UI a cappella group No Comment headed to international finals

Apr. 26—CHAMPAIGN — In the midst of studying for the end of the semester, No Comment is preparing for a very different kind of finals: an international a cappella championship.

The last time No Comment made it to the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Finals was in 2013, just a year after the cast of "Pitch Perfect" competed in a fictional version of the same event.

"People say that in this whole competition, we're in one of the hardest regions — the Great Lakes is a very tough region," No Comment President Hillary Collins said. "We're just happy to make it past the region."

The group left campus Wednesday to take the stage in New York on Saturday, exactly a week after celebrating No Comment's 20th anniversary.

Collins and music director Mitchell Lazarow said the group is so excited to make it to finals that they aren't all that concerned with actually winning.

"These last few competitions, it's been really stressful. You just don't have the best time if you're worried about how your groups and other groups are doing," Lazarow said. "You get to this point and win or lose, everyone's going to the same place. Everyone's going home. We're just there to have fun."

That isn't to say their hard work hasn't been worth it thus far: No Comment took second place at quarterfinals, which made them eligible for semifinals, where they also took second.

Since there are nine regions going into finals, second- and third-place semifinal finishes make groups eligible to submit videos for a wildcard placement to round out the field.

Lazarow was also recognized for outstanding arrangement at quarterfinals and outstanding vocal percussion at semifinals, while freshman member Kylie Ferris was outstanding vocalist at both.

"Consistency, baby! Hopefully we're really consistent," Collins said, looking forward to Saturday.

Both Collins and Lazarow are set to graduate soon, so they're excited to go to finals at their last possible opportunity.

Of course, it hasn't been easy balancing everything as they try to finish out their college careers.

"Between the 20th-anniversary show, this and actual school, my last two days have been 18- or 20-hour days," Lazarow said. "It's been hard, but you know, it's just worth it."

"I've just been saying, 'This week's been stressful, but next week it'll get better,' and then I've been saying that every single week," Collins said. "But like Mitchell said, it's worth it. ... Just cool opportunities, so I'm trying to soak it all in and also not fail."

It sounds like they'll be leaving the group in good hands: No Comment had quite a few freshmen and other new members join this year, but they stepped up to the task.

Lazarow said he always told the newbies that he could adjust deadlines if they needed more time to memorize music or choreography, but he never had to.

"They're just so passionate. It doesn't feel like anyone's checked out, it doesn't feel like anyone's overwhelmed," he said. "I think they have gotten the vibe that this is a serious thing and we commit time to it, but also we have fun. And the fact that two of them are soloists on a nationals-quality set is just outrageous."

That set includes "Meeting the Master" by Greta Van Fleet, "Snow Angel" by Renee Rapp, "First Light" by Hozier and "Knights of Cydonia" by Muse, which one of the members found on the "Guitar Hero 3" video game.