Batavia High School graduate Vinnie Cesarone performs in Belmont University's a cappella group, Prismatics. He's hoping his group will advance in a national, virtual "UpStagedAID" National Collegiate Performing Arts championship. // Courtesy of Vinnie Cesarone
Batavia High School grad competes in national collegiate a cappella championship
While an “American Idol” or “The Voice” appearance would be great to Vinnie Cesarone of Batavia, pushing his a cappella group Prismatics to advance in a national performing arts championship is far more pressing to the Belmont University junior.
It’s hard to say if we’ll ever see Vinnie Cesarone of Batavia appear on “American Idol” or “The Voice,” but it’s likely the junior at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, may at least try out at a regional audition for one of those reality shows in the near future.
That’s on his radar, though he has a more immediate goal in mind. He’d like his Belmont a cappella group Prismatics to advance in a national, virtual “UpStagedAID” National Collegiate Performing Arts championship.
As of this writing, Prismatics had advanced past a regional round by topping James Madison University and was awaiting results of its latest matchup against Vanderbilt. The all-gender group performed “Soul’s Anthem” by Tori Kelley in its match against Vanderbilt.
It’s hard to predict how the voting will go after judges view submitted videos of the competing groups’ songs. The winner advances out of the South bracket to continue in the tournament.
“It was a very close race, so we don’t know which way it is going to go,” said Cesarone, a baritone in the 16-member group.
As much as getting notoriety for the group’s talent, Cesarone and his fellow singers are hoping to advance to keep earning prize money to be donated to its elected charity, Mental Health America of the MidSouth.
“The mental health program is really important to us,” Cesarone added.
Regardless of how the competition turns out, Cesarone plans to continue pursuing a career in music, whether as a performer or teacher.
“Many of my friends in the group have auditioned for ‘American Idol’ or ‘The Voice,’ and a lot of people here at Belmont have done it,” Cesarone said. In the past year, a Belmont student advanced far in “American Idol” after a regional tryout was held at the university, which is known for its arts program, he added.
Cesarone, a 2018 graduate of Batavia High School, came to Belmont University with an impressive music background from his school years in Batavia.
“I started singing in fourth grade and did it throughout middle school and did show choir,” Cesarone said. “I was really lucky to have gone to Batavia for its great music program.”
Cesarone cites his fondest memories in high school as a member of the Batavia Swingsingers, but he was on stage for many other performances.
He was part of the Chamber Singers and Chromatics, and had theatrical parts through the drama program in “Hello Dolly,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Rent,” “Cats,” and “Letters to Sala.”
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