Virginia Gentlemen
Encyclopedia
The Virginia Gentlemen, a men's singing group, is the oldest a cappella group at the University of Virginia
. Founded in 1953 as an offshoot of the Virginia Glee Club
, the group continues to perform a mix of contemporary and classic vocal music. The group performs around the University of Virginia as well as touring internationally. The group is known for wearing blue jackets and orange-and-blue bow ties during performances.
The group's recordings have been selected for several Best of College A Cappella compilations, including "Insomniac" (arranged by J. Craig Fennell on the group's album Seven and Seven, originally by Billy Pilgrim), which has subsequently been covered by many other a cappella groups.
differentiated themselves from the older group by adopting a less formal performance appearance and by not requiring their members to belong to the Glee Club, which was required by the VGs through the late 1980s.
Over the years, the Virginia Gentlemen have performed extensively outside the University, with activities ranging from high school outreach to participating in the White House celebration of Thomas Jefferson
's 265th birthday. They are an important part of on-campus life, performing for such events as the vigil for Yeardley Love after her murder.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. Founded in 1953 as an offshoot of the Virginia Glee Club
Virginia Glee Club
The Virginia Glee Club is a critically acclaimed men's chorus based at the University of Virginia. It performs both traditional and contemporary vocal works, typically in TTBB arrangements. Founded in 1871, the Glee Club is the University's oldest musical organization and one of the oldest all-male...
, the group continues to perform a mix of contemporary and classic vocal music. The group performs around the University of Virginia as well as touring internationally. The group is known for wearing blue jackets and orange-and-blue bow ties during performances.
The group's recordings have been selected for several Best of College A Cappella compilations, including "Insomniac" (arranged by J. Craig Fennell on the group's album Seven and Seven, originally by Billy Pilgrim), which has subsequently been covered by many other a cappella groups.
History
The Virginia Gentlemen are the oldest of UVa's active a cappella groups, having begun in 1953 as an octet of the Virginia Glee Club. The visual identity of the group is more formal than other groups, with coats and ties worn for formal performances. Other a cappella groups at Virginia established their identities in response to the VGs; in particular, the HullabahoosHullabahoos
The Hullabahoos are a student-run, all-male a cappella group at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The group was founded in 1987 by Halsted Sullivan and continues to be one of the premier men's groups in the country, having recorded 15 studio albums as of early 2007 and performed for...
differentiated themselves from the older group by adopting a less formal performance appearance and by not requiring their members to belong to the Glee Club, which was required by the VGs through the late 1980s.
Over the years, the Virginia Gentlemen have performed extensively outside the University, with activities ranging from high school outreach to participating in the White House celebration of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's 265th birthday. They are an important part of on-campus life, performing for such events as the vigil for Yeardley Love after her murder.
Album tracks selected for BOCAhttp://varsityvocals.com/boca/faq.html
- "Insomniac" selected for BOCA vol. 2
- "Ship of Fools" selected for BOCA vol. 1
Notable alumni
- Will AndersonParachute (band)Parachute is a rock band from Charlottesville, Virginia. The members graduated from college in May 2008 and since then have been touring and promoting their debut album Losing Sleep and sophomore album The Way It Was full-time.-History:...
, lead singer of Parachute (band)Parachute (band)Parachute is a rock band from Charlottesville, Virginia. The members graduated from college in May 2008 and since then have been touring and promoting their debut album Losing Sleep and sophomore album The Way It Was full-time.-History:... - Nate McFarlandParachute (band)Parachute is a rock band from Charlottesville, Virginia. The members graduated from college in May 2008 and since then have been touring and promoting their debut album Losing Sleep and sophomore album The Way It Was full-time.-History:...
, guitarist of Parachute (band)Parachute (band)Parachute is a rock band from Charlottesville, Virginia. The members graduated from college in May 2008 and since then have been touring and promoting their debut album Losing Sleep and sophomore album The Way It Was full-time.-History:... - Jayson Throckmorton, member of Face (a cappella group)Face (a cappella group)Face are a Boulder, Colorado-based "all-vocal rock band," or a cappella group performing mostly rock music. National appearances and awards include one of the eight original groups on NBC's premiere season of "The Sing-Off" , two-time Runner-Up and two-time National Audience Favorite at the...