our story
We are Binghamton University’s premier a cappella group with a specific focus on civic engagement. On campus and off, from local community centers to food rescues, we sing and serve throughout the semester.
Our mission is to strive for industry distinction while bringing high-level vocal performance to schools and communities worldwide. Through musical and non-musical opportunities, we create meaningful connections with students and other community members. We are one of the few collegiate ensembles in the country to combine a cappella and regional involvement.
We recognize the power of music in building communal cohesion, and we bring our energy in the hope of fostering enthusiasm in students and other listeners. Each one of our concerts is memorable for audience members of all ages.
We balance service with excellence. Our third release came out in September 2020, and in 2021 we finished 2nd overall in the Central Region of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCAs). You can view our submission here. Thank you for following our journey.
Our music
Read below for descriptions about each of our releases and click on the links to listen! More music to come…
Spring 2021 video series
This semester, we are producing a series of videos, produced from our dorms, apartments, and homes, celebrating our graduating seniors! Recorded, filmed, mixed, and edited all on our own, we hope you enjoy these as much you love seeing us live. We hope to safely see you all at our shows again soon, but until then make sure to watch along!
Featuring Note to Self classics like Welcome to the Black Parade, Chainsmoking, Anan Sun, Weathered Youth, and even more!
Check out the playlist for our Spring 2021 video series!
ICCA 2021 Central Semifinals
ICCA 2021 Central Quarterfinal 1 Champs, Central Semifinal 2nd Place
In April, we finished SECOND in the ICCA Central Semifinals, just narrowly missing out on qualification for ICCA Finals, after finishing first in our Quarterfinal! Check out our story in Pipe Dream and our interview with Acaville Radio. Plus, we won these awards in our QF:
Outstanding Arrangement: Liam Coen, Rebecca Colao, Samuel LaGrego
Outstanding Choreography: Danielle Germain
Outstanding Videography: Danielle Germain, Liam Coen, Rebecca Colao
Outstanding Audio Mix: Mathew Baldwin
Electric Love
Recorded in November 2019 and released in September 2020, give our most recent single a listen if you haven’t already! The catchy tune combines a joyful solo with euphoric accompaniment and an upbeat pulse that culminates in a delightful, uplifting listening experience.
Electric Love has become a signature for us and was a highlight of our inaugural competitive set at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella in 2020, giving it even more meaning to our group as we continue to grow in our music journey.
Tied to the Tracks
If I Lose Myself debuted in 2018. After months of hard work, we are excited to present our first EP, which was released in Fall 2019. Tied to the Tracks signifies a crucial step in our journey to regional recognition and beyond. To us, the EP is a blend of emotion and aural sophistication, and we hope that it showcases our dynamism, variety, and depth of talent. The creation of Tied to the Tracks was a process of listening, learning, and evolution, and we are incredibly grateful to share it with our audience. We hope that you love listening to it as much as we did recording it.
If I Lose Myself
Our inaugural single was an important beginning in the Note to Self story. Recorded during the spring of 2018, the track combines a powerful soloist with an engaging array of supporting vocals, drawing in the listener with its lively growth and euphoric crescendos.
Collectively overcoming our obstacles made this a uniquely special experience. Releasing music for the first time was a rite of passage for us, as challenging as it was rewarding. It is because the production process was so humbling that we are proud to present If I Lose Myself.
Current Repertoire
Electric Love (BØRNS)
Not Strong Enough (boygenius)
Jackie and Wilson (Hozier)
Somebody That I Used to Know (Gotye)
Sweater Weather (The Neighbourhood)
Waiting on the World to Change (John Mayer)
If I Lose Myself (OneRepublic)
Weathered Youth (Jack Garratt x Daughter)
One Last Song (Sam Smith)
I Wish You Love (Laufey, opb. Frank Sinatra)
Arcade (Duncan Laurence)
If you have questions about our set or would like to purchase an arrangement, please contact us.
SERVICE
As Binghamton University’s only Community Service A Cappella group, we strive to make a difference in our local community and beyond in addition to our musical endeavors. Below, we have featured some of our past service projects, including fundraisers, event volunteering, park cleanups, and more!
If you have a project, organization, event, or fundraiser you could use some extra hands or support with,
reach out to us at nts.service.binghamton@gmail.com!
PITCHING IN
SUMMER SERVICE TOUR
For four days, Note to Self painted, swept, dug a French drain, cleared logs and branches, mowed, weed-wacked, and more at Camp Nooteeming and the Marist Brothers Center at Esopus in the Hudson Valley. We were sweating and laughing, and got to enjoy swimming, playing games, and singing together after our work for the day was finished! Thank you to Ranger Bob and Esopus for having us, we hope to go on summer tour again!
Summer 2021
VINES
We love volunteering for VINES! This awesome volunteer-based organization builds and maintains several community gardens throughout Binghamton to provide access to fresh, low-cost, healthy food for members of the community! In the past, we have built beds, cleared out weeds, shoveled dirt to fill in new beds, and more! It always feels good to get our hands dirty and make an impact in our local area.
Fall 2019 & 2020, Spring 2021
singing with BOys & girls club
The Boys and Girls Club of Binghamton invited us to sing at one of their events! It was so fun to sing for the kids. They especially loved our performance of “Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers - by the end of the song everyone was up dancing and singing along!
Fall 2019
FUNDRAISERS
Fundraisers
testimonials
“The only feedback I would have for y’all is glowing. Thank you for being so positive, approachable, inviting and open with the kids. Apart from the excellent music, you guys are honestly just a group of really great people. It was a wonderful day.”
“Your coming has given happiness and joy. Thank you for coming to our place… You are simply fantastic.”
“The ensemble members were very helpful and encouraging to my students who had not had as much experience singing a cappella music. The performance by Note to Self was well done, a nice variety of styles, and inspiring for the High School students.”
Read complete reviews.
Selected Partners
TEDxBinghamton
Bar des Pins Montreal
Archbishop Molloy High School
The Bristal Assisted Living
Boys and Girls Club of Binghamton
McGill Tonal Ecstasy
Rockwood Music Hall
Shenendehowa High School
Résidence Graham Prestige
American Civic Association
The Memory Maker Project
Varsity Vocals
View our full list of partners.