had in the group was last year when the Thirteen sang at a major league football game in the US. As we sang the US national anthem for 80,000 people in the stadium, there was a huge fighter plane flyby for the game.
You went to BCIS before attending Colgate College, but for the rest of your group, this will be their first time coming to China. What are some things they’re most excited to see and most nervous about?
The group is super excited to be in China. I’ve heard a lot of excitement about the food and seeing the Great Wall. Nerves haven’t been so bad. Some of the members haven’t been abroad yet, so being in a new place is naturally a bit stressful. I think most nerves have been related to not speaking the language and not understanding the cultural differences between the US and China. I’m excited to broaden people’s perspectives as they explore China.
What are some of your personal favorite places in Beijing that you’ll be taking the rest of the group to?
There are too many to count, and I’ve had to cut some things off our program list. Among my favorites, though, are the Lama Temple and the hutongs around it. During winter and a Beijing blue day, the temple is magical. Less culturally important, I’m also excited to take the guys bar hopping in the Gulou.
How do we purchase tickets to the performance at FAN Young?
Our Fun Young Bar performance is our last open performance of the tour and totally free. It’s a fantastic craft beer bar near Beixinqiao station. We hope to see as many people as possible!
Find it:
101, Building 23, No. 7, Banqiao South Lane (in the courtyard of the People’s Art Culture and Art Park)
板桥南巷7号23幢101（人民美术文化艺术园区院内）
Images: Ruben Malovrh Kollman
