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The 'Wow' Factor

Music is something we love and is a big part of our lives, so to see our friends take enjoyment from us doing something that we love - it just gives you a really positive feeling.

NC State senior Daniel Knight

Grains of Time will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a concert Saturday on campus.

Grains of Time, North Carolina's oldest a cappella group, will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a concert Saturday on campus.

By Dave Pond, Web Communication

With nary a music major among them, members of NC State's premier men's a cappella ensemble Grains of Time have for decades captured the hearts of generations of students, faculty and alumni with a distinct sound that appeals to fans of all musical tastes.

The Grains, as fans and members alike refer to the ensemble, will celebrate its storied, 40-year history with an anniversary concert Saturday at 8 p.m. in Stewart Theatre.

"During these years, the Grains of Time have enriched the lives of thousands from both on and off our campus with their beautiful vocal performances," said Dr. Tom Stafford, vice chancellor for student affairs at NC State. "The Grains provide a very important opportunity for students with musical and vocal talent to enhance their talent and perform before live audiences.

"These students are great ambassadors for NC State, and we are proud of how they represent our great university."

Saturday's performance is bound to have a bit of a retrospective feel, senior history and international politics major Daniel Knight said, noting that current Grains members have reached out to more than 150 former participants in hopes of having them participate in the show.

"We really want to bring back a lot of our alumni," Knight said. "We're hoping that all of our past members will join us on stage to sing some of the songs that have been in the Grains' repertoire for decades.

"It should be pretty cool," he said. "I think it will definitely be something that will grab the crowd's attention – seeing 40 years of Grains on stage, singing the songs and doing the thing that they love."

Unfortunately, the Grains' biggest fan – former NC State women's basketball coach Kay Yow, who succumbed to a 24-year battle with breast cancer in January – will not be on hand for the celebration. The Grains were honored to sing at a celebration service held in Yow's memory shortly after her passing – a performance that would prove to lift their own spirits as well as those of Wolfpack fans in attendance.

"We were still pretty down, and it didn't really strike us at first – what we were singing for – because we were still a bit of disbelief," Knight said. "But when we heard that she personally wanted us to perform – that's when it hit us.

"That will hold a special place in my heart and be something that I'll always remember – that while in college, I was able to sing for someone so beloved by the Wolfpack community," Knight said. "It was a really nice experience to share with so many people who loved Coach Yow so much."

Grains of Time is one of seven a cappella student groups on NC State's campus, whose members perform completely without instrumental accompaniment. The Grains perform 35-50 shows a semester, and have flourished for decades in spite of the fact that NC State does not offer a music major.

Although the lack of a degree track might limit the Grains' potential talent pool, senior Justin Gray said it also works to their advantage, attracting candidates with a true passion for performance.

"I feel like when you're in a student organization like this – one without a related major – a lot of it comes from the soul," said Gray, a construction engineering management major who has composed a number of the Grains' songs. "Everything that goes into my arrangements comes from inside my head and from my hearing the song, versus notations, transcriptions and things like that.

"A music degree itself can't really teach that – to hear something by ear and truly feel the music when it comes through you."

Through Grains performances both on and around campus, Knight has made countless new friends while revealing another side of himself to those who were already acquaintances. Campus events are his favorite, the Wake Forest (N.C.) native said.

"A cappella just has that certain 'wow' factor – people hear their favorite song on the radio and then hear us perform it with nothing but our voices," he said. "It’s a real attention grabber, so they're are naturally drawn to it."

Bringing music to the masses is but just one reason the Grains sing – each member finds performancing to be a welcome respite from his hectic academic schedule.

"At the end of a long day full of labs, classes and tests, there's not much better than being able to get together to make music with a group of friends who you enjoy spending time with," Knight said. "It brings a nice break to the day and really relieves the amount of stress that can build up.

"We're all doing this because we love it, not because we have to do it," he said. "Music is just something we love and is a big part of our lives, so to see our friends take enjoyment from us doing something that we love – it just gives you a really positive feeling."

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Editor's note: Tickets for Saturday's concert are $5 for NC State students, $8 for NC State Faculty, staff and those with other student ID, and $10 for the general public. Contact Ticket Central for further details. In addition, Grains of Time will be holding open auditions for new members in the coming weeks. Check their website for updates, or email for more information.