Something Extra - Yale Women's A Cappella Since 1977

Rush
In the beginning of September every year, a cappella takes over Yale campus for a few weeks of Rush. The term “Rush” refers to the entire a cappella audition process, which includes multi-group concerts, auditions, rush meals, callbacks, singing deserts, and lots of fun entertainment. There are 15 a cappella groups at Yale – some all-male, some all-female, and some mixed. Rush gives you a chance to get to know all of the groups, so you can decide which one is best for you. To find out more about all the various a cappella groups and the Rush process in general, check out the website of the Singing Group Council (SCG).

During Rush, the auditionees (or “rushees”) get a chance to listen to the best in collegiate a cappella and discover the many musical options that Yale has to offer. Aside from the music, Rush is also a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and form new friendships, not only with the members of the groups you "rush," but also with your fellow rushees. Have a look at our in-depth descriptions of the various Rush events for more specific information, and please don’t hesitate to contact one of our Rush Managers if you have any questions not answered on this page. They want to make your Rush experience as fun and easy as possible, so let them know if there’s any way they can help you!

Freshman Bazaar (Sunday, August 31st)
Bazaar 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 lightly (it gets hot outside!) 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 (Sunday, Aug 31st)
Woolsey Jam is our first opportunity to show you what we’re all about. Every a cappella group performs two numbers, including our 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 6th, so be sure to come by early!

Dwight Hall Sign-Up Jam (Friday, September 5th)
Very similar to Woolsey Jam, but a little bit crazier. Sign-up Jam gives you a chance to hear all the groups once again (we’ll be singing 10th!), and when the music is over, it’s time to sign up for auditions! Every group will have a table somewhere in Dwight, and chaos generally ensues as everyone dashes madly around the room choosing their audition slots. But don’t worry; despite all the noise and confusion, everyone will get a chance to audition. And if you can’t make it to the Sign-up Jam for any reason, no problem – you can definitely still try out. Just send an e-mail to any groups that you are interested in, and they will fit you in for an audition.

Something Extra Auditions (Saturday, September 6th - Sunday, September 7th)
Something Extra’s auditions will take place in the Morse C/D Cafe on the Saturday and Sunday following Dwight Jam. We will 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 want to, you can audition for a group of the opposite sex beforehand 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.

Rush Meals
After you’ve auditioned for us, we will set you up with one or more Rush Meals. Our Rush Managers will figure out a convenient time for you, and then they will set up a Meal in one of the dining rooms with a couple of our group members. Rush Meals are designed to give you to get to know us as individuals and find out a little bit more about SE, so they’re very relaxed and fun. If you have any questions regarding a scheduled Rush Meal or need to change a time or place, Alyssa Reyes is in charge of our schedule, so just give her a call.

Something Extra's Singing Dessert (Wednesday, September 10th)
Sometime between Auditions and Callbacks, every group will give a full-length concert known as a Singing Dessert. Something Extra’s Dessert will be on Wednesday, September 10th in the Sterling Library Manuscripts and Archives Room (take a right at the circulation desk and keep walking), so save the date! In addition to offering delicious homemade treats and good company, our Singing Dessert is also an important opportunity for you to get a better sense of our repertoire and our group sound. So come on out, and bring along your suitemates or friends if you’d like so that they can finally see what the craziness is all about. Stick around afterwards for an awesome party with the Duke’s Men!

Something Extra Callbacks (Friday, September 19th - Sunday, September 21st)
Something Extra Callbacks will be in the Pierson Seminar Room, but the rush managers will be waiting for you in the courtyard. The format will be very similar to Auditions – a few warm-ups, some more vocal exercises, and another solo. We will also give you an excerpt from one of our songs to learn beforehand. And as with Auditions, you can pick any song you like for your solo. Callback invitations will be delivered after our Singing Dessert.

Tap Night! (???)
Tap Night is the crazy and wonderful culmination of the entire Rush process. After a brief concert by Whim ‘n Rhythm and the Whiffenpoofs at High Street Gate, the broom drops and the groups storm Old Campus, TD, and Silliman to “tap” their new members. Whether you’ve auditioned or not, it is 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 is impossible to miss when it happens!

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!

Click here to download the Rush Calendar.