The student-run Conard musical group won ‘Best in Show’ and several other awards at the annual Wyvern Invitational A Capella Festival held at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford.

Be S#arp. Submitted photo

By Ronni Newton

Conard’s acclaimed Be S#arp a capella group took home multiple awards for its performance at the annual Wyvern Invitational A Capella Festival (WIAF) held on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford.

In addition to winning the overall Best in Show award, Be S#arp was recognized for the following:

• Owen Painter – Outstanding Male Vocalist
• Alec Ferguson-Hull – Outstanding Vocal Percussion and the Viewers Choice Beatbox/Vocal Percussion Award
• Alec Ferguson-Hull and Becky Palma – Outstanding Student Directors

According to the Kingswood Oxford website, the WIAF is “the largest scholastic a cappella competition in the country. Public and independent school choirs (male, female and coed) from throughout New England compete in various categories and showcase their talents in Roberts Theater. The competition is fierce, and the sold-out audience always enjoy an evening of exciting and amusing musical entertainment.”

Be S#arp will perform at the Silk City Chorus Annual Show on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Manchester High School. For more information about that show, click here.

The YouTube video is a recording Be S#arp’s cover of the “Wicked Medley, ” the group’s second round song from the 2015 Wyvern Invitational A Cappella Festival. The performance features Becky Palma, Rory Williams, Alec Ferguson-Hull, Henley Solomon, Nora Dynowski, Lizz Ladd, Carlie Musto, Katie Kopp, and Owen Painter.