An intimate setting. And then some.
 
In a room that seated 75 people, it was a 'standing room only' crowd that took in the Grand Canyon University Club A Cappella squad's final performance of the school year, the GCU Spring Showcase, Friday night at the GCU College of Fine Arts and Production Building. The capacity audience was treated not only to staples from the team's lead group, the Canyon Crescendos, but also got a glimpse of the program's past and future over the 50-minute set.
 
12 members of The Crescendos began the evening with a rousing version of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" – with Jaden Murray, Lopes' Head Coach Jackie Paul and student leader Melanie Hreha all stepping forward for solos. The group then welcomed back recently graduated percussionist Cal Swift to help provide extra punch to Dua Lipa's "Don't Start Now".
 
The group then gave way for the first of two of the evening's sets from the program's six-member intermediate group, the Acapelopes, who first belted out "Just the Way You Are" from Pitch Perfect and a festive version of Nathan Evans & Santiago's "Wellerman"; then returned later for a Disney medley and the '80's rocker standard "Livin' On A Prayer" (Bon Jovi).
 
"We loved have the Acapelopes perform with us!" said Lopes' Student Leader Addy Avery. "They've worked so hard all year but hadn't gotten a chance to perform any of their music. By combining this showcase, it gave them that opportunity, and it was a great way to reconnect the two groups."
 
The Crescendos returned in the middle of the program with Elyse Reed leading the way on Aurora's "Running With the Wolves", followed by Paul showing her powerful vocal range as she led Valerie Broussard's "Trouble". The Crescendos' final set was back-to-back-to back numbers from their award-winning performance at the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Southwest Quarterfinals in February: a powerful performance on lead of Delta Rae's "Bottom Of the River" by Taylor Jackson; a moving take on "Change on the Rise" (Avi Kaplan) with Andrew Green center stage; then Murray and Emily Foran skillfully working off each other on "All For Us" (Labrinth/Zendaya). The evening came to a close with all 17 of the night's singers coming together to perform a short version of ABBA's "Thank You for The Music".