Take 6, an a cappella sextet, performed at Jesse Auditorium on Feb. 16. Singing to a crowd of adults and students, Take 6 immersed its audience with synchronistic choreography.

Take 6 was founded by Claude McKnight in 1980 at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, with Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley. Over the last 40 years, it has become the most awarded a cappella group in history.

After purchasing a ticket outside of the auditorium, viewers went in to find their seats, which were concentrated toward the front of the venue. Onstage, there were six barstools set up in front of a table with six water bottles. A calming and inviting purple illuminated the white backdrop. Some of the guests were getting to know one another after being seated, constructing plans to get dinner after the show.

Shortly, Take 6 stormed the stage with its opening number, encouraging the crowd to clap along with the beat. The backdrop occasionally changed colors to blue and red, setting a soothing tone.

The performers made direct eye contact with those sitting in the front row. Take 6’s set felt personal, and it felt like the performers established a connection with the audience.

Take 6’s setlist was dominated by gospel songs written by the group and people it collaborated with. It also performed “Windmills of Your Mind” from the 1998 remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair.”

The voices of Take 6 blended together beautifully throughout the whole performance. Its crowd engagement led to a standing ovation, before viewers chanted the group back for an encore.

For the denouement, the members lined the edge of the stage to perform “Hallelujah” without any mics, creating a powerful intimacy felt through the entire crowd.

Edited by Savvy Sleevar | ssleevar@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Mary Philip