The Yale Alley Cats
The Yale Alley Cats | |
|---|---|
 Yale Alley Cats of 2013-2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | New Haven, Connecticut |
| Genres | A cappella, jazz, mowtown, pop |
| Years active | 1943 – present |
| Members | Tenor I Zack Elkind '17 Laurence Bashford '18 Jared Michaud '19 Tenor II Xinyuan Chen '17 Griffin Black '18 Eli Daiute '18 Jacob Clemente '19 Baritone Thomas Forster '17 Aujer Ding '18 Erifer Fernandez '18 Mohit Sani '19 Bass Nicholas Biniaz-Harris '18 Aidan Brooks '19 Sachin Peddada '19 Dustin Zhao '19 Nicholas Biniaz-Harris, Musical Director Erifer Fernandez, Business Manager |
| Website | YaleAlleyCats.com |
The Yale Alley Cats are an all male, undergraduate a cappella singing group at Yale University. The Alley Cats were founded in 1943, making them the third oldest underclassman a cappella group at Yale.[1] The group’s early repertoire was based in jazz, and its current arrangements cover Motown, pop music, folk music, and various other music genres. Each year, the Cats go on three tours, many of them international, performing for public and private audiences.[2]
Music
All of the group's music are arrangements written by current and past members.[3] Their performances have entertained audiences world-wide, including Martha Stewart and President Barack Obama.[3][4] The Alley Cats' first album on the Bridge Records, Inc. label [2] also made it onto the 52nd Grammy Awards entry list for Best Pop Vocal Album.[5]
Recent tours[6]
Every year, the group travels to numerous destinations during their winter, spring, and summer breaks. Recent tours include:
| Date | Destination |
|---|---|
| Winter 2016 |
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| Summer 2015 |
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| Spring 2015 |
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| Winter 2015 |
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| Summer 2014 |
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| Spring 2014 |
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| Winter 2014 |
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| Summer 2013 |
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| Spring 2013 |
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| Winter 2013 |
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| Summer 2012 |
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| Spring 2012 |
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| Winter 2012 |
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| Summer 2011 |
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| Spring 2011 |
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| Winter 2011 |
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| Summer 2010 |
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| Spring 2010 |
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| Winter 2010 |
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Notable alumni
Many Alley Cats go on to join The Yale Whiffenpoofs, a selective, all-senior, all-male a cappella group,[7] and some have gone on to careers in the performance industry, including:
- Andy Sandberg '06, Producer, director, and actor, best known as the producer of the Broadway (2009) and West End (2010) revivals of the musical Hair.[8]
- Dave Lieberman '03, Host of Food Network's "Good Deal with Dave Lieberman".[9]
- Joe Farrell '97, Host of Trading Spaces: Family.[10]
- Josh Singer '94, Co-writer of the Academy Award-winning screenplay, Spotlight [11]
- George R. Steel '94, General Manager and Artistic Director of the New York City Opera. Former General Director of the Dallas Opera.[12][13]
- Allen Murabayashi '94, Founding employee and Senior Vice President of Engineering at HotJobs.com (now Yahoo! HotJobs).[14][15]
- Manoel Felciano '92, Tony Award-nominated Actor of Sweeney Todd (Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, 2006).[16][17]
- David J. Tang '89, Artistic and acting Executive Director of Firebird Arts Alliance.[18]
- John Gibert, Ph.D., '82, Professor of Classics, University of Colorado, Boulder
- Jeffrey Klitz '81, Conductor, Musician, Arranger for Broadway and other theatrical endeavors.[19][20]
Founding
In the summer of 1943, four Yale undergraduate students climbed Saybrook Tower to serenade the night with Henry Carey's "Sally in Our Alley". Their singing awoke the College Master who quickly yelled at them to "stop it! Your singing sounds like a bunch of screeching alley cats!" The Master then quieted the young gentlemen and sent them to bed, but the performance marked the group's founding and taking the name, "The Yale Alley Cats." [2]
Rush
Each year, freshmen audition in a multi-week process known as "Rush." [21] In the tradition of many Yale a cappella groups, the current Alley Cats “tap” freshmen to sing with the group for three years.[22][23]
- The Gamble (2015)
- The Very Best of the Yale Alley Cats (2014)
- Noir (2013)
- Maneki Neko (2010)
- Ghost of a Chance (2009)
- Classic (2006)
- Ninth Live (2004)
- Day & Night (2003)
- Est. 1943 (2001)
- Cats Around the World (2000)
- Scratch (1999)
- Live in Europe (1998)
- Hot Tin Roof (1997)
- Swinging Cat (1995)
- Lingers on My Mind (1993)
- Mood Calico (1991)
- Top Hat & Tails (1989)
- Faux Paws (1987)
- The Cat's Out (1983)
- Night and Day (1981)
- Down for Double (1979)
- Magic To Do (1977)
- Out Cattin' (1975)
- 25th Anniversary (1973)
- Our House (1971)
- Tales of the Alley Cats (1969)
- You Go to My Head (1967)
- The Yale Alley Cats: Volume IV (1965)
- Just For My Love (1964)
- Bewitching (1963)
- The Yale Alley Cats (1958)
References
- ^ The Yale Alley Cats
- ^ a b c The Yale Alley Cats release their first studio album under the Bridge Records label.
- ^ a b The Yale Alley Cats history
- ^ The Yale Alley Cats on "Martha Stewart's Home for the Holidays."
- ^ 52nd Grammy Awards entry list, Field 1, Category 11: Best Pop Vocal Album. Note: The original list at Grammy.com has been removed. A true and accurate copy is found at the current-referenced URL.
- ^ Yale Alley Cats Tours
- ^ "An Irrepressible Urge to Join - Musical Groups", The Yale Alumni Magazine, January 2003.
- ^ Andy Sandberg. BroadwayWorld.com, accessed May 9, 2011
- ^ Dave Lieberman at The Food Network
- ^ Joe Farrell on IMDB
- ^ Erbland, Kate (November 4, 2015). ""How 'Spotlight' Screenwriter Josh Singer Recovered From 'The Fifth Estate' With Another Journalism Film"". indiewire.com. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ George R. Steel at NYC Opera
- ^ George R. Steel at Dallas Opera
- ^ "Interview with Allen Murabayashi, Founder of Photoshelter.com", About the Image, 21 December 2005
- ^ Photographer Portfolio: "Allen Murabayashi | Eddie Adams Workshop"
- ^ Manoel Felciano on IMDB
- ^ Manoel Felciano on IBDB
- ^ David J. Tang at the Firebird Arts Alliance
- ^ Jeffrey Klitz on IBDB
- ^ Jeffrey Klitz on Playbill.com's Who's Who
- ^ Yale Singing Group Council: "What is "rush?""
- ^ Yale Daily News: "A cappella taps newest members", The Yale Daily News, New Haven, 24 September 2009.
- ^ "Yale's A Cappella Rush", National Public Radio, 26 September 2002.
- ^ "Current Albums". The Yale Alley Cats. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
- ^ "Back Catalog". The Yale Alley Cats. Retrieved 2016-02-29.