The Spizzwinks, stylized as The Spizzwinks(?), are an a cappella singing group of undergraduates 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 roughly sixteen people, with exact numbers depending on the year, the Spizzwinks perform concerts and teach masterclasses through extensive international and domestic touring schedules. Through four principal tours each year, during Yale College's fall, winter, spring and summer recesses respectively, the Spizzwink Promise guarantees each member that they will tour on six continents and in their hometown during their three years in the group. The group is a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization.[4]
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 (composed solely of Yale College seniors).[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 humoredit
The 'Winks 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., The Beatles, and Adele.[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 Spizzwinks(?) perform over 100 concerts across the nation and around the world, typically in jeans and t-shirts, Yale regalia or white tie.[7] They have performed at the White House, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, US State Department, 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 alumniedit
Of all the underclassman a cappella groups which feed into the Whiffenpoofs, the 'Winks have sent more singers to the all-senior group than any other. This, along with their robust performance and touring schedule has given 'Winks a strong reputation at the college and beyond. Some notable alums include:
John Hancock Daniels '43, former president and chief executive officer of Archer Daniels Midland
Discographyedit
The Spizzwinks(?) have published 34 full-length albums and one EP. In modern times, publish an album at least every two years. With this arrangement, every member has the opportunity to sing on at least two professionally recorded albums with the group.
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 (2013)
The Brothership (2015)
Hometown (2017)
Chasing Lights (2019)
Mind the GapEP (2021)*
Mind the Gap (2022)
*Upon the release of a full-length Mind the Gap album, the EP of the same name was retroactively withdrawn from most streaming services.
Referencesedit
^ ab1914 Yale Daily News Historical Archive, January 20th, 1914, Page 6, University Notices
^Yale Daily News Historical Archive, October 4th, 1940, Page 8, University Notices
"Yale's A Cappella Rush" NPR Morning Edition report
Samples of Spizzwink(?) performances
January 01, 1970
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Some of this article s listed sources may not be reliable Please help improve this article by looking for better more reliable sources Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed July 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message The Spizzwinks stylized as The Spizzwinks are an a cappella singing group of undergraduates 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 The Yale SpizzwinksBackground informationOriginNew Haven ConnecticutGenresA CappellaYears active1914 1 1940 present 2 MembersTenor IElijah Lee 26Abril Tello Cornejo 27Xari Carbins 26Clark Wu 27Tenor IITabatha Stewart 26Giri Viswanathan 25Tavian Jones 26Gbemiga Salu 27BaritoneEduardo Pagliaro Haque 25Charlie Stephenson 25John Raskopf 27Eshaan Giri 27Eason Rytter 27BassThomas Lowe 25Adam McPhail 25Daniel Wu 26Jiayang Jin 27 PitchpipeTavian JonesBusiness ManagerElijah LeeWebsitehttp www spizzwinks com Composed of roughly sixteen people with exact numbers depending on the year the Spizzwinks perform concerts and teach masterclasses through extensive international and domestic touring schedules Through four principal tours each year during Yale College s fall winter spring and summer recesses respectively the Spizzwink Promise guarantees each member that they will tour on six continents and in their hometown during their three years in the group The group is a 501 c 3 non profit organization 4 Contents 1 History 2 Music and humor 3 Notable alumni 4 Discography 5 References 6 External linksHistory editIn 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 composed solely of Yale College seniors 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 editThe Winks 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 The Beatles and Adele 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 Spizzwinks perform over 100 concerts across the nation and around the world typically in jeans and t shirts Yale regalia or white tie 7 They have performed at the White House Madison Square Garden Carnegie Hall US State Department 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 editOf all the underclassman a cappella groups which feed into the Whiffenpoofs the Winks have sent more singers to the all senior group than any other This along with their robust performance and touring schedule has given Winks a strong reputation at the college and beyond Some notable alums include Bobby Lopez 97 co creator of the Broadway musicals Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon composed songs for Frozen including Academy Award winning song 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 10 Jonathan Coulton 93 singer songwriter best known for composing the end themes to Portal and Portal 2 11 Christophe Beck 91 Emmy Award winning Hollywood film composer 12 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 13 David Pogue 85 Emmy Award winning CBS correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning Charles Rivkin 84 former United States Ambassador to France Rick Westerfield 79 former Associate Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Rob Bell 72 founding member of Chanticleer 14 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 MidlandDiscography editThe Spizzwinks have published 34 full length albums and one EP In modern times publish an album at least every two years With this arrangement every member has the opportunity to sing on at least two professionally recorded albums with the group 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 2013 The Brothership 2015 Hometown 2017 Chasing Lights 2019 Mind the Gap EP 2021 Mind the Gap 2022 Upon the release of a full length Mind the Gap album the EP of the same name was retroactively withdrawn from most streaming services References edit 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 Archived 2006 11 10 at the Wayback Machine They are also the second oldest undergraduate a cappella group after the Yale Whiffenpoofs which is limited to seniors citation needed Yale Spizzwinks Alumni Association Inc a b Spizzwinks history Yale edu 2007 03 23 Archived from the original on 2012 02 14 Retrieved 2012 02 27 Winkipedia View Arrangement Yalespizzwinks org Archived from the original on 2012 02 17 Retrieved 2012 02 27 The Yale Spizzwinks Concerts and Tours Archived from the original on 2008 01 02 Retrieved 2007 01 25 Spizzwinks concerts and tours Yale edu Archived from the original on 2012 04 01 Retrieved 2012 02 27 Spizzwinks store Yale edu Archived from the original on 2012 02 14 Retrieved 2012 02 27 Bobby Lopez Archived 2013 02 09 at archive today Jonathan Coulton Coulton Interview Chris Beck New York Times 2006 09 23 Retrieved 2012 02 27 Noah Emmerich Rob Bell Archived July 17 2007 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editThe Yale Spizzwinks home page What s a Spizzwink Yale Daily News article on Bobby Lopez Yale and Tradition Yale s A Cappella Rush NPR Morning Edition report Samples of Spizzwink performances Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Spizzwinks amp oldid 1217562485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
