Meet the First Woman to Wear The Kingsmen Blue

Thursday, October 17, 2024
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EMMA ASHER

Ella Wickham CC’25 (she/her) is a film and media studies major from New York City. Last fall she became the first woman to join the Columbia Kingsmen, now billed as the University’s finest lower voices a cappella group. “People expect me to have a crazy, passionate story about how I wanted to be in the group forever,” says Wickham, who also belongs to the jazz-oriented Uptown Vocal. She auditioned on a whim, part of a prankish tradition where members of different a cappella groups sign up for a spot when there’s down time in the others’ tryouts.

“I love their blue jackets,” Wickham says with a laugh. “And I did go into it thinking their vibe was so fun — sophomoric in a very endearing way. “I made the decision in the room that I wanted to actually be considered. And then I did my callback, and I got in, and it was pretty awesome.”

Between the Kingsmen and Uptown Vocal, Wickham is in six rehearsals a week; plus she’s involved in theater projects — she will be one of the co-writers of the 131st Varsity Show this spring — and she has a part-time job at The Public Theater. She took time out for a conversation about the importance of inclusion, her favorite Kingsmen staple and other highlights of her College experience.


What’s it been like to be the first woman in the Kingsmen?

It’s definitely a group that I would never [have seen] myself interacting with — that particular vibe of being traditionally all-male, going into that more brotherhood-esque space. I went to an all-girls high school, so it really was a 180. It’s kind of fun to be a little fly on the wall. But I’ve never felt that my voice wasn’t elevated, that people were speaking over me or ignoring me because I am a girl. If anything, in a weird way, I feel like they listen to me and respect me more.

Tell me about your role as the group’s impact and inclusion chair.

I think that in any elite space or formerly exclusive space, there’s always going to be some sort of transition that’s maybe not the smoothest. As the group is changing, and more people of different identities are being included, it seemed like it would be a good idea to have a point person where, if anyone felt any kind of way there could be someone [available] who’s separate from the Executive Board, and who’s not intimidating, for people to speak with or work out some sort of resolution. Not that it happens frequently. But more groups and clubs are starting to have people whose job it is to deal with that and make sure that people feel included no matter who they are.

I’d also imagine that just the example of you having opened this door makes others more comfortable.

Yes! Did I tell you yet? We have another girl, Diya Hegde CC’28, a freshman who joined this year. I’m so happy to have her in the group and I can’t wait to see her take over. She’s such a beautiful force. She told me that [about making her comfortable], and I cried. I’m hoping it’ll be more and more people of all gender identities in the future.

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The Kingsmen made the scene at Convocation on Aug. 25.

EILEEN BARROSO

What’s your favorite song to perform with the Kingsmen?

There are a few. We have this thing, the Fresh’smen Concert, which happens in the middle of the Fall semester, and all the newbies pick a song to sing with the group backing them. I did “Uptown Girl,” which is one that I’d arranged for my all-girls group in high school. It was fun to bring that back in a new context. I also love “Sh-Boom.” You know, “Life could be a dream … ” It’s such a Kingsmen staple, so it’s fun to be a part of that.

What has been your favorite class so far at Columbia, and why?

In my freshman Fall semester, I ended up in this graduate school class, “Jazz in American Culture,” taught by Professor Robert O’Meally. Going into it, I kind of had an understanding of jazz. I was in Uptown Vocal at the time — that and the class wound up supplementing each other in a wonderful way. I learned how jazz has influenced both literature and media, especially in Black spaces, and how powerful a musical form it is, how it’s a form of protest and resilience and affirmation. One of our guest lecturers was Spike Lee — how amazing. That’s one of those experiences where, it’s like, OK, this is why I like Columbia.

How do you take advantage of being in NYC?

I’m from here, so I didn’t have a particular excitement about being in the city for college. But I’ve learned to appreciate it in a way that I hadn’t before. My adolescence was just: wake up, go across town to school and then back. I never had the chance to explore, to hop on a subway and go wherever I want to go, whenever I want to go there. And it’s nice to never be bored. New York is such a beautiful place where you’re meeting so many kinds of people and you’re exposed to so many different cultures and it makes your worldview a lot bigger and more tolerant. It’s also nice to be close to home. I love my parents, so if I’m ever sad or stressed, they’re right there.

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