By day, Ellie Gunnin, senior communication major, juggles classes, campus commitments and job shifts. At night, she joins the Acabellas, Trinity’s student-run a cappella group, for rehearsal.
At 9 p.m, the lights remain on in Trinity’s choir room. Inside, the Acabellas, founded in 2007, begin rehearsal. For Gunnin, late-night rehearsals have been central to her college routine.
The Acabellas are one of two student-run a cappella groups at Trinity that perform weekly in Coates Student Center and at campus events.
On rehearsal nights, Gunnin leaves whatever she is working on — homework, a campus job or time with friends — and heads to the choir room. The 9 to 10 p.m. slot is not ideal, but it is the only hour that works for all 15 members.
“It’s kind of a schlep,” Gunnin said. “You’re tired. You’re in your pajamas sometimes. But you show up.”
The group operates without a faculty director or formal president, with leadership shifting depending on the song they’re performing. Without a conductor or director, members rely on one another for pitch, timing and feedback.
“You come into rehearsal with a sense of trust and willingness to be vulnerable,” Gunnin said.
Acabella Chrislynn Jerald, junior neuroscience major, said she’s also felt at home in the ensemble since joining as a first-year. She said this is largely thanks to the group’s collaborative structure and welcoming atmosphere.
“No matter what I go through in my daily life, knowing there is a group of people that will always there for me is huge,” Jerald said. “It’s a way to let my creative expression flow without judgment. These are my friends and my family.”
At the start of each semester, the group meets to pitch songs and vote on which pieces to include in their set list. The Acabellas alternate with the Trinitones, Trinity University’s male a cappella group, for the weekly “Happy Friday” performace at the Coates Student Center. With only two weeks between sets, Gunnin said rehearsals follow a tight timeline.
“It’s hard to just start singing in silence,” Gunnin said. “You have to lean into the ritual of it.”
Gunnin joined the group as a first-year student. A lifelong singer who grew up watching “Pitch Perfect,” she said that she nearly skipped auditions out of nerves before deciding to try out.
“It ended up being one of the most valuable parts of my freshman year,” she said.
As graduation approaches, Gunnin plans to move to New York, a longtime goal. She does not yet know what role singing will play after college, but she expects it will remain part of her life.
“I’ve always wanted to live in New York,” Gunnin said. “I just kind of fell in love with it.”
Enrolling at Trinity felt like a natural decision as a third-generation Tiger, Gunnin said. The choice to move to New York, though, is different.
“I’m excited to find the way that fine arts will continue to be in my life,” she said.
From March 4 to 7, Gunnin and Jerald will compete with Trinity University’s Chamber Choir at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jerald noted that it’s a rare honor for a small liberal arts college.
For now, the routine continues. Gunnin gathers her things and leaves the music building, and only a few months of Monday rehearsals remain.
*This article was updated March 18, 2026.
