The UNLV Performing Arts welcomes Rockapella for a special holiday concert at 8pm on Saturday, Dec. 5. The kings of modern a capella music will present classic winter songs combined with their unique sound that has made them one of the world's most sophisticated, lasting, and imitated vocal groups around today.
As one of the progenitors of the astonishing full-band sound of “contemporary” a cappella, Rockapella has shown every audience the raw power of pure vocal talent and originality. “There’s nothing between us and the audience – it’s very human music – with nothing missing,” says Rockapella’s human beatbox Jeff Thacher. No instruments, no tracks, no mirrors, but never lame.
"We make it rock and make it interesting,” explains Scott Leonard, the group’s chief songwriter, arranger, and an architect of their ever-evolving and imitated dynamic sound. USA Today summed up the lasting appeal like this: “The best musical instrument of all is the human voice – if you’ve seen Rockapella you know that’s the truth.”
The current Rockapella line-up features Scott Leonard (since 1991, high tenor), Jeff Thacher (1993, vocal percussionist), Steven Dorian (2010, tenor), Calvin Jones (2013, tenor), and Ryan Chappelle (2015, bass). This line-up marks a new generation of Rockapella, who remain keenly focused on musical excellence. “People have a hard time believing it’s just us making all of that music. It’s still those same elements that make modern band music: percussion, bass, melody and harmonies,” says Scott.
“Our success is in the art of it – it’s not what you do, but how you do it!” adds Jeff.
Ticket information
Tickets to Rockapella are $20-$70 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center Box Office at 702-895-ARTS (2787) or through the Performing Arts Center website. Student rush tickets are $15 each (not inclusive of the facilities fee), and available one hour prior to each event, based on availability and with valid student I.D. UNLV faculty and staff discounts also are available. A $1.25 facilities fee, in addition to the ticket price, is charged on all Performing Arts Center tickets.
The box office is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Information about all of the season’s performances can be found on the Performing Arts Center website, located at pac.unlv.edu.
About the PAC
Founded in 1976, the Performing Arts Center at UNLV is Southern Nevada’s original performing arts venue, celebrating 40 years of arts in Las Vegas. Located on the north end of the UNLV campus, the PAC hosts a variety of performances and is home to the Charles Vanda Master Series. At the UNLV PAC, Southern Nevadans can enjoy the arts nearly every day of the year. The Performing Arts Center is home to productions presented by the Nevada Conservatory Theatre at UNLV, the UNLV School of Music, the UNLV dance department, the Desert Chorale, and the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society. The center also hosts more than 50,000 Clark County School District students yearly for productions, festivals, and concerts.
