Thursday, August 20, 2026, 7-9 PM

Throughout the Center for the Arts

7 PM: Activities on the Patricia Buckley Moss Lawn and patio; galleries, Cube, and theatre open
7:30 PM: A cappella performances in the Street and Davis Performance Hall, Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre

Free; student Hokie Passport required

Co-presented with New Student and Family Programs/Weeks of Welcome, Hokie Activities Board, and the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT)

Get ready to kick off the school year with an a cappella-palooza, games, and free treats at the BLOCK PARTY at the Center for the Arts!

Join fellow Hokies for an unforgettable welcome-back celebration, featuring Virginia Tech a cappella groups Mixed Emotions, Naturally Sharp, Sensations, and Soulstice.

This event is for Virginia Tech students only — bring your Hokie Passport and come ready to have a blast!

About the a Capella Groups

Mixed Emotions

Mixed Emotions was founded in 1996 and is both the second-oldest a cappella group and the premier co-ed a cappella group at Virginia Tech. Mixed Emotions has 16 talented members who come together to perform self-arranged songs. The group showcases its music at a concert each fall and spring semester and can also be heard at many charity fundraisers, local festivals, and Greek Life events throughout the academic year. Mixed Emotions' dynamic and ever-changing repertoire often includes genres such as pop, oldies, R&B, classic rock, and country.

Naturally Sharp

Naturally Sharp is a student-run a cappella group that exists to share fun vocal performances, inventive interpretations of diverse music, and its signature spiffy style since its founding in 2002. The group regularly performs throughout the fall and spring semesters, culminating in a huge concert at the end of each semester. It also maintain a regular cycle for recording and publishing music on all major streaming platforms. Whether singing for a fundraiser, leading the National Anthem at NASCAR, or performing at a concert, Naturally Sharp always strives to sound great and have fun while doing it!

Members of Virginia Tech all-male a cappella group Naturally Sharp perform on stage in front of a red background, all wearing khakis and red blazers. Young black man steps into the center of the group for a solo.
Virginia Tech a cappella group Naturally Sharp. Photo courtesy of Naturally Sharp

Sensations

Sensations is an all-women a cappella group founded in 2003 at Virginia Tech, but Sensations is as much as a sisterhood as it is an organization. The group prides itself on being student-led by members of all backgrounds, experiences, and interests. The group sings a variety of genres; performs one large, themed concert each semester; and performs at numerous events across campus and Blacksburg. The group also enjoys recording its music; the latest album, Midnight Cravings, is available on all streaming services.

Soulstice

Soulstice is Virginia Tech's premier all-women acapella group founded in 1998. The group consists of 18 members, ranging from first-years to seniors. While music is what brought them all together, the girls in Soulstice come from many different backgrounds — creating a diverse group of women who sing with soul and pursue a wide range of academic endeavors. Soulstice's sound reflects many different genres and they sing everything from pop, country, and alternative to R&B and singer/songwriters. The group loves to incorporate different decades into the setlist, featuring songs from the '80s and '90s. The group also creates arrangements for many of its songs.

Members of Virginia Tech all-womens a cappella group Sensations gather for a group photo on stage in front of a blue background, all wearing blue or green dresses.
Virginia Tech a cappella group Sensations. Photo courtesy of Sensations