"There's probably always something you can find to do," Gruber says.

But auditions for many of these groups are held prior to a cappella try-outs. So students who take a gamble by auditioning only for the smaller a cappella groups may be left out altogether.

Other musical groups, like the Kuumba Singers and the Noteables, have no auditions at all.

According to Kuumba Singers member Derrick N. Ashong '97, his group, which includes 70 members, holds internal auditions for their own a cappella groups: the Brothers and the Sisters.

Ashong and Noteables member Joseph I. Levinson '97 say their groups have significant cross-over with other musical companies.

And yet other singers sick of the exhaustive try-out process often start their own groups.

On the Rocks, was started two years ago by a dozen first-years who wanted more a cappella opportunities for singers, Nano says.

Flores says the Callbacks were started by a group of first years ten years ago.

If starting a new group seems like a daunting task, there's always next spring's tryouts.

Several students say they definitely plan to try out again despite the possibility of disappointment.

"[The singers] are really friendly," says Penelope "Nellie" A. Carter '00, who tried out for two groups. "I might try out for the Opportunes again."

"It was a little frustrating in the end [of auditions]," says Schlesinger, "but it was still fun, and I'll do it again in the spring."