Smiffenpoofs
Encyclopedia
Formed in 1936 at Smith College
, the Smiffenpoofs are the oldest all-female collegiate a cappella
group in the nation. 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 Yale Whiffenpoofs 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 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 2, 2006 performance in Brattleboro, VT, the Smiffenpoofs were praised in the Brattleboro 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 of Imogen 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.”
The Smiffenpoofs have built up a discography of several CDs and records over the past thirty years. Their brother a cappella group is The Brown Derbies
.
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, the Smiffenpoofs are the oldest all-female collegiate a cappella
Collegiate a cappella
Collegiate a cappella ensembles are student-run and -directed singing groups that perform entirely without instruments. Such groups can be found at many colleges and universities in the United States, and increasingly worldwide....
group in the nation. The group's founding came shortly after a group of Smithies attended a picnic with students from their brother school, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, in Northampton, MA, where the Yale Whiffenpoofs 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 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 2, 2006 performance in Brattleboro, VT, the Smiffenpoofs were praised in the Brattleboro Reformer
Brattleboro Reformer
The Brattleboro Reformer is the third-largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Vermont. With a weekday circulation of just over 10,000, it is behind the Burlington Free Press and the Rutland Herald, respectively...
: “The Smiffenpoofs are as tight and refined as a group can be. They are champagne and caviar, Newport Beach and Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
.” The Smiffenpoofs’ arrangement of Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is a Grammy Award-winning English singer, composer and songwriter from Havering, Essex. She is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou and her solo albums, which she writes, produces, and mixes...
’s “Hide and Seek
Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap song)
"Hide and Seek" is the first single by Imogen Heap from her album Speak for Yourself. The song is performed with the sole accompaniment being a keyboard synth transformed by a vocoder, creating an altered a cappella sound.-Television:...
” has also been described as “absolutely stunning,” and the performance as “a sanctuary of calm, moving ensemble singing…just beautiful.”
The Smiffenpoofs have built up a discography of several CDs and records over the past thirty years. Their brother a cappella group is The Brown Derbies
The Brown Derbies
The Brown Derbies is an all-male a capella group at Brown University. They were established in 1982 and have released ten albums. They sing a variety of different genres, ranging from Rock, to Barbershop, to R&B and are known in the a cappella community for their unique use of syllables in the...
.