The Spizzwinks
The Spizzwinks(?), whose name includes the question mark, are a Yale University group that is the oldest underclassman a cappella group in the United States, dating back to 1914.
History
In 1913, four young men met at Mory's Temple Bar, Yale's historic tavern, to name their new singing group, which would feature the musical excellence of The Whiffenpoofs with a more light-hearted air. 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 "The Spizzwinks(?)" and has kept the question mark to this day.
Music and humor
Their repertoire includes songs by musical legends George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein, and Henry Mancini. Over the years, they have mixed in arrangements of songs by Billy Joel, Jeff Buckley, Marvin Gaye, and Isaac Hayes. The Spizzwinks(?) also perform original pieces from alumni.
Each year, the Yale Spizzwinks(?) perform nearly 100 concerts across the nation and around the world. They have performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall and professional sporting events, as well as country clubs, yacht clubs, schools and resorts.
Recent world tours
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
- 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.
- Joshua Malina, actor, best known for playing Will Bailey on Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing
- George Roy Hill, 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.
- Christophe Beck, emmy-winning Hollywood film composer.