The Spizzwinks(?)

The Spizzwinks(?), whose name includes the parentheses and question mark, are an a cappella singing group of Yale University male students. The Spizzwinks(?) travel throughout the United States and the world performing nearly 100 concerts each year, with a repertoire that spans from Maroon 5 to George Gershwin, and includes comedy sketches, typically performed in tuxedos or tails. 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. [ [http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/2004_09/aya.html Oldest underclassman a cappella group] . They are also the second oldest undergraduate a cappella group, after the Yale Whiffenpoofs (which is limited to seniors). Another Yale male "a cappella" singing group, the Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, claims to be the "longest-running non-senior" singing group; that group was founded in 1938. "See" [http://www.thesobs.net/content-4.html Society of Orpheus and Bacchus] .]

History

In 1913, four young men met at Mory's Temple Bar, Yale's historic tavern, to create a more light-hearted alternative to the more serious Whiffenpoofs (another a cappella singing group), and to name their new singing group. [http://www.yale.edu/spizzwin/history/ Spizzwinks(?) history] ] They decided upon the "Spizzwinks," a reference to a mythical creature to which the Corn Blight of 1906 had been whimsically attributed. The editor of the Yale Banner was unsure of the spelling of the fledgling group and added a question mark in parentheses. The group liked the look of "Spizzwinks(?)" and has kept the parentheses and question mark to this day.

Music and humor

While their repertoire has included songs by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Leonard Bernstein, over the years, they have mixed in arrangements of songs by Maroon 5, Billy Joel, Jeff Buckley, Marvin Gaye, Queen, The Who, and Rascal Flatts. The Spizzwinks(?) also perform original pieces by alumni. Typically, a Spizzwinks(?) concert will include skits and humorous introductions to their music.

Each year, the Yale Spizzwinks(?) perform nearly 100 concerts across the nation and around the world. [cite web | title = The Yale Spizzwinks(?) Concerts and Tours | url=http://www.spizzwinks.com/concerts&tours/ | accessdate = 2007-01-25] They have performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and professional sporting events, as well as country clubs, yacht clubs, schools and resorts. [ [http://www.yale.edu/spizzwinks/concerts%26tours/ Spizzwinks(?) concerts and tours] ] The group also sells CDs and related materials to raise funds for their touring. [ [http://www.yale.edu/spizzwin/store/ Spizzwinks store] ]

Recent tours

"Summer Tour '08"
*Bucharest, Romania
*Dublin and Cork, Ireland
*London, England
*Brussels, Belgium
*Istanbul, Turkey"Spring Tour '08"
*Los Angeles, California, USA
*Nadi, Fiji
*Auckland, New Zealand [ [http://www.sweetadelines.co.nz/documents/SingOutJanFeb08.pdf Auckland concert] ] "Winter Tour '07"
*San Francisco, California, USA
*Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
*Duluth, Minnesota, USA [ [http://www.cloquetmn.com/articles/index.cfm?id=12219 Cloquet, MN concert] ] [ [http://www.howiehanson.com/?p=2143 Duluth, MN concert] ] "Summer Tour '07"
*Hong Kong [ [http://www2.aya.yale.edu/clubs/hongkong/newsletters.htm Hong Kong concert] ]
*Shanghai, China
*Chiang Mai, Thailand
*Yangon, Myanmar [ [http://mmtimes.com/no369/t001.htm Myanmar tour] ] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSYnJQxr-Xg video of Myanmar performance] ]
*Hanoi, Vietnam
*Bangkok, Thailand"Spring Tour '07"
*Ohio, USA
*Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
*Asunción, Paraguay
*Encarnación, Paraguay"Winter Tour '06"
*Tampa, Florida, USA
*Miami, Florida, USA"Summer Tour '06"
*Johannesburg, South Africa
*Pretoria, South Africa
*Cape Town, South Africa
*London, England [ [http://www.grimsdyke.com/spizzwinks06.htm London concert] ] "Spring Tour '06"
*Los Angeles, California, USA
*San Francisco, California, USA
*San Diego, California, USA"Winter Tour '05"
*Tucson, Arizona, USA
*Phoenix, Arizona, USA
*The Grand Canyon, USA"Summer Tour '05"
*London, England
*Shannon, Ireland
*Geneva, Switzerland
*Lugano, Switzerland
*Rome, Italy"Spring Tour '05"
*San Francisco, USA
*Buenos Aires, Argentina
*Asuncion, Paraguay"Winter Tour '04"
*Florida, USA
*San Juan, Puerto Rico

Motto

"We ride, for ride we must"

Notable alumni

* Bobby Lopez '97, co-creator of the Broadway musical Avenue Q. Winner of the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical Score. [ [http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/13974 Bobby Lopez] ]
* Jonathan Coulton '93, singer-songwriter [ [http://www.jonathancoulton.com/bio Jonathan Coulton] ; [http://www.garagespin.com/archives/interview-with-jonathan-coulton-song-writing-machine.html Coulton Interview] ]
* Noah Emmerich '92, actor [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001187/bio Noah Emmerich] ]
* Christophe Beck '91, Emmy Award-winning Hollywood film composer [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E5DA153AF930A1575AC0A9609C8B63 Chris Beck] ]
* Steve Bodow '89, head writer for The Daily Show.
* Joshua Malina '88, actor, best known for playing Will Bailey on Aaron Sorkin's "The West Wing"
* Rick Westerfield '79, symphony conductor.
* Rob Bell '72, founding member of Chanticleer [ [http://www.scholasf.org/aboutus.html Rob Bell] ]
* Lewis Spratlan '62, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer.
* Fenno Heath '50, composer and conductor [ [http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/14472 Fenno Heath] ]
* George Roy Hill '43, director, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "The Sting", "Slaughterhouse-Five", the "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.

External links

* [http://www.spizzwinks.com The Yale Spizzwinks Home Page]
* [http://www.bexleyalumni.org/FeaturesArticles/Spizzwink.htm "What's a Spizzwink(?)"]
* [http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/13974 Yale Daily News Article on Bobby Lopez]
* [http://www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=3118 Yale and Tradition]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1150640 "Yale's A Cappella Rush" NPR Morning Edition report ]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/theyalespizzwinks Samples of Spizzwink(?) performances]

Notes