Music fills the auditorium as a group of incredibly talented singers works together in harmony with just their voices. A cappella is a form of music that doesn’t require any instruments, just a group of people with amazing voices. A stunning example of this is shown right here at NC State in the form of Grains of Time, an all-male a cappella group.
Grains of Time is an a cappella group that creates all kinds of music without the use of instruments. At their concert this past Saturday, Dec. 1 in Stewart Theatre, Grains of Time celebrated their 50th anniversary of singing together. Grains of Time was founded at NC State in 1968 by Milton Bliss, the director of the varsity men’s glee club at the time. He created Grains of Time, originally called the N.C. Statesmen, in order to have an elite vocal group to supplement the performances of the glee club.
Taylor Pulliam, a fourth-year studying political science and a member of Grains of Time, spoke about the group.
“Grains covers a wide variety of music,” Pulliam said. “We’re celebrating our alumni back to 1968, so we have everything from The Temptations [and] Boyz II Men to modern hits from Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande. There will be a song for everyone at this concert.”
By providing audiences across the globe with a large variety of music, Grains of Time gave a performance for everyone in attendance to enjoy. The songs performed at the 50th-anniversary concert ranged from current songs that the younger audiences could enjoy to the old classics that the older audience could tap their feet to.
Ernest Summer was one of the attendees of the Grains of Time 50th Anniversary concert.
“I attended the Grains of Time’s 50th Anniversary because music like this soothes me,” said Summer. “My favorite part of the performance was that I got to see a performance for music that I enjoy.”
The group allows a diverse group of people with a common interest to enjoy music together no matter how different they are, as mentioned by Pulliam.
“Grains’ purpose is rooted in the brotherhood we share through music,” Pulliam said. “We all come from different majors, backgrounds and upbringings, but music is what brought us together. The purpose is very much to create music and community.”
Grains of Time does more than giving sensational performances to audiences around the globe. They also bring together a group of male singers that share a strong bond.
A bond like this hasn’t been broken, as shown by the groups performing at the Grains of Time 50th anniversary concert. These groups of Grains of Time alumni ranged from the group that performed in 2013-2015 to the original 1968 members of Grains of Time.
“I’ve been singing and involved with music since I was 3 years old, so continuing in college was a no-brainer for me,” Pulliam said. “I instantly was drawn to the Grains during the group auditions and haven’t regretted it since. The group sells for itself with the various awards and recognition it has gained throughout the years.”
Grains of Time has provided a place for male singers to come and make music together throughout its 50 years at NC State. The talent of the group is shown in their performances as well as the recognition they have received throughout the state of North Carolina and on the national stage. One example is the group’s trip to the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella finals in 2003.
“The Grains have been a family away from home,” Pulliam said. “We have three practices a week, plus gigs and performances, and still find time to hang out with each other in a social setting. We’re always having fun, and it never really feels like work because we’re all moving towards a common goal. Grains have been one of, if not the most positive experience for me at NC State.”
