On a recent Saturday afternoon, in a small performance space on the Upper West Side, eight college students filed on stage to pick numbers out of a basket.
A young woman leaned into the microphone.
“I’m Noor, I’m with the N’Harmonics,” she said, looking down. “And we’re number eight!”
Noor Hila’s teammates erupted in cheers – their a cappella group would be going last, closing the show at the night’s competition. It was the most coveted spot in the order.