If you have any questions about rush, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our three fabulous Rush Managers.  They’re here to make your Rush experience as fun and easy as possible, so let them know if there’s anything they can do to help you navigate the process.

meet your 2009 rush managers.

sing-ins & sign-ups . . .

The Freshman Bazaar on Sunday, August 30th is your first chance to explore the many, many extracurricular offerings at Yale, including a cappella. There will be tables, flyers, sign-up sheets, crazy stunts, and crazier people pretty much every which way you turn.  Dress for the heat, and take some time to wander around and check out all the stuff your new campus has to offer.  Don’t forget to stop by Something Extra’s table to say hello!

Woolsey Hall Jam, also August 30th, is our first opportunity to show you what we’re all about.  Every a cappella group performs two numbers, including the senior groups, the Whiffenpoofs and Whim ’n Rhythm.  This concert is a great way for you to get a feel for each of the groups and begin to think about which ones you might like to rush.  Even if you aren’t planning to audition, come check it out – it’s a lot of fun no matter what.  Something Extra is singing 3rd, so be sure to come by early!

Very similar to Woolsey Jam, but a little bit crazier, Dwight Hall Jam on Friday, September 4th gives you one more chance to hear all the groups, and when the music is over, it’s time to sign up for auditions!  Pandaemonium breaks out as everyone dashes madly around visiting each group’s table.  No worries--despite all the noise and confusion, everyone will get a chance to audition.  If you can’t make it Dwight, you can definitely still try out.  Just send an e-mail to any groups that you are interested in, and they’ll fit you in for an audition.

music & munchies . . .

Something Extra will hold auditions on the Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6.  At your audition, we’ll ask you to run through some warm-ups, do a few vocal exercises, and, finally, sing a solo of your own choosing.  The whole process takes about 10 minutes and is completely painless, so relax and have fun!  Don’t stress out too much about picking your solo – we’ve heard everything from Mozart arias to La Bamba, so just pick something comfortable for you that shows off your voice.  If you’d like, you can audition for an all-guys group as a practice run.  We definitely recommend it – they give great feedback and support, and it’s a fun way to meet new people in your first few weeks at Yale.

After you’ve auditioned for us, the Rush Managers will set you up with one or more Rush Meals in a dining hall.  Rush Meals are casual meals with a couple of our members, designed to give you a chance to get to know us as individuals, and to learn more about  why we love Something Extra.  If you have any questions regarding a scheduled Rush Meal or need to change a time or place, give Kaitlyn a call.

Everyone who auditions for Something Extra will get an invitation to our Singing Dessert, a full-length concert on Monday, September 14th.  The singing dessert is an awesome way to hear more of our repertoire, and to sample tons of homemade treats.  Come on out, and bring along your suitemates or friends so that they can finally see what the craziness is all about.   Stick around afterwards for a party with the Duke’s Men . . .

The rush managers will deliver callback invitations shortly after our Singing Dessert. Something Extra callbacks will be scheduled on Friday, September 18th through Monday, September 21st.  The format will be very similar to auditions – a few warm-ups, some more vocal exercises, and another solo of your choice. We’ll also give you some excerpts from our repertoire to in advance.

tap cups & tumult . . .

Tap Night is the crazy and wonderful culmination of the entire rush process.  After a quick concert by Whim ‘n Rhythm and the Whiffenpoofs at High Street Gate, the broom drops and all the groups storm Old Campus, TD, and Silliman to “tap” their new members.  Whether you’ve auditioned or not, it’s amazing to be part of a Yale tradition that dates back over half a century.  The date of Tap Night is a secret, but rumors will abound, and it’s impossible to miss when it happens!

we’re somewhat ecstatic!

We can’t even begin to explain how excited we are to tap a new class of singers this fall.  Every year, we are amazed by the wonderful contributions that each new member makes to the music and the personality of Something Extra.  So bring your voice and your passions and yourself, and make some music with us!