Ladies First celebrates album release

Wednesday night, a group of female students rehearsed -- fine-tuning every note, reviewing choreography, straightening out any last wrinkles in their performance. In a few days, they would be entertaining a live crowd, promoting the release of their second album.\nLadies First, IU's female a cappella group, will celebrate the release of their new album Ticket to Anywhere today at 8 p.m. at the Willkie Quad Auditorium. The concert will feature songs from the new album. \nThe release is a quick follow-up to their self-titled debut, produced in the spring of 2000. Senior Nora Colwell, the group's director, said Ladies First has come a long way between albums. \n"As far as production, we utilized a lot more of the available technology," Colwell said. \nThe album also includes some live recordings from their spring concert last year.\nIn the spring of 1999, the desire to form a women's a cappella group led senior Sarah Gibson, original and current member, to contact Walter Shilanskas, then director of Straight No Chaser, IU's male a cappella group. The two collaborated, and, after a lengthy audition process, Ladies First was formed, originally consisting of 10 members. \nA year and a half later, with 13 members -- some old, some new -- the group thrives with sisterhood and energy, members said. \n"We've expanded in everything: our size, our quality of sound, our knowledge of a cappella performance…everything," Gibson said.\nThe women said they have become like a family, rehearsing eight hours a week and spending days at a time together on long road tours and concerts. \n"We love each other like sisters," said senior Gina Guido, a founding member.\nThe IU Alumni Clubs have sponsored Ladies First in tours all across the country including Arizona, Ohio, and California. Eric Behrman, director of the Alumni Clubs, said he has enjoyed his experience with the group and is proud to have them as part of his organization. \n"It's wonderful to see such a entertaining, talented bunch of ladies representing Indiana University," Behrman said.\nLadies First has generated mountains of compliments from students, faculty, and fellow musicians. \n"We tend to get a really positive response wherever we go because we're not typical," Colwell said.\nConcerts\n• What: Ladies First CD Release Concert.\n• Where: Willkie Auditorium\n• When: 8 p.m.\n• How much: $5\n• for more \ninformation, email ncolwell@indiana.edu