Making the Cut: STAC House Band Singer

By Amanda Youngblood

Sparkill, NY – Kathleen Roepken, a sophomore at St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC), received a message on Facebook asking students if they would like to try out for STAC’s first house band. Thinking it would be fun if she tried out, she attended the audition. Days later when she opened an e-mail from Professor Martin in her STAC e-mail, Kathleen was shocked and elated at the news that appeared on her screen.

On Wednesday, February 17, Craig Martin, a religion professor at St. Thomas, held auditions for singers to become a part of a band he decided to put together for the school. It was held in the Multipurpose Room from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M. At the audition, there were 15 other students who were trying out. They sung an array of songs ranging from “Use Somebody” by the Kings of Leon to “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benator. Though Kathleen is in STAC Singers and has performed in front of an audience before, she was nervous and admitted, “It’s always good to expect some [competition] because it makes your confidence level raise because you want to do well!”

When it was her time to perform, she sang “Fences” by the rock group Paramore. After everyone performed, they waited in anticipation to learn who was going to be accepted into the house band. Through an e-mail days later, Professor Martin informed Kathleen that she would be one of the lead singers of STAC’s house band. Other people who are in the band are Mike Mitchell, who will play the drums, Dustin Horvath, the bassist, and Professor Martin himself, who will play the guitar. Aside from the professor, the other band members are students at St. Thomas Aquinas. When I asked Kathleen if they were going to have a band name she said, “I don’t know if Craig Martin intends on making a specific name for the band, so if anything he'll stick to 'The STAC House Band.’”

The newly formed band’s first rehearsal will be Wednesday, March 3.  They will be every Wednesday night depending on whether each member of the band is available until the date of their first concert on April 22. The songs they will sing will vary and be chosen by the singers.