- Smiffenpoofs
Formed in 1936 at
Smith College , the Smiffenpoofs are the oldest all-femalecollegiate a cappella group in the nation. [ [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN031234158X&id=0oQ3XkXjUQkC&pg=RA2-PA474&lpg=RA2-PA474&ots=rHxi6EwSBr&dq=smiffenpoofs&sig=qmCGJilC2-sQuYctIwsJ7rpKcwE The Insider's Guide to the Colleges, 2007: 33nd Edition] . Last accessed 12/24/2006.] The group's founding came shortly after a group of Smithies attended a picnic with students from their brother school,Yale University , in Northampton, MA, where the YaleWhiffenpoofs performed. Inspired by this male a cappella group, a few ambitious Smithies returned to school determined to establish their own a cappella group. In honor of the Whiffenpoofs, they adopted a similar name and thus became the first female collegiate a cappella group in the nation.Today, the Smiffenpoofs (affectionately known as "The Poofs") continue the a cappella tradition, maintaining a repertoire comprised of old standards and contemporary music alike. Performances at Smith and off campus at area colleges, alumnae gatherings, weddings, birthday parties, charity events, a cappella festivals, and much more keep the Smiffenpoofs busy throughout the school year with additional performances made possible during the summer months while on tour to various national and international destinations. Most recently, the Smiffenpoofs' summer tour saw them traveling to Japan for two weeks.
Following their March 2nd, 2006 performance in
Brattleboro, VT , the Smiffenpoofs were praised in theBrattleboro Reformer : “The Smiffenpoofs are as tight and refined as a group can be. They are champagne and caviar,Newport Beach and Rolls Royce.” The Smiffenpoofs’ arrangement ofImogen Heap ’s “Hide and Seek” has also been described as “absolutely stunning,” and the performance as “a sanctuary of calm, moving ensemble singing…just beautiful.” ["A major third: A cappella just keeps getting better," "The Brattleboro Reformer," March 2, 2006.]The Smiffenpoofs have built up a discography of several CDs and records over the past thirty years.
External links
* [http://www.smith.edu/smiffenpoofs/ Smiffenpoofs Official Site]
References
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