The Spizzwinks
The Yale Spizzwinks(?) | |
|---|---|
| File:SpizzwinkCrest.gif | |
| Background information | |
| Years active | 1914,[1] 1940–present [2] |
| Members | Tenor I Felix Cancre '17 Mark Fedronic '15 Collin Gray '16 Franklyn Zhu '17 Tenor II Drew O'Donnell '15 Chase Renfroe '16 Max Sauberman '17 Jeremy Weiss '15 Phil Wilkinson '16 Baritone Ryan Campbell '16 Cole Citrenbaum '17 Arthur Erlendsson '17 Seth Lifland '15 Ben Paltiel '16 Bass Nick Agar-Johnson '16 Dan Rigberg '15 Drew Robinett '16 Michael Tappel '17 Jeremy Weiss, pitchpipe Drew O'Donnell, business manager |
| Website | http://www.spizzwinks.com |
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]
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).[4] 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.[4]
Music and Humor
The Spizzwink(?) repertoire comprises music arranged entirely by current and former members of the group, including traditional Yale songs, songs by composers such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein, and more modern artists like Queen, MIKA, fun., and Rascal Flatts.[5] The Spizzwinks(?) also perform original works by active members and alumni. The group values 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.[6] They have performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and professional sporting events, as well as at country clubs, yacht clubs, churches, schools, and resorts.[7] The group sells CDs and other merchandise to raise funds for their touring.[8]
Notable Alumni
- Bobby Lopez '97, co-creator of the Broadway musicals Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon. Composed songs for Frozen and won a "Best Original Song" Academy Award for "Let It Go." Winner of the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical Score and the 2011 Tony Awards for Best Musical Score and Best Book of a Musical.[9]
- Jonathan Coulton '93, singer-songwriter, best known for composing the end themes to Portal and Portal 2[10]
- Christophe Beck '91, Emmy Award-winning Hollywood film composer[11]
- Steve Bodow '89, executive producer and former head writer for The Daily Show
- Joshua Malina '88, actor, best known for playing Will Bailey on Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing
- Noah Emmerich '87, actor, best known for roles in "Miracle", "The Truman Show," and Super 8". [12]
- Charles Rivkin '84, United States Ambassador to France
- Rick Westerfield '79, symphony conductor
- Rob Bell '72, founding member of Chanticleer[13]
- Lewis Spratlan '62, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer
- George Roy Hill '43, director, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Slaughterhouse-Five, and The World According to Garp. 1974 Academy Award winner as Best Director for The Sting.
- John Hancock Daniels '43, former president and chief executive officer of Archer Daniels Midland.
Discography
- Songs of the Spizzwinks (1948)
- Spizzwinks (1950)
- Songs of the Yale Spizzwinks (1956)
- Blue Skies (1957)
- New Horizons (1960)
- Yesterdays with the Spizzwinks (1961)
- The 50th Anniversary Album (1964)
- The Yale Spizzwinks(?) (1967)
- Hey Mister Ain'cha Got No Blue? (1969)
- Lip Service (1971)
- Imagination (1973)
- A Touch Of Class (1976)
- In Trouble (1979)
- Puttin' On The Ritz (1980)
- Steamheat (1982)
- No Regrets (1984)
- Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink (1989)
- The Hour Of Power (1991)
- One Coin, One Play (1993)
- Any Questions (1995)
- Eine Kleine Winkmusik (1997)
- Shine Your Shoes (1999)
- Four Score Seven (2001)
- Thank You, Come Again (2003)
- 90th Anniversary Collection (2004)
- Simply Put (2005)
- The Gloves Are Off (2007)
- Cause for Alarm (2009)
- The Myrrh the Merrier (2010)
- The Elephant in the Room (2011)
- Never Don't Go (September 2013)
References
- ^ a b 1914 Yale Daily News Historical Archive, January 20th, 1914, Page 6, University Notices
- ^ Yale Daily News Historical Archive, October 4th, 1940, Page 8, University Notices
- ^ Oldest underclassman a cappella group. They are also the second oldest undergraduate a cappella group, after the Yale Whiffenpoofs (which is limited to seniors). [citation needed] Another Yale male a cappella singing group, the Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, claims to be the second "longest-running" singing group; that group was founded in 1938. See Society of Orpheus and Bacchus.
- ^ a b "Spizzwinks(?) history". Yale.edu. 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ "Winkipedia - View Arrangement". Yalespizzwinks.org. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ "The Yale Spizzwinks(?) Concerts and Tours". Retrieved 2007-01-25.
- ^ "Spizzwinks(?) concerts and tours". Yale.edu. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ "Spizzwinks store". Yale.edu. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ Bobby Lopez
- ^ Jonathan Coulton;Coulton Interview
- ^ "Chris Beck". New York Times. 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ Noah Emmerich
- ^ Rob Bell[dead link]