By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
DAVE BENJAMIN Rebel Yell, formerly known as the Madrigals, is a group of Howell High School students who enjoy performing at the Rebels’ home football games and at other venues in Monmouth County.
They don’t really yell, but they do sing their hearts out, and that may be one way to describe the members of the Howell High School a cappella student choral group that is now known as Rebel Yell.
The group was formerly known as the Madrigals.
The students performed for the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education during a recent meeting at Howell High School.
"Certainly as a vocalist you don’t yell," said Joseph Cantaffa, choral director of the 26-member precision vocal team. "You sing."
Dressed in football jerseys, the group performs at all of Howell’s home football games.
"I didn’t want to put them in tuxedos, but I wanted them to look nice so that they could represent the school properly," said Cantaffa, who is also known as "Mr. C." "So, football jerseys went well with the football (games)."
Noting his own attraction to the group whose members sing without accompaniment, Cantaffa said it is interesting and can be a lot of fun. He also mentioned that he was a former student at Howell High School and that he presently teaches vocal music there.
"We practice in our homeroom for five minutes a day before school starts, and then once in awhile I drag them in at night for hours. Mostly, it’s rehearsal as we go," he said.
Members of Rebel Yell are Brittany Alfaro, Ashley Alliano, Andrew Arena, Lindsey Beith, Faith Bryck, Ashante Carr, Matt Jensen, Kara Jones, Loren Jordan, Laszlo Korsos, Elyse Lichtenthal, Mike Mikkelson, Jessica Ortuso, Courtney Packard, Amy Polumbo, James Reilly, Shari Renoud, John Schank, Devan Sheridan, Erica Smith, Allan Tatum, Tara Walsh, Patty Wittenburg and Jason Zinger.
Cantaffa said the group changed its name from the Madrigals to Rebel Yell because it allowed the students to perform a wider variety of selections ranging from the Renaissance period through today’s pop music.
Rebel Yell has also taken its act on the road. In December, the group performed at several area locations, including CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, and Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch.
"We sang for some children who might not have made it home for the holiday," said Cantaffa. "We made a lot of people smile that day."
They also did a live spot on radio station 94.3 FM, The Point; toured the radio station; and then, rounding out the day, ended with two performances at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel.
"We did nine shows in four towns in 12 hours that day," said Cantaffa. "We have a TV date coming up in April" for a show to be aired in May or June.
"We have 12 seniors (in the group) and that’s nice because I have 14 kids coming back. Actually, there are 24 singers and two managers, Kate Boyle and Sarah Johnson," he explained.
Cantaffa said the managers act in an administrative role and take care of all of the logistics, like they did on the day the group was on the road for nine hours.
"They did everything from transportation to traffic control, where the kids had to be, and making sure that at this show they need to do this (or that)," said Cantaffa. "They took care of all the logistics so that I could just get up and conduct. I happened to have been on crutches that day, so without them, we would have been in trouble."
At their Jan. 14 performance before the FRHSD board at Howell High School, Rebel Yell sang "Carol of the Bells," "Silver Bells" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," three selections which were sung on their December tour.
Additionally, Cantaffa said the group made a professional recording of his arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The CD is used at events such as basketball games when the group is not able to attend the event and perform live.