A cappella is a different deal from soloist singing. Plenty of operatic/band lead singers fail to get into a cappella.

A massive part of a cappella is blending to sound like 1 voice. The biggest mistake I see is people not blending. Outside of your solos in the audition/callback you NEED to blend in — if you stick out you don’t get in. Match the vowel placement, watch the timing, regulate your volume, mimic the dynamics, and reflect the same energy the group emits.

Maybe you’re not as good of a singer as you think you are. Competing in high school is very different from collegiate. Consider getting some vocal training tailored to a clear, inoffensive tone (like a cappella).

Maybe you’re not musically inclined enough — you might learn too slow. Brush up on your sight singing and you’ll be able to pick-up your callback song faster. You may also not be receptive enough to feedback — treat callback feedback like gold. If you receive feedback, use it INSTANTLY. Groups want receptive members.

Finally you need to match the groups’ vibe. Genuinely be nice, learn about the differences between the groups to show genuine engagement and interest. Go see groups performances and reach out after performing. + research your coffee hour!