ABBA, Aretha Franklin and TikTok hits: this is what student pop choir EPIC sounds like

At student pop choir EPIC, they don’t sing stiff classics, but Prince, ABBA and Aretha Franklin. During the dress rehearsal for Night University, their enthusiasm is unmistakable, and it quickly becomes clear that music is more than just a hobby for this group: ‘Here, I can be my creative self.’

‘Let’s start again,’ says conductor Marjon Dries (36) when the twenty-member choir doesn’t quite begin in unison on the opening line of Prince’s hit ‘Purple Rain’. Tonight is the final rehearsal for student pop choir EPIC’s performance at Night University. That event is tomorrow, so their repertoire needs to be perfect.

Dries has been the choir’s conductor for over thirteen years and has a huge passion for the craft. You can see it in the energetic way she leads the group. With animated gestures and occasional singing, she guides them through pop songs like Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’, the Disney classic ‘Into the Unknown’ from the animated film Frozen 2, and an all-out ABBA medley.

Student pop choir EPIC doesn’t sing the standard, somewhat dusty songs you might expect from a traditional choir. Their repertoire is made up of pop hits and songs you hear on TikTok. Still, just like in a classical choir, the songs are performed in harmony and under the direction of a conductor.

EPIC’s members stand in a semicircle and are arranged by vocal group: all the way to the right are the mezzos (medium-high female voices), next to them the sopranos (high), and on the far left the altos (low). The men, clearly outnumbered, form one vocal group and stand between the sopranos and altos.

Creative outlet

One of the three men present tonight is Andy Huynh (20). He only joined EPIC in September, but he’s already found that the choir is his creative outlet: ‘I study econometrics, where I’m surrounded by nerds and always have to think in boxes. Here, I can just be my creative self.’

For soprano Namara (24) as well, the student pop choir is the perfect way to unwind after a day of work. She’s been a member of the association for nine years and, like many other members, mainly stuck around for the fun. Around twenty percent of the group are still actual students. But all the longtime members will soon be leaving EPIC and starting their own pop choir to make room for a new generation.

A large part of the former members will still return for EPIC’s events, because they are, according to most, unforgettable. Secretary Lars Koops (24) is especially fond of the annual final concert. It’s when the entire repertoire is performed – something the choir works toward from the beginning of the year.

Karaoke

Still, it’s mainly the rehearsals that stick with people, says Koops: ‘A month before the final concert, we usually have a full rehearsal day, followed by a night out.’ Whether the voices survive that is another question. Karaoke – what else for a student pop choir – is always the activity of choice on those nights out.

Brazilian member Thais Rebello (32) agrees. She only joined in March, but the karaoke night with EPIC is already one of her favorite memories: ‘One time we were on stage with the whole group and sang songs from our repertoire without even looking at the lyrics. Including all the key changes and vocal effects we usually use. We got thunderous applause afterward!’

Although a karaoke night with EPIC might not always sound pitch-perfect – if we’re to believe Koops. ‘But that’s okay,’ says Huynh. ‘Because if you sing really well, you’re actually not supposed to do karaoke.’

Final notes

Once the full repertoire has been rehearsed, the choir briefly discusses the performance plan for Night University with their conductor. Marjon Dries won’t be present for half the event, so they’ll start with the songs they can best perform without her guidance.

After two more rounds of ‘This World Is Our Home’ by Dutch singer Douwe Bob, the final rehearsal wraps up. While Dries rushes off to her next rehearsal – she conducts several choirs – the members begin setting out iced tea, cookies, and other snacks. While a group of sopranos and mezzos continue practicing around the grand piano, others have already started on the treats.