Nasoons host Yale's Whiffenpoofs for annual Jam

All those who are musically proficient, with no talent or people who just want to celebrate one of our school's traditions, will want to come to the annual Princeton Nassoons–Yale Whiffenpoofs concert this Saturday, Nov. 15. As one of the oldest traditions between Princeton and Yale, the "Jam" is an event to look forward to every year.

Every year on the eve of the Princeton-Yale football game, the Nassoons and Whiffenpoofs, two of the oldest college a cappella groups, get together and sing. This tradition, alive for more than 50 years, is known in Princeton as "YaleJam." The program differs each year because of the different groups that sing with the Nassoons. On Saturday, in addition to the Nassoons and the Whiffenpoofs, the event will also showcase The Ten and Quipfire!

The Ten is a 20-man a cappella group from New York City, whose members hail from many of the best college a cappella groups in the country, including the Nassoons, the Yale Whiffenpoofs and Spizzwinks, Skid-more's Bandersnatchers, Washington and Lee's Southern Comfort, Brown's Jabberwocks, Dartmouth's Injunaires and Hamilton's Buffers.

The Ten was invited this year to sing because their musical director is a 1960 Princeton alumnus. Having an alumni group singing with them is important because it shows that even after graduation, singers can still remain involved in a cappella groups.

The friendly concert is followed the next day by a hard game of touch football between the two groups. The prize for winning this game is a wooden trophy, put into effect in 1951, which is now in the possession of Marlo McGriff, the current business manager for the 'Soons.

The Nassoons have the winning record 21 to 16 games. The trophy is handed back and forth every year with the winners, and hopefully after the Sunday game, the trophy will remain on Princeton soil.

To sing with the Whiffenpoofs is "a real honor" commented Jeff Bullian '05. The Whiffenpoofs are usually exceptional because the seniors-only group changes every year as the members graduate. "It is interesting to sing with the Whiffenpoofs because we get to see four different groups with Yale, but there is more continuity in our group" said senior Zach Augustine '04, the current music director of the group.

The Nassoons have and will be practicing vigorously throughout the week. "There is a general nervous excitement that comes along with a big show like this one. We just hope that we can keep our momentum until Saturday," said junior Jay Saxon.

The Nassoons are also working on an album due out in December, and this show is "a great way to work on perfecting the songs," Kristopher Kersey '04 said. They are all ready, so get out and support our a cappella group, the Nassoons, at Richardson Auditorium on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale all week for $12 (adult price), $6 (student price), or Tiger Tickets.

For more information on the Nassoons or the Whiffenpoofs, check out their respective websites at www.princeton.edu/~nassoons/ and www.whiffenpoofs.org.