Time Check’s Right on Time with 30th Anniversary Concert
On Oct. 25, Marist University’s oldest a cappella group, Time Check, the all-low-voice group, celebrated 30 years of harmonies with a high-energy commemorative concert. Head Director JP Accardi ‘26 was one of the driving forces behind putting the concert together.
“We’ve been bringing music to the Marist campus, and we felt like we needed to celebrate that in some way,” said Accardi.
Time Check’s 25th anniversary concert five years ago was a massive event, with many alumni - some with kids of their own - coming back to campus, and a marriage proposal from an alumnus of Time Check to an alumnus of Sirens, Marist’s all-upper-voice a cappella group. Accardi and the other Time Check directors, Hugo Gizzi ‘26 and Colin Martin ‘26 sought to recapture some of that event’s magic in this performance.
Beyond the barbershop tunes and slapstick humor, the members of Time Check prioritize helping one another in all facets of life.
“Our role is, I always say, to make sure the ship stays afloat. As much as it is about teaching music and about making sure that we’re ready for our concerts, we’re in a group of 14 guys and we call ourselves a brotherhood,” said Accardi, who emphasized that the “brothers” check in on each other “socially, mentally and musically.”
That brotherhood reaches far beyond current Marist students.
“I met an alumn and he looked over my resume for me and made some changes - a guy I’ve never met before. So it’s just a really nice community and a great brotherhood to be a part of,” said Accardi.
The performance occurred in the Fusco Recital Hall, the same room where almost all Time Check rehearsals are held. Tables were set up outside to sell concessions, like cookies with their logo, and merchandise, ranging from their classic hoodies to 30th anniversary t-shirts.
The concert took place before a packed house, emceed by Miles Snyder ‘26, one of the directors of the mixed-voice group The Enharmonics, and Lindsey Clinton ‘27, one of the Sirens directors. A skit played before the performances featured Time Check alumni responding to Time Check’s logo, acting as the bat signal, from the senior class calling for the group’s reunification.
Other non-musical events throughout the show included speeches from some of the founders of Time Check, an electrifying t-shirt toss and a viewing of the marriage proposal that occurred during the 25th Anniversary concert.
The setlist included doo-wop hits like “Sh-Boom” by The Chords and “Runaround Sue” by Dion, as well as modern tracks like “Castle on the Hill” by Ed Sheeran and a mashup of “Me and my Broken Heart” and “Lonely No More” by Rixton and Rob Thomas, respectively.
Other songs included the Time Check original “Lift me Up” and “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’” by the Righteous Brothers, performed as a serenade to Assistant Director of Choral Activities Bryan Lynch.
The 30-year celebration extends beyond the concert. Time Check has some other performances on the horizon, including the Marist Singers charity performance Night on Broadway and the Winter A Cappella concert featuring Time Check, Sirens and The Enharmonics, performing “holiday songs plus pop songs that everyone knows,” according to Accardi.
Time Check also commemorated its anniversary on social media with its “30 Days of 30 Years” series featuring fun facts about the group’s history. “We are posting a different Time Check photo or alumnus to celebrate the past 30 years,” said Accardi.