Columbia welcomes the Yale Whiffenpoofs

Members of the Yale Whippenpoofs are first row (l- r): Mark Wittman, Kevin Osowski, Joshua Min, Aaron Wiener, and Nathan Reiff; second row: Mike Davis, Kyle Mitchell, Brad Retzloff, Matthew Thunell, and Justin Baker; third row: David MacIntosh, Jared schwede, Mark Havel, and Glenton Davis.

Contributed by Matthew Thunell

Matthew Thunell, a native of Columbia and an alumnus of Dreher High School, is the tour manager of the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the nation's most recognized and renowned a cappella group. The group will be in Columbia Friday, Jan. 12 and will perform at Trinity Cathedral at 8 pm and during their stay at two private concerts at Hammond School and Heathwood Hall.

Every year 14 senior men are selected to the Whiffenpoofs, a non- profit organization. Since the founding in 1909, the Whiffenpoofs has spread a cappella music throughout the U.S. and the world. The group has a diverse repertoire that ranges from rock and pop to folk songs, jazz ballads, and traditional Yale songs.

The Whiffenpoof Song, the group's signature ballad gained nationwide recognition when Rudy Vallee (Whiffs of 1927) recorded a version in the 30s. Later Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald (made an honorary Whiffenpoof in 1979), Bing Crosby, and Elvis Pressley followed suit with their own recordings.

Combining a unique blend of musicianship, choreography, and showmanship, the Whiffenpoofs create a performance suitable for an array of different audiences. In recent years, they have performed for U.S. Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush; Mother Theresa; the Dalai Lama; and foreign dignitaries all over the world.

They have appeared at Carnegie Hall, the White House, the Lincoln Center, and the Rose Bowl, the World Series, and American television on Saturday Night Live, The Gilmore Girls, The Today Show, 60 Minutes, Jeopardy! and The West Wing. They maintain a performance schedule of over 200 concerts annually in addition to recording an album and embarking on a 17- week world tour.

The greatest strength of the group, according to Thunell, is their flexibility, which enables them to perform for students of all ages in addition to foreign dignitaries and celebrities. Through their performances at schools around the country, the Whiffenpoofs show an enthusiasm and zeal for music that often translates into increased interest and participation by students.

In addition to hanging around after concerts to speak to students and advocate the benefits of singing, music, and striving for academic excellence, the group is also available for workshops with the choir, general music classes, or other segments of the student body.

In workshops, they demonstrate the method through which they learn music, elaborate on musical elements, and musical backgrounds, and run the students through a series of musical exercises and answer any of their questions. For more information, visit www.whiffenpoofs.com.