A booming bass resonates through the crowd in Emerson Suites. The floor shakes with the force of the music pulsing through the room. The mix is made of complex harmonies with a subtle beat in the background. But these beats aren’t made with drums, guitar or symbols — they’re made with voices.

Between all the stomping, clapping, dancing, singing and beat boxing, Ithaca College groups VoiceStream, Premium Blend and Ithacappella put on a thrilling show last Friday night.

The three groups came together to raise money for the American Cancer Society. It is the second event senior Shannon Archer has organized to raise funds for cancer research.

VoiceStream won the crowd instantly by singing “Battlefield” by Jordin Sparks. Dressed in lavender, a color that symbolizes cancer awareness, the members sang a medley of songs that varied from hit pop singles like “Thinking of You” by Katy Perry to alternative rock pieces like “Bones” by the Killers.

The group’s song choices were entertaining, but they lacked the polished presentation of the other groups. Better syncopated dance moves and more cohesive presentations of the songs would have improved the performance and made their part of the show hold the audience’s attentions better.

Premium Blend took the stage next and got the crowd clapping for its first performance, once again dressed in the same lavender color to match VoiceStream. The group slowed down the tempo with its second song, choosing a contemporary Spanish tune. Both songs were performed with professional expertise, and the group showed a large range of songs it could perform.

Premium Blend sang with enthusiasm and showed good humor in the songs performed in the middle of its act. During the group’s rendition of Regina Spektor’s “Hotel Song,” the lead singer sang vivaciously while wearing an odd pinwheel hat that seemed to take away from the performance rather than add to it.

Members of the group moved their heads and swayed in synchronization with the music, adding a captivating quality to the last songs, as with each sway the audience could feel the changing beats in the music. They ended impressively with “Alone” by Heart, where the true talent of lead singer Andrea Perrone was showcased.

Ithacappella hit the stage dressed in suits, acting anything but businesslike. They started out their performance with Boys Like Girls’ “Love Drunk,” a great starting song that excited the crowd.

Senior Harry Nichols then came onto the stage and automatically became one of the best vocals of the night. After he whipped off his coat and paraded through the aisles, he left the room to resounding applause.

“Say Hey (I Love You)” by Michael Franti and Spearhead was next for the all-male group. The group ended with a funny flamboyant act, as they performed strange dance moves with wild clapping and a final awkward embrace.

After a memorable rendition of Dave Matthews’ “Funny the Way it Is,” the group performed the only song of the night that was meant to appeal specifically to the people dealing with cancer called “We all Need Saving” by Jonathan McLaughlin. Preceded by many humorous performances, the group effectively reset the mood by reminding the audience of the important issue that brought everyone to the event through their emotional performance.

Combining three extremely talented a cappella groups with a great cause made for a remarkable evening. The audience walked away envious of the incredible vocals, blown away by a concert they had just witnessed without a single instrument.