UNC Clef Hangers

The UNC Clef Hangers (also known as the Clefs) is the oldest a cappella group^[1] at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sponsored by the UNC General Alumni Association, the group was founded by Tom Terrell, Manley Roberts, and Barry Saunders in 1977,^[2] and was originally called the Morrison Dorm Singers.^[3]

The first Clef Hangers concert was in the spring of 1979, and in 2013 the group celebrated its 35th anniversary; this was the first student group to ever perform in Carmichael Auditorium.^[4] In their first concert, the Clef Hangers adopted their iconic vests and bowties,^[5] which are now a signature look for the group. As with traditional a cappella, the Clef Hangers use no instruments when performing or recording albums.^[6]

In 2009, Clef alumnus Anoop Desai placed 6th on season 8 of American Idol,^[7][8] becoming the first UNC graduate and first Clef Hanger to place in American Idol.

History

Since their first tour to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1980, the Clefs have performed for audiences in Spain, France, Scotland, Switzerland, The Bahamas, Los Angeles, Washington DC, New York, and many other locations domestic and abroad. During a tour to New York City, they performed for the nation on the television show Good Morning America. In the spring of 2002, they were personally invited by Chancellor James Moeser to sing at Commencement, a tradition that has continued ever since. The Clef Hangers perform for a packed Memorial Hall every year during their fall and spring concerts, and sometimes feature special guests like Dean Smith and Roy Williams.^[9]

The group has released a number of professionally produced studio albums, many of which have had tracks featured on the Best of Collegiate A Cappella (BOCA) Compilation CDs. In 2004, the Clef Hangers received their first Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) for Best Soloist in the song Easy, featured on the 2003 album Breeze. Since then, they have won two more CARAs for Best Male Collegiate Songs for My Love on Time Out,^[10] and for Ain't Nothing Wrong on Twist.^[11] The group has also garnered runner-up CARAs for Best Male Collegiate Arrangement (Africa from Safari) in 1991,^[9] Best Male Collegiate Album (Facing Clarence) in 2006, Best Male Collegiate Album (Time Out) in 2008,^[10] Best Male Collegiate Solo (Andrew Avent for Feelin Good) in 2008,^[10] and has been nominated for several other CARAs.

Before attending UNC, co-founder Barry Saunders had sung with the Traveling Men, an a cappella group at the Gilman School in Maryland. He wanted to have the same experience of musical fellowship at UNC, but there were no a cappella groups to join, so he decided to start one. With his Chi Psi fraternity brother, Manly Roberts, and other members including Tom Terrell, Mike Caudle, Steve Spencer, Reg Schloss, Bruce Dickerson, Staley Moore, and Ned Hooper, the group had their first rehearsal at St. Anthony's on Pittsboro Street in Chapel Hill.

The Clef Hangers were originally called the Morrison Dorm Singers, and it was not until 1978 that the name Clef Hangers was chosen.^[3] The name continues with the tradition of a cappella group pun names, and it is believed the name was chosen because the first two letters, C and H, correlate with Chapel Hill, the town where UNC Chapel Hill was founded.

The first Clef concert was in tiny Gerard Hall in April 1979, with a sparse audience of friends and family members who were there to support the effort. It was not until the early 1990s that the Clefs were able to put on a show in the completely sold out Memorial Hall.

The unequivocal vest and bowties are complete with buttons that cover the vests. The buttons tradition began when Tom Terrell put a button on his vest during the first public Clef Hangers performance in the Pit (a central gathering location at UNC Chapel Hill) in 1977.

Signature songs

The signature song for the Clef Hangers is Carolina in my Mind, written by James Taylor. This song is performed at every Clef concert—sometimes as an encore—and annually at the university Commencement. The a cappella version was arranged in 1991 by Clef alumnus Brannon Wiles.^[12] The Clef Hangers, joined by university chancellor at the time Holden Thorp, performed the song together in March 2009 at the first anniversary memorial service for murdered student president Eve Carson.^[13][14]

Another signature song the Clefs perform is Africa, by Toto. The a cappella arrangement was written in 1991 by Clef alumni Tristan Bishop and Brannon Wiles.^[15]

Notable alumni

Class of 2008 Anoop Desai^[8][16] - Musician

Class of 2002 Brendan James^[17] - Musician

Class of 2001 Kevin Massey^[18] - Broadway star

Class of 1987 David Venable^[19] - Television personality

Albums

References

External links

• Clef Hangers Official Site
• Varsity Vocals, produce yearly Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) CDs.
• The Contemporary A Cappella Society (of America), a repository of resources regarding contemporary a cappella. Deke Sharon, founder of CASA, has co-produced every Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) CD since 1995.