The Spizzwinks

The Yale Spizzwinks(?)
Background information
Years active 1914,[1] 1940–present [2]
Website http://www.spizzwink.com
Members Tenor I
Scott Feiner '19
Nolan Crawford '19
Dale Zhong '19
Noah Strausser '18

Tenor II
Dylan Schifrin '20
TanTan Wang '20
Dennis Brookner '19
Jake Colavolpe '18
Donovan Sabog '18

Baritone
Paul Gross '20
Nick Massoud '19
Hudson Lee '19
Ian Billinge '18

Bass
Aidan O'Connor '20
Jake Gluckman '20
Christopher Bowman '18

Scott Feiner, pitchpipe
Donovan Sabog, business manager

The Spizzwinks, stylized as the The Spizzwinks(?), are an a cappella singing group of male students from Yale University. Founded in late 1913, the Spizzwinks(?) are the oldest underclassman a cappella group in the United States, dating back to a first performance in early 1914.[1][3]

Composed of eighteen college-aged men, the Spizzwinks perform internationally, touring to every continent within a three-year term. The group is also a 501(c)(3) organization, meaning that the group is a non-profit organization. [4]

History

In 1913, four young men met at Mory's Temple Bar, Yale's historic tavern, to create a light-hearted alternative to the more serious Whiffenpoofs (another a cappella singing group).[5] They decided upon the "Spizzwinks," a reference to a mythical creature to which the Corn Blight of 1906 had been whimsically attributed. Because the editor of the Yale Banner was unsure how to spell the fledgling group's name, he added a question mark in parentheses to the headline announcing its foundation. The group liked the look of "Spizzwinks(?)" and has officially adopted the symbol as both a part of its name and as a logo.[5]

Music and Humor

The Spizzwinks' repertoire comprises music arranged entirely by current and former members of the group, including a mixture of traditional Yale songs, songs by composers such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein, and more modern artists like Queen, MIKA, fun., Adele, and Justin Timberlake.[6] The group values a signature "laugh of loud" humor, and a typical concert includes a variety of skits and other comedy.

Each year, the Yale Spizzwinks(?) perform over 100 concerts across the nation and around the world, typically in tuxedos or tails.[7] They have performed at the White House, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, and professional sporting events, as well as at country clubs, yacht clubs, churches, schools, and resorts.[8] The group sells CDs and other merchandise to raise funds for their touring, as they are completely self-funded.[9]

Notable Alumni

Discography

References

  1. 1 2 1914 Yale Daily News Historical Archive, January 20th, 1914, Page 6, University Notices
  2. ↑ Yale Daily News Historical Archive, October 4th, 1940, Page 8, University Notices
  3. ↑ Oldest underclassman a cappella group. They are also the second oldest undergraduate a cappella group, after the Yale Whiffenpoofs (which is limited to seniors). .
  4. ↑
  5. 1 2 "Spizzwinks(?) history". Yale.edu. 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  6. ↑ "Winkipedia - View Arrangement". Yalespizzwinks.org. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  7. ↑ "The Yale Spizzwinks(?) Concerts and Tours". Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  8. ↑ "Spizzwinks(?) concerts and tours". Yale.edu. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  9. ↑ "Spizzwinks store". Yale.edu. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  10. ↑ Bobby Lopez
  11. ↑ Jonathan Coulton;Coulton Interview
  12. ↑ "Chris Beck". New York Times. 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  13. ↑ Noah Emmerich
  14. ↑ Rob Bell Archived July 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
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