A Capella Academy

Singer has unique opportunity to attend A Capella Academy

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 3/26/15

Tyler Nordin, a junior at Warwick Vets, has the musical chance of a lifetime.

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A Capella Academy

Singer has unique opportunity to attend A Capella Academy

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Tyler Nordin, a junior at Warwick Veterans High School, has the musical chance of a lifetime.

Earlier this month he was accepted into A Capella Academy, hosted this summer at Pacific University in Azusa California. He is the only candidate from Rhode Island. His mother, Michelle Sharpe, says Tyler has always been musical.

“He has been singing his whole life. When he was younger he would wake up the whole house by singing early in the morning,” she said.

At the age of seven, Tyler learned to play guitar, but when he got to middle school and the band didn’t include a guitar he was at a loss of how to continue to be involved with music.

Tyler said, “I had always had a soft spot for music. I knew I wanted to pursue it, but I didn’t know how to.”

That’s when his sister, Ashlyn, suggested he join chorus. As a freshman, he joined the Warwick Vets Chorus.

“At first I was really intimidated, there was a really strong senior class,” Tyler said. “But then I realized those same people I was intimidated by wanted to help me improve and just wanted to enjoy music like me.”

Tyler said he has really come into his own with the chorus and even had frequent solos as the lead tenor for the group.

Along with the school’s chorus, chorale and jazz band, Tyler has been involved with the All-State chorus for the past two years. This year he is the leading tenor for All State. He is also a part of the All National Choir. He has performed for various competitions and festivals as well.

Throughout all his musical experiences, Tyler has been interested in a capella music.

He said, “There’s nothing like it. It’s nothing but human voices, and it can sometimes sound like a whole band. It’s really starting to become popular again.”

When he learned about A Capella Academy, hosted by one of his favorite a capella groups, Pentatonix, he knew he had to try out.

A Capella Academy runs from June 27 to July 6 for students 13 to 18 years old. They train together with a capella coaches to put on a series of performances at the end of the 10 days.

He tried out last year and, unfortunately, did not make it. For auditions applicants must create a YouTube video performing two songs, scales and why they would want to attend the academy.

Tyler thinks part of the reason he didn’t get in last year is that without the proper equipment his video was not clear and the sound was distorted.

So, when he received new recording gear this Christmas the first thing he did was start working on his audition video.

Then on March 1 at 8 a.m. Tyler received his acceptance letter as a tenor soloist. Both his mother and father, Lawrence Nordin, were there when he got the email.

His mother said, “When he got the email it might as well have been Christmas morning for him.”

She said that as parent she and his father have been very proud to watch him succeed and that he has such a wonderful opportunity.

Tyler is one of 71 students out of 523 applicants chosen for the program.

“To have been recognized by some of the biggest names in a capella at this level is unreal,” Tyler said.

For the 10-day camp students will be coached by some of the biggest names in a capella and will perform at the end of the program in not only the full group, but also in smaller groups set up by the program.

Unfortunately, the program in Azusa, California comes at a cost, and flying across the country round trip can be expensive. As the youngest of five children, Tyler began a GoFundMe page to help pay for the costs to go to A Capella Academy. He is looking to raise $3,000.

When A Capella Academy saw Tyler’s page they encouraged other applicants to do the same.

Tyler said, “Everyone has that one thing they can do all the time and they could never get sick of it. Well, that’s music for me. It would be horrible if money was the only thing that kept me from this amazing opportunity.”

For more information on Tyler or to donate visit his GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/tylernordinmusic.

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  • Dnlnordin

    A special , "Thank you " to Kelcy Dolan and the Warwick Beacon for the opportunity to share Tyler's amazing accomplishments. We, as grandparents, are so very proud of him!!

    Thursday, March 26, 2015 Report this