Former and current Shwiffs take the stage

The Shwiffs perform in Harkness Chapel with alumni members of the group. Photo by Vincent Scarano

Harkness Chapel was alive with the sound of Shwiffs as past and present members of the a cappella group came together for a special reunion concert on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Twenty-five alumni and 11 current Shwiffs performed in celebration of the group’s 60th anniversary.

“Seeing all the generations of Shwiffs gathered together was really incredible, and the amount of music and tradition that has lasted 60 years is amazing,” said Georgia Wright ’04, who organized the reunion and served as musical director of the group for three years as a student.

The Shwiffs were founded by Jeanne Harold Oler ’47 in 1945. Oler’s boyfriend Bill (who later became her husband) was a member of Yale University ’s Whiffenpoofs — the first a cappella group in the country. She was inspired to start her own group and called them the She-Whiffenpoofs. Over time, the name was shortened to She-Whiffs and finally, Shwiffs.

Julie Ann Slimmon ’52, a soprano who still sings regularly with an a cappella group she leads, was the oldest alumna at the reunion. She was impressed by the talent of all the Shwiffs and the current members’ interest in the history of the group.

There aren’t many differences between the Shwiffs then and now, she said. The group never went on the road for concerts like today’s Shwiffs, who perform at events on and off campus throughout the year and are planning gigs for a tour of the East Coast during spring break. (The tour will start in Washington, D.C and end in Key West, Fla.)

Back then, Slimmon added, the group sang each song in a four-part harmony, but today’s Shwiffs will sometimes divvy up each song in more parts. The group’s song repertoire has also changed over the years, but traditional songs like “Low Bridge” have been a part of the Shwiffs’ routine since the beginning.

Prior to the concert, the reunion kicked off with lunch and a three-hour rehearsal.

“Because everyone was so enthusiastic and able to remember the parts, rehearsal went smoothly,” Wright said.

The Shwiffs performed a number of songs and ended the concert with a rendition of “Flyin’ High,” their signature song that has concluded each rehearsal from the group’s early years until now.

“I found it hard to get to bed after the concert,” Slimmon said. “I was all geared up.”

Alumni from several generations sang at the reunion concert. See pictures of the performance.

The Shwiffs’ latest CD “Blush” was released at the reunion and sells for $10. For purchasing information e-mail Julia Jacobson ’06, manager of the Shwiffs, at jpjac@conncoll.edu or call 860-439-2547.