Mixed Company of Yale explained

Mixed Company of Yale
Background:group_or_band
Genre:A cappella
Origin:Yale University, New Haven, CT
Years Active:1981–present

Mixed Company of Yale is an all-gender undergraduate a cappella group from Yale University. Founded in 1981, Mixed Company was originally formed as a group specializing in both sketch comedy and a cappella. Today, the group focuses primarily on singing, though the group often integrates skits and other comedy into performances. The group has toured on five continents and regularly performs for world leaders visiting Yale's campus. Mixed Company has released 18 studio albums, and their most recent recording, Third Degree, was released in summer 2021.

History

In the fall of 1981, a small group of Yale undergraduates found themselves unable to decide between sketch comedy and a cappella, so they decided to form a new group that incorporated elements of both, thus forming the original tap class of Mixed Company. Since then, the group has recorded 17 studio albums and has toured around the country and the world.[1]

Membership

The members of Mixed Company are all selected for their singing talent as freshmen or sophomores through Yale's long and involved rush process, which takes place at the beginning of each fall semester.[2] The rush process is governed by Yale's Singing Group Council.

The first part of the rush process is Woolsey Jam, a concert at which each group performs two songs. This is followed by Dwight Hall Jam later in the week, directly after which rushees, mostly freshman undergraduates, sign up to audition. That weekend, a cappella groups watch these prospective members audition, and in the following few weeks the rushees meet the members of each group through a series of "rush meals," during which they eat with members of each group they have auditioned for. During these weeks, each group also holds a concert called a "Singing Dessert" in which rushees determine which group they like best musically. Afterwards, groups call back certain students to hear them a second time in order to finally decide whom to tap. Tap Night, an important Yale tradition, takes place during the next week at midnight on a day not known to rushees until announced by the Singing Group Council.[3]

Repertoire

Mixed Company is known for its diverse repertoire, which covers a wide range of musical styles,[4] including but not limited to rock, pop, musical theater, jazz, and rhythm & blues. Each piece in the repertoire was arranged, written, or transcribed by a Mixed Company member, and includes songs originally performed by Marc Cohn, Ben Folds, and Aretha Franklin, among others. "Hodja", the group's traditional opening song, has been performed at nearly every concert since the group's founding. The group's alumni song, "Zombie Jamboree" (popularized by Rockapella), is performed at all major concerts. New songs are added to the group's active repertoire every year, which includes around 30 songs. Arrangements added since 2010 include songs performed by Sister Hazel, Marc Broussard, Beyoncé, Mika, Whitney Houston, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Rascal Flatts, and more. Mixed Company also sings original songs written and arranged by group members, such as "Prayer" (Esther Hyun '12), "How the Scenery Changes" (Brian Kim '04), and "Asking for a Friend" (Sofía Campoamor '19).

The group is also well known for its incorporation of original comedy routines, such as the popular "Hipster Mockumentary",[5] into their concerts.

Tours and performances

Mixed Company tours extensively across the world and the United States. Every year, Mixed Company goes on 2–3 tours during winter, spring, and summer breaks, as well as many mini-tours throughout the school year.

Tours have taken the group to Morocco, Beijing, Colombia, Ecuador, Montreal, Brazil, Bermuda, Austin, California, Miami, and more. Mixed Company has performed for audiences on five different continents, including for the Education for Music Non-profit,[6] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and former prime minister Tony Blair.[7] [8] They have also performed at the Vatican, the Empire State Building, and even at Citi Field, where they performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a New York Mets game. Mixed Company has also been featured on Connecticut Channel 3 News, where they performed "White Christmas".[9] In addition to performances, Mixed Company holds workshops where they work with younger a cappella groups.[10]

The Contemporary A Cappella Society has reviewed Mixed Company performances, calling them "rousing," featuring songs that are "outstandingly arranged" and "so full and so gorgeous."[11]

Notable alumni

Discography

Mixed Company records a new album every other year. Since its founding, it has recorded 18 studio albums:

Album title Year Recording type
Where's the Stage? 1987 Vinyl Record
Doing Justice 1989 Cassette Tape
Vertical Hold 1991 Cassette Tape
Unplugged 1993 CD
Sleeping In The Kitchen 1995 CD
Flow Chart 1997 CD
Change of Plans 1999 CD
Molly Pitcher 2001 CD
Trespassing 2003 CD
Two Steps 2005 CD
Dashboard Buddha 2007 CD
The Purple Album 2009 CD
7/10 Split 2011 CD
Gumption 2013 CD
Jam Session 2015 CD
Tiny Room 2017 CD
Animal Flow 2019 CD
Third Degree 2021 CD

Mixed Company albums have been reviewed by the Recorded A Cappella Review Board.[18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Mixed Company . www.mixedcompanyofyale.com . 2012-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120713051827/http://www.mixedco.net/about.shtml . 2012-07-13 . dead .
  2. News: NPR Morning coverage of Rush, Mixed Company singers . Npr.org . 2002-09-26 . 2012-10-14.
  3. Web site: Adam Wieczorkowski . Yale University Singing Group Council The Singing Group Council explains the rush process . Yale.edu . 2012-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121008104827/http://www.yale.edu/sgc/ . 2012-10-08 . dead .
  4. Web site: Yale Admissions Extracurricular Groups . Admissions.yale.edu . 2010-07-26 . 2012-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130501121804/http://admissions.yale.edu/extracurricular-group/mixed-company-yale?format=extracurriculars . 2013-05-01 . dead .
  5. Web site: Reference to Mixed Company's satirical documentary on hipsters . Louisvillecardinal.com . 2011-11-19 . 2012-10-14.
  6. Web site: Mixed Company performs for underprivileged children in East Harlem . Etmonline.org . 2012-10-14 . https://archive.today/20130414191202/http://www.etmonline.org/news_and_events/news/a_cappella_group_mixed_company_presents_two_concerts_in_east_harlem . 2013-04-14 . dead .
  7. Web site: YDN Article on Mixed Company performance in Woolsey Hall with Tony Blair . Yaledailynews.com . 2008-09-22 . 2012-10-14 . https://archive.today/20130210005251/http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2008/sep/22/for-blair-open-arms-and-fanfare/ . 2013-02-10 . dead .
  8. Web site: New Haven Register on Malaria Relief Concert hosted by Tony Blair Faith Foundation . Elmcityexpress.blogspot.com . 2008-12-09 . 2012-10-14.
  9. Web site: Mixed Company performing "White Christmas" on TV . Wfsb.com . 2012-10-14.
  10. Web site: Mixed Company conducting a workshop with the Bel Cantos of Agnes Irwin School . Agnesirwin.org . 2012-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120116235703/http://www.agnesirwin.org/RelId/852107/ISvars/default/Photo_of_the_Week.htm . 2012-01-16 . dead .
  11. Web site: CASA review of Parent's Weekend Concert . Casa.org . 2011-10-29 . 2012-10-14.
  12. Web site: In Transit Musical written by Mixed Company Alumnus James-Allen Ford . 2012-07-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110202200522/http://www.intransitthemusical.com/ . 2011-02-02 . dead .
  13. Web site: Drama Desk Awards Nominations and Winners . Dramadeskawards.com . 2012-10-14 . https://archive.today/20130122075355/http://www.dramadeskawards.com/past-winners.html . 2013-01-22 . dead .
  14. Web site: Mixed Company Alumnus Ari Shapiro Biography . Npr.org . 2010-10-08 . 2012-10-14.
  15. Web site: Ari Shapiro performance with Pink Martini . Washingtonpost.com . 2011-04-14 . 2012-10-14.
  16. Web site: Archived copy . 2012-07-23 . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121954/http://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Benjamin-Eakeley/Mixed . dead .
  17. Web site: It took 109 years, but Yale's storied a cappella group just got its first female singer . Washingtonpost.com . 2019-02-08 . 2020-05-21.
  18. Web site: Recorded A Cappella Review Board Album Reviews . Rarb.org . 2012-10-14.

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