The Princeton Day School opportunities in musical expression extend well beyond the walls of the classroom and give students a chance to discover their voice—literally— in a cappella groups. More specifically, three vocal ensembles: The Princeton Day School Madrigals, Pitch Perfect, and Y Chromatones all provide music, community, and fun. Whether you are a seasoned singer or just beginning to explore harmonies, these groups will allow you to perform, make friends, and develop as a musician, all with a reasonable time commitment. Our programs are available to all voice types and all levels of commitment. The focus of a cappella at PDS is less about finding the perfect pitch and more about creating connections among singers and the community.
A cappella is singing without instruments; it’s just voices, harmony, and fun. Pitch Perfect is for female voices, Y Chromatones, as the name implies, is for male voices. Unlike the others, Madrigals requires enrollment in a chorus class. Pitch Perfect and Y Chromatones carry no such requirement and are less intense.
Want to try out for Pitch Perfect or Y Chromatones? According to Ms. Julia Beckman, the advisor for the two ensembles, “You do some pitch matching, where we’ll play notes on the piano, and you have to match it. Then sing a minute of a song, without a backing track.” Remember, there’s no accompaniment in either of these groups, so you will need to be comfortable singing only with other voices, and tryouts reflect that.
Ms. Beckman says that being part of Pitch Perfect and Y Chromatones is a great way for your inner vocalist to be heard while still enjoying yourself. “It’s a safe space to explore your voice in a friendly atmosphere. We are not performance-driven to the point where we don’t have any fun.” She adds that a person can be involved in other activities while still engaging in one of these ensembles. Senior Krishna Agarwal has been part of Y Chromatones for four years, starting as a freshman. He was invited by an upperclassman and knew that his peer leader was part of the group. He describes Y Chromatones as “A fun place where I can relax. It’s a very chill, low-key group that’s not stressful and the people are fun to talk to.”
These groups provide leadership opportunities too, as members can shape how the ensembles rehearse, perform, and impact the community. Ms. Beckman describes initiatives in these groups to be a “joy” as students lead warm-ups, create activities, and reach out to community members to find venues in which to perform. She sees 2025-26 as a “growth year” where ideally, they will perform at the Harvest Festival, the Winter Choir Choral Concert and at events outside of PDS, such as singing the national anthem at this November’s Meadows Miler Trail Run at Rosedale Park in Pennington. There’s also interest in performing during gallery and open-mike events.
The Princeton Day School Madrigals have had a long history at PDS, spanning multiple generations of students. Directed Choir Teacher by Mr. Mariano, he speaks highly of how the group locks-in tight harmonies and spreads joy to their audiences and within their own ensemble. “Being able to sing a piece from beginning to end, with high energy, which happened at a recent rehearsal, and everyone was just clapping their hands, we were excited. That gave me a lot of joy.” He adds that everyone in Madrigals has a shared purpose of creating music and developing great connections.
Junior Olivia Lumba speaks of how Madrigals has helped her grow as a musician:“I have improved a lot in my sight reading and harmonizing… gained confidence in my singing…and have found more joy in being on stage.”
Auditions for the Madrigals are between the first and second week of the school year, so if you’re a freshman, sophomore, or a junior you will have to wait until September 2026 to try out. Members also have to be part of the curricular chorus class. Once you’re part of the group, you can look forward to events such as A Cappella Night at Princeton Public Library, and PISA: Princeton Independent School A Cappella, where the group performs with local schools. You can also look for the ensemble at the Harvest Fest and caroling in downtown Princeton. Madrigal members are also part of a Broadway workshop in New York City. While the requisites for participation in The Princeton Day School Madrigals are more rigorous compared to the other two a cappella groups, Mr. Mariano says that the ensemble is open to all types of singers and that once you’re part of the group, you will be joining a really fun community.
If you want to join one of these groups, the advisors, directors, and students suggest that you give it a try. Agarwal of Y Chromatones says, “Just try it out…We’re all about the vibe.” Lumba of Madrigals echoes Agarwal’s point, “I would tell people to go for it and not be afraid because no one will judge and everyone is very encouraging and kind. It’s a super-fun group to be part of.” Whether it’s the accessible vibes of Pitch Perfect and Y Chromatones or the focus of Madrigals, there might be a place to find your musical voice at PDS.
