Kentwood High School graduate Antonio Fernandez, a member of the singing group Boots ‘n’ Cats, is preparing to travel to Los Angeles to compete in the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella regional semifinals on April 5.

Fernandez is a junior at Central Washington University in Ellensburg where he and six of his classmates formed the small, mixed a cappella group. He is pursuing a degree in music composition. Like the other members of Boots ‘n’ Cats, Fernandez embraced a passion for music at a young age.

“If I’m trying to get a lift up, or if I’m already high on life and just want to celebrate, music has just been my foundation of who I am,” he said.

The other singers in his group are Bo Mendez, Emily Salisbury, Nicole Prigge, Aryn Chatterton, Sarah Hemenway, and Ben Lundgren.

The group sings feel-good music with toe tapping beats. Each song tells a story, and the group’s set arrangement tells another story. It’s a 12-minute, uplifting presentation. Boots ‘n’ Cats finished second out of 10 groups in the February quarterfinals at Pacific Lutheran University. Fernandez took home an individual award for outstanding vocal percussion. The win advanced them to the semifinals next month at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. The winners of

that contest will advance to nationals on April 26 in New York City.