Nandini Rai: President Johanna Kapsis: Vice President Neharika Logeshwaran, Nat Dennis: Music Director Lily Nolan: Treasurer/Publicity Director Chelsea Mains, Khamrynn Saunders, Mallika Joshi: Choreography Team Maya Lee: Social Media Director/Web Designer Mallika Joshi: Merch Chair Khamrynn Saunders: Social Chair Maris Samsel: Artistic Director Maya Huffaker Amy Vazquez-Ayala Nina Smith Alexandra Demaris Dayci Dishny Anousha Sannat
The Spokes are an all-female-identifying collegiate a cappella group at the University of California, Davis. They have performed at various a cappella shows, the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, and their annual a cappella showcase, HellaCappella at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.
The Spokes have won several awards at ICCA over the years, including Best Choreography in 2011, Best Beatboxing in 2016, 2nd Place at the Northwest Quarterfinals in 2016, Best Choreography in 2018, and 3rd place at the West Quarterfinals in 2022, and Outstanding Soloist in 2022, 2nd place at West Quarterfinals in 2024 (advanced to Semifinals), and Outstanding Arrangement in 2024.[citation needed]
The Spokes also work to capture their sound through their recorded albums and EPs each year, which can be heard on Apple and Spotify Music.
History
The Spokes were created in January 2004 by two former members of the coed a cappella group, the Liquid Hotplates. Co-founders, Jaclyn Cohen and the Grammy nominated country artist, Cam (singer) Ochs, posted fliers around UC Davis to find entertaining and talented students who were interested in forming an all-female group. After several rounds of auditions, there were eight Spokes. They practiced in the music room of the Infill dorms at Davis and in members' apartments.
Performances and Appearances
The Spokes have toured cities in California including Berkeley for the annual West Coast A Cappella showcase hosted by the California Golden Overtones and UC Men's Octet, Los Angeles for the annual California A Cappella Festival hosted by Random Voices, and Claremont for the annual SCAMFest hosted by the Claremont Shades. They also host their own annual shows including "HellaCappella: The West Coast premier A Cappella Showcase", and "LocalTones: An All-Davis, All-A Cappella Concert". In addition, the group goes on a musical and bonding retreat every Winter as well as attending a cappella festivals like SheSings by the Women's A Cappella Association and LAAF.
The Spokes have also been featured on Good Day Sacramento and KXJZ's Capital Public Radio. The Spokes have performed at the California Firefighter's Memorial Ceremony in Sacramento, Davis Idol at Davis Senior High School, the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the State Capitol, and the Fab 40s in Sacramento.
The group prides itself on its commitment to philanthropy and in the past has donated a portion of their profits to local charities including Daraja Academy and the Women's Empowerment Center in Sacramento, CA.
ICCA West Quarterfinals (2018) Best Choreography: Amanda Beardsley on the entire set Bass Song (Eryn Allen Kane), Hurt (Christina Aguilera), and Greedy (Ariana Grande)[3]
