“Schizmatics” or “The Schizmatics”? Which is it? Even the members can’t make up their minds. Regardless, the campus can’t keep its eyes off of them.

This band of six sophomores— Matthew Byrne, Owen Gerth, Gavin Listro, John Schaefer, Dravyn Spies, and Jack Walker— formed mid-second semester of their freshman year. 

“It was Gavin’s brainchild,” Gerth said. 

According to Listro, the genesis of Schismatics began one night in late February. The group was in his room in Simpson Residence, talking and sharing their musical talents and inclinations. According to Listro, when he visited Hillsdale his sophomore year of high school he attended Centralhallapalooza. It became his dream to form a band once he was on campus.

“It just kind of happened,” Listro said. “In Simpson, people are always in your room, so I was like ‘we pretty much have a whole band here.’” 

A few weeks later, the group met for a Saga dinner and brainstormed band names and songs at a long booth. 

After hours of discussion, they finally decided on “Schizmatics.” Listro said the name plays off the fact that three of the brothers are Protestant and three of them are Catholic, but they were all in Simpson.

“We didn’t have an extensive friendship between us, beyond where we lived,” Listro said. “We needed a name that went along with that. A sort of unity despite the schisms that separate us.”

On April 4, the members gathered for a photo shoot to help promote their new brainchild. Three days later, the group competed in Centralhallapalooza Showdown, performing after campus’ two most popular senior bands. The whole band agreed that the night was nerve-racking and stressful. 

“It was scary because we didn’t know how we would be received,” Walker said. 

They remembered gathering on the stairs near the Writing Center and practicing their three-part harmony.

Soon enough, they were on the stage singing and playing like they were pros. But instead of an audience of just themselves in a Simpson dorm room, they were looking out into a sea of peers. Afterward, fans were swarming them, and upperclassmen were saying people were changing their votes, Listro said. 

Hillsdale has had many successful bands in the past, but fans say this group is different.

The bandmates agreed that their unique horn section propelled them to fame. If you’re familiar with Schizmatics, chances are you’re well aware of Gerth’s saxophonic interludes and Schafer’s trumpet solos. A fan favorite and staple of their set is a cover of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”

After the Centralhallapalooza Showdown, the band waited all night, but the results were not released until the following morning. 

“I was at breakfast with some football guys, and they asked me how the night was,” Spies said. “I was scrolling on my phone, and it popped up. I was like ‘Dude, we won!’”

Over the next two weeks, Schizmatics learned six songs to add to their original five. They met for rehearsal two or three times a week for at least two hours. 

“We made sure that every rehearsal was worthwhile,” Gerth said. 

On April 23, the band performed for the first time on the CHP stage. The brothers recalled that night, discussing which was more nerve-racking: CHP Showdown or CHP.

“We had to prove ourselves at showdown. It was like we were up against the wall,” Walker said. 

But Gerth said there were higher expectations at CHP because of their first performance at the showdown. 

They graced the stage more confidently this time with more experience under their belt. The crowd already liked them, was familiar with their setlist, and was excited to see them mount the stage again. 

Listro said one of his favorite memories was when they gathered for prayer before going on stage.

“Right before the show, we went on stage, and our Catholic boy, Matt, prayed us out,” Gerth said. “I felt so much better after that because I felt like we just centered ourselves and kind of had a unity within the Schizmatics.” 

Upon arriving back to campus this fall, Schizmatics played at Welcome Party, learning five new songs in three days, and then at the Chi-Omega Kickoff. 

For now, the band said they will continue to play and improve.

“We’re just trying to relax a little bit and play for the fun of it because that’s why we started because we all love it,” Schaefer said. 

But with their focus on this year’s CHP showdown, they’re not short of goals. Or fans.