- UNC Clef Hangers
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UNC Clef Hangers Origin Chapel Hill, NC Genres Collegiate a cappella Years active 1977-present Website www.ClefHangers.com The UNC Clef Hangers (also known as the Clefs) is the oldest a cappella group[1] at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sponsored by the UNC General Alumni Association, the group was founded by Tom Terrell and Barry Saunders in 1977,[2] and was originally called the Morrison Dorm Singers.[3]
The first Clef Hangers concert was in the Spring of 1979, and in 2008 the group celebrated its 30th anniversary.[4] It was their first concert where the Clef Hangers adopted their traditional vests and bowties,[5] which are now a signature look for the group. As with traditional a cappella, the Clef Hangers use no instruments when performing or recording albums.[6]
In 2009, Clef alumnus Anoop Desai placed 6th on season 8 of American Idol,[7][8] becoming the first UNC graduate and first Clef Hanger to place in American Idol.
Contents
History
Official UNC Clef Hangers logo
Since their first tour to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1980, the Clefs have performed for audiences in Spain, France, Scotland, Los Angeles, Washington DC, New York, and many other locations. During a tour to New York City, they performed for the nation on the television show Good Morning America. In the spring of 2002, they were personally invited by Chancellor James Moeser to sing at Commencement, a tradition that has continued ever since. The Clef Hangers perform for a packed Memorial Hall every year during their Fall and Spring concerts, and sometimes feature special guests like Dean Smith and Roy Williams.[9]
The group has released a number of professionally-produced studio albums, many of which have had tracks featured on the Best of Collegiate A Cappella (BOCA) Compilation CDs. In 2004, the Clef Hangers received their first Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) for Best Soloist in the song Easy, featured on the 2003 album Breeze. Since then, they have won two more CARAs for Best Male Collegiate Songs for My Love on Time Out,[10] and for Ain't Nothing Wrong on Twist.[11] The group has also garnered runner-up CARAs for Best Male Collegiate Arrangement (Africa from Safari) in 1991,[9] Best Male Collegiate Album (Facing Clarence) in 2006, Best Male Collegiate Album (Time Out) in 2008,[10] Best Male Collegiate Solo (Andrew Avent for Feelin Good) in 2008,[10] and has been nominated for several other CARAs.
The Clef Hangers were originally called the Morrison Dorm Singers, and it was not until 1978 that the name Clef Hangers was chosen.[3] The name continues with the tradition of a cappella group pun names, and it is believed the name was chosen because the first two letters, C and H, correlate with Chapel Hill, the town where UNC Chapel Hill was founded.
The unequivocal vest and bowties are complete with buttons that cover the vests. The buttons tradition began when Tom Terrell put a button on his vest during the first public Clef Hangers performance in the Pit (a central gathering location at UNC Chapel Hill) in 1977.
Signature songs
The signature song for the Clef Hangers is Carolina in my Mind, written by James Taylor. This song is performed at every Clef concert—sometimes as an encore—and annually at the university Commencement. The a cappella version was arranged in 1991 by Clef alumnus Brannon Wiles.[12] The Clef Hangers, joined by university chancellor Holden Thorp, performed the song together in March 2009 at the first anniversary memorial service for murdered student president Eve Carson.[13][14]
Another signature song the Clefs perform is Africa, by Toto. The a cappella arrangement was written in 1991 by Clef alumni Tristan Bishop and Brannon Wiles.[15]
Notable alumni
Class of 2011 Hogan Medlin - UNC Student Body President[16]
Class of 2008 Anoop Desai[8][17]
Class of 2002 Brendan James[18][19]
Albums
Album Name[20] Year[20] Awards/Notes Producer[21] Carols from the Hill 2010 Clef Hangers Christmas Album Andrew Simpson, David Sperandio Twist 2009 Ain't Nothing Wrong receives CARA for Best Male Collegiate Song[11] and chosen for Sing V,[22] Ordinary World chosen for BOCA 2010,[23] Album received perfect score by RARB,[24] CARA Runner-up for best male collegiate album, song "Nude", and arrangement for "Boondocks".[25] David Sperandio Time Out 2007 My Love receives CARA for Best Male Collegiate Song,[10] She Has No Time and Don't Stop Believin' chosen for BOCA 2007 and 2008,[26][27] Feeling Good and My Love chosen for Sing III and Sing IV,[22] Album received perfect score by RARB [28] David Sperandio Facing Clarence 2005 The Way You Move chosen for BOCA 2005, Crazy Train chosen for BOCA 2006,[29] Can You Stand the Rain chosen for Sing II[22] David Sperandio Breeze 2003 Comedown chosen for BOCA 2003,[30] Easy chosen for Sing 2003,[22] CARA for Best Soloist, Jason Hamlin for Easy[9] David Sperandio 25 2003 25th anniversary compilation disk[20] Dr. DeMar Neal IV, R. Scott Morgan, David Sperandio Elevation 2001 Father Figure chosen for BOCA 2002[31] David Sperandio Wayfarer's Dole 1999 Five O'Clock Shadow 1997 Crackin' Up 1995 No Ninths Allowed 1993 Safari 1992 Africa runner-up for CARA for Best Arrangement Sounds of Carolina 1991 Take II 1990 References
- ^ Hart at Our State celebration | Salisbury, NC - Salisbury Post
- ^ UNC General Alumni Association :: Clef Hangers |
- ^ a b The Daily Tar Heel :: Serving UNC students and the community since 1893
- ^ http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper885/documents/14fd17qy.pdf
- ^ The Daily Tar Heel :: Serving UNC students and the community since 1893
- ^ Clef Hangers not a barbershop quartet : goTriad.com - Triad Arts and Entertainment
- ^ The Shocking Twist & Our New Top 13! - Show and Alumni News - American Idol
- ^ a b Shriver, Jerry (2009-05-26). "Voices carry a burgeoning trend". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20090527/acappella27_st.art.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ a b c The UNC Clef Hangers :: History
- ^ a b c d CARA Winners 2008 | A Cappella Music - The Contemporary A Cappella Society
- ^ a b 2009 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Winners | A Cappella Music - The Contemporary A Cappella Society
- ^ RARB Review of Clef Hangers - Facing Clarence
- ^ "Ceremony marks anniversary of Eve Carson's death". USA Today. 2009-03-05. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/states/northcarolina/2009-03-05-3914709847_x.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ "Eve Carson Remembrance". University Gazette. http://gazette.unc.edu/archives/09mar18/file.2.html. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ^ RARB Review of Clef Hangers - Breeze
- ^ The Daily Tar Heel :: Serving UNC students and the community since 1893
- ^ http://www.philly.com/community/pa/philadelphia/netimes/52541177.html[dead link]
- ^ Menconi, David (2007-09-21). "James' record still to come". The News & Observer. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-168916937/james-record-still-come.html.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_James[dead link]
- ^ a b c The UNC Clef Hangers :: Albums
- ^ A Cappella Groups - Clients | diovoce.net
- ^ a b c d Sing!
- ^ BOCA 2010: Best Of College A Cappella Announced! | A Cappella Music - The Contemporary A Cappella Society
- ^ RARB Review of Clef Hangers - Twist
- ^ 2010 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Winners | A Cappella Music - The Contemporary A Cappella Society
- ^ BOCA CDs - BOCA 2007: Best of College A Cappella '07 (CD)
- ^ http://www.a-cappella.com/product/BOCA_2008_Best_of_College_A_Cappella_2008_CD/boca-best_of_college_a_cappella[dead link]
- ^ RARB Review of Clef Hangers - Time Out
- ^ BOCA CDs - BOCA 2005: Best of College A Cappella '05 (CD)
- ^ BOCA CDs - BOCA 2003: Best College A Cappella '03
- ^ http://www.a-cappella.com/product/1806C/boca-best_of_college_a_cappella[dead link]
External links
- Clef Hangers Official Site
- Varsity Vocals, produce yearly Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) CDs.
- The Contemporary A Cappella Society (of America), a repository of resources regarding contemporary a cappella. Deke Sharon, founder of CASA, has co-produced every Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) CD since 1995.
Categories:- Collegiate a cappella groups
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student organizations
- Musical groups established in 1977
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