Time Check Lifts Up 25 Years of A Cappella History

Twenty-five years after the group’s inception, former and current members of Time Check, Marist’s all-male a cappella group, gathered in Fusco Hall to unite in their shared passion: making music with only their mouths. The sold-out 25th Anniversary Concert on Nov. 16 paid homage to the group’s roots and included a collection of songs spanning their history, from “Good Old A Cappella” by The Nylons to “Movement” by Hozier. 

In addition to 19 a cappella performances, audience members enjoyed a Time Check Trivia challenge and a beatboxing competition. A video montage included messages from Time Check alumni, current Time Check members studying abroad and even President Dennis J. Murray, dressed in the classic Time Check bowling shirt. 

But the surprises did not end there. At the end of Time Check’s serenade to “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’” by the Righteous Brothers, former Time Check director Jon Angus O’Sullivan ‘12 proposed to his girlfriend, and former member of The Lovey Sirens, Jade Brewer. She said yes. 

In the hours leading up to the concert, former and current Time Check members rehearsed songs for the show and shared a catered lunch. Old friends reconnected, and members from across the years met and mingled. Brian Graff ‘16, former Time Check director, never thought he’d be back in the bowling shirt directing a rehearsal, but he’s stayed connected to the group and to Marist Singers. 

“Time Check is like a brotherhood and I've stayed connected with my ‘brothers’ even though we don't all live near each other or see each other as often anymore,” Graff said. “For just a day, I was able to relive some of my favorite moments from my time as a Marist student.”

Thirty-two alumni like Graff returned for the event, including all five of the founding members. In 1994, the original group, Full Throttle Pop, started with less than 10 members. They sang a number of tunes, including “Lift Me Up,” which co-founder Ryan McGrath sang with his high school a cappella group. The song has stood the test of time and still reserves a treasured place in the Time Check repertoire. 

Just a few years ago, co-founder Trent Sano discovered that the a cappella group had continued on years after the original group graduated. When they were invited for the concert, the founding members decided to return. 

“We’ve all got kids and families and jobs, and it’s not easy to all find one weekend that we can all break free. But it was one of those things that we thought was important,” Sano said. The original members have stayed in contact throughout the years and even been in each other’s weddings. 

“It was nostalgic and it was impressive, and it was really cool to see that legacy that we left behind unintentionally. We never intended for this to be something that lasted a quarter of a century,” Sano said. 

Dylan O’Brien, this year’s Time Check director, expressed his gratitude for the Music Department’s support and the hard work of his fellow Time Check singers. He, too, hopes to leave a mark on the group’s history that will endure for years to come. 

“My philosophy for the group this year is ‘Have Fun Being Awesome.’ If there is a legacy that I want to leave with the group, that is it. I want to be remembered as the group that made incredible music and had fun doing it. We set the bar high this year. I hope that when I return as an alumni, the bar is even higher,” O’Brien said.