A cappella music refers to vocal artistry without instruments. Rooted in sacred traditions, it now spans global genres.
From the Italian for "in the chapel style," a cappella refers to music performed entirely by voices without instrumental accompaniment. Originally, the term distinguished Renaissance polyphony from Baroque styles, but it later evolved to mean unaccompanied vocal music.
In a cappella music, the voices alone carry the melody, harmony, rhythm, and texture. A cappella is often polyphonic, with multiple voice parts weaving together. Several a cappella groups emulate instruments (drums, bass, guitar, brass) through vocal percussion, beatboxing, or timbral effects. The a cappella style is flexible and is often found in sacred, folk, barbershop, pop, jazz, and experimental contexts.
Beatboxing or vocal percussion mimics drums and rhythm sections, while bass voices provide depth similar to a bass guitar or double bass, and falsetto and timbral play is used to recreate strings, horns, or synthesizers. Groups like Pentatonix and Naturally 7 are renowned for their instrumental emulation.
A cappella music has its roots in Medieval and Renaissance music. Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony by composers like Josquin des Prez and Palestrina defined early a cappella. The barbershop tradition emerged in 19th-century America, emphasizing close harmonies. There was a 20th-century revival, during which collegiate a cappella groups flourished, while professional ensembles like the Swingle Singers and the King's Singers expanded their repertoires. In the modern era, a cappella has been popularized by the media, and viral groups like Pentatonix blend pop, jazz, and world music using the a cappella style.
Historically, a cappella was first used in sacred works, such as Gregorian chants. Renaissance Masses (Palestrina, Josquin), and chorals. Examples of a cappella in classical works include Barber's Agnus Dei, Whitacre's Lux Aurumque, Vaughan Williams' Mass in G minor.
Influential a capella ensembles across styles include Pentatonix, Home Free, Straight No Chaser, Rockapella, The Real Group, Take 6, The King's Singers, Chanticlear, Naturally 7, The Swingle Singers, VoicePlay, The Filharmonic, Maytree, The Manhattan Transfer, Committed, Berywam, Anonymous 4, The Gesualdo Six, The Blenders, and Acoustix.
Recommended Resources
Based in the Los Angeles, California area, A Cappella Academy is a 10-day intensive summer vocal program for ages 12-18 that trains singers, beatboxers, arrangers, and producers with award-winning faculty. It offers professional recordings and lasting industry connections. Its staff includes GRAMMY, Emmy, and CARA-winning educators and industry professionals, providing one-on-one mentorship and ensemble coaching. Its programs, contacts, and merchandise store are featured.
https://acappellacademy.org/
Acappella Ministries is a faith-based a cappella music ministry that produces recordings, runs events (SongFests, Praise & Harmony, Worship Leader Institute), offers licensing and sheet music, and operates an online store for albums and resources. Its stated mission is to serve the Body of Christ through music and to carry out the Great Commission. Upcoming events are announced, and details and registration for the WLI educational program for worship leaders are provided.
https://www.acappella.org/
Founded in 2002, Acappellago is a volunteer a cappella choir from the western Chicago suburbs that performs themed concerts, community events, and private engagements. Their website lists upcoming holiday concerts, contact details, and booking information. Its name blends "archipelago" and "a cappella" to convey an "escape" through music, as its mission is to invite audiences to relax and enjoy diverse vocal repertoire. Upcoming concerts and events are highlighted.
https://acappellago.org/
Active since 2010, The Capital Hearings is a vocal ensemble based in Washington, D.C. The ensemble is known for performing a cappella music from a variety of styles, including classical choral works, vocal jazz, American folk songs, and contemporary pop. Its members, alumni, and booking information are provided on its website, along with information on performances, auditions, repertoire, and its Young Composers Competition. Announcements and contacts are provided.
https://www.thecapitalhearings.com/
A professional vocal ensemble in Chicago offering concert series, education programs, recordings, and community partnerships led by artistic director John William Trotter. Their official website offers concert and event schedules, ticket information and sales, membership programs, partnership opportunities, outreach and educational programs designed to engage singers and listeners, and audio and video recordings, including downloadable media and performance clips.
https://www.chicagoacappella.org/
Contemporary A Cappella Society, The
CASA is a global non-profit that promotes and supports a cappella through awards, festivals, education, and community-building. Founded by Deke Sharon in 1990, it runs programs like recording and video awards, CASAcademy, and volunteer outreach. Its stated mission is "to inspire unity in the worldwide vocal community" by fostering connections, supporting innovations, celebrating excellence, and sharing knowledge. Its programs and activities are highlighted.
https://casa.org/
Letscappella is a web and iOS application from MuseFire that helps singers learn, record, and combine a cappella parts using arranged score sheets, a mixer, a click track, and video-collage publishing, available for the iPhone and iPad. The app is positioned as an easy way to learn and sing a cappella, offering arranged score sheets across levels and genres so singers can practice individual parts, record themselves, and combine parts into a shared video collage.
https://letscappella.com/
Formed in 2011, Pentatonix (PTX) is an American a cappella group from Arlington, Texas. Characterized by their pop-style arrangements with vocal harmonies, scat singing, riffing, vocal percussion, and beatboxing, they produce cover versions of modern pop music, Christmas songs, or medleys, along with original material. Its website features links to listen to highlighted music on Spotify or Apple Music. Other resources include videos, ticket sales, and an online store.
https://www.home.ptxofficial.com/
Formed in 1986, Rockapella is an American a cappella musical group in New York City. Rockapella sings original vocal music and a cappella versions of other songs, and is known for their role as a house band and comedy troupe on the PBS children's geography game show, "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego." Tour schedules, videos, and links to their music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Amazon are provided, along with their own "Rockapella Shop, offering CDs and branded merchandise.
https://rockapella.com/
