Sil'hooettes

The Virginia Sil'hooettes are a student-run, all-female a cappella group at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. Once just the vision of four UVA students in the winter of 1988, the Sil'hooettes are now the most award-winning a cappella group at UVA. They have performed for thousands of people at venues including the Kennedy Center,[1] The White House, John Paul Jones Arena,[2] Baltimore Orioles home baseball games,[3] and Boston Red Sox home baseball games.[4]

The Virginia Sil'hooettes
Also known asThe Sils
OriginCharlottesville, Virginia, United States
GenresA cappella, collegiate a cappella
Years active1988–present
LabelsCollegiate
WebsiteOfficial site

History

The idea for the Sil'hooettes was first conceived before winter break in 1988 by JoEllen Constine, Laura Fleury, Karen Sherman, and Melissa Schimke, but the spring semester of 1989 was the group’s first official semester on grounds. At the time, there were only three other groups in existence, the Virginia Gentlemen, the Virginia Belles, and the Hullabahoos – who had had their inception less than a year before. Initially almost named "The Double-Breasted Jackets", the Sils' original uniform consisted of multi-colored double-breasted jackets (DBJs), but in the fall of 1995, the group made the switch to the current black and silver due to complaints about the objectification of its members.

The Sil'hooettes typically range between 9 and 18 members, though the exact number varies from year to year. The group holds auditions for new members every fall and occasionally in the spring. The group posts relevant information regarding auditions to their website as auditions approach.

On October 1, 2012, USA Today named The Virginia Sil'hooettes one of the Top 5 Collegiate A Cappella groups in the country.[5]

On November 18, 2013, HerCampus named The Virginia Sil'hooettes the #1 Female Collegiate A Cappella group in the country.[6]

On February 2, 2016, CollegeMagazine named The Virginia Sil'hooettes the #1 "Female Group Running the A Cappella World".[7]

Concerts

Every semester, the Sil'hooettes host at least one concert performance, usually held at the University of Virginia's McLeod Hall on a Friday or Saturday evening. The Sils' official website posts relevant information and online ticket sales as the date of the concerts approach. Concert titles are different every semester but typically employ a pun on the word "Sil" (e.g. Natural Sil'ection, Get Sil'ly, Sil'verware Featuring the 'Forks). The Sil'hooettes invite a guest group to perform at these concerts before intermission, usually a male group from another school, and concert performances are typically followed by Sil'hooettes hosted after-parties, advertised to the audience at the show.

Every five years, the Sil'hooettes host an anniversary concert, inviting the Sil'umnae back to relive their glory years. The Sils celebrated their 20th anniversary in April 2009[8] and celebrated their 25th Sil'ver Anniversary in April 2014.

The Sils celebrating 25 years of existence
Sil'hooettes of past and present at the 20th Anniversary Brunch at Boar's Head Inn

Fall Roll

Along with concerts and gigs throughout the semester, the Sil'hooettes reserve their fall break at the University of Virginia for a tour of the East Coast called Fall Roll, visiting and performing at various colleges and groups (e.g. Tufts University Beelzebubs, Dartmouth College Aires, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Clef Hangers, Duke University Pitchforks) along the way.

CD

The Sil'hooettes produce a new studio album approximately every three semesters. Their most recent album, Silver Hour, produced by James Gammon, was released in November 2018.

"Homer"

Upon achieving acceptance into the Sil'hooettes, a new member is affectionately called a "Homer" and often referred to by "Homer" followed by their last name until the rest of the membership deems said member ready to shed her "Homer title". The Homer period is a rite of passage for the Sil'hooettes and is a long-standing group tradition.

Awards and honors

Virginia Sil'hooettes awards and nominations
Totals[lower-alpha 1]
Wins43
Nominations39
Note
  1. Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They recognize several different recipients, have runners-up and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.

Musical awards

A Cappella Community Awards (ACAs)

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011Virginia Sil'hooettesFavorite Female Collegiate Group (Runner-Up)Won
"Beautiful Child" by Rufus WainwrightFavorite Gender-Bender Song/SoloNominated
"Telephone" by Lady Gaga ft. BeyoncéFavorite Lady Gaga Cover (Runner-Up)Won
2010Virginia Sil'hooettesFavorite Female Collegiate GroupNominated
Take It To The BridgeFavorite Collegiate AlbumNominated
"Wreckless Love" by Alicia KeysFavorite Female Vocalist—Happiness ChijiokeNominated
Sara DougadirFavorite ArrangerNominated
"Wreckless Love" by Alicia KeysFavorite A Cappella SongNominated
"Redemption Song" by Bob MarleyFavorite Gender-Bender Song/SoloNominated

Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs)

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018From the DepthsBest Pop AlbumNominated
From the DepthsBest Female Collegiate AlbumWon
"Don't Let Me Down" by The ChainsmokersBest Female Collegiate SongWon
"Black Water Lilies" by AURORABest Female Collegiate Arrangement—Sarah DonnellyWon
"River" by Bishop BriggsBest Female Collegiate Soloist—Emily DietzWon
2016LusterBest Female Collegiate AlbumWon
"I Will Never Die" by Delta RaeBest Female Collegiate SongNominated
"Wait It Out" by Imogen HeapBest Female Collegiate Arrangement—Alex PetersonNominated
"I Will Never Die" by Delta RaeBest Female Collegiate Soloist—Sophie MausNominated
20151989Best Female Collegiate AlbumNominated
"This Is What It Feels Like" by BANKSBest Female Collegiate SongNominated
"Creep" by RadioheadBest Female Collegiate Soloist—Stephanie LeeNominated
2013Playing With LightningBest Female Collegiate AlbumWon
"Around Us" by JónsiBest Female Collegiate SongWon
"Howl" by Florence and the MachineBest Female Collegiate Arrangement—Liz SmithNominated
"Mama" by Beth HartBest Female Collegiate Soloist—Happiness ChijiokeWon
2011BlackoutBest Female Collegiate Album (Runner-Up)Won
"I See You" by Leona LewisBest Female Collegiate SongWon
"Beautiful Child" by Rufus WainwrightBest Female Collegiate Arrangement—Caitlin MortonWon
2010Take It To The BridgeBest Female Collegiate Album (Runner-Up)Won
"1234 (Van She Tech Remix)" by FeistBest Female Collegiate Song (Runner-Up)Won
"Wreckless Love" by Alicia KeysBest Female Collegiate Soloist—Happiness ChijiokeWon
"Wreckless Love" by Alicia KeysBest Hip-Hop/R&B SongNominated
Take It To The BridgeBest Female Collegiate Album Short ListWon
2008SauceBest Female Collegiate AlbumNominated
"Slow Me Down" by Emmy RossumBest Female Collegiate Arrangement—Sara DougadirWon
"Butterflies and Hurricanes" by MuseBest Female Collegiate Song (Runner-Up)Won
"Careful What You Wish for" by Jonatha BrookeBest Female Collegiate Soloist—Jenna PastuszekNominated
"Dance With Me" by Lexi WitmanBest Scholastic OriginalNominated
2007To Homer and BackBest Female Collegiate AlbumNominated
"They" by JemBest Female Collegiate SongNominated
"A Broken Wing" by Martina McBrideBest Female Collegiate Soloist—Anne FosterWon
2005TangledBest Female Collegiate AlbumWon
"Beautiful Day" by U2Best Female Collegiate Arrangement—Blaire ReinhardWon
"Where Would You Be" by Martina McBrideBest Female Collegiate Soloist (Runner-Up)—Anne FosterWon
2005AftershockBest Female Collegiate Album (Runner-Up)Won
"Wrong Impression" by Natalie ImbrugliaBest Female Collegiate Arrangement—Summerlyn LotzNominated
"Wrong Impression" by Natalie ImbrugliaBest Female Collegiate Song (Runner-Up)Won
"Two Satellites" by Mary Beth MaziarzBest Female Collegiate Soloist (Runner-Up)—Melody AkhavanWon
2001"Snow on the Sahara" by AnggunBest Female Collegiate Song (Runner-Up)Won

Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB)

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014"This Is What It Feels Like" by Banks2014 Track of the YearWon
201419892014 Album Pick of the Year—Honorable MentionWon
2012Playing With Lightning2012 Album Pick of the Year—Honorable MentionWon
2009Take It To The Bridge2009 Album Pick of the YearWon

Selection for "best of" compilation albums

Best of College A Cappella (BOCA)

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018"Until the Levee" by Joy WilliamsBOCA 2018: Best of College A CappellaWon
2016"My Gun" by Tove LoBOCA 2016: Best of College A CappellaWon
2014"Idioteque" by RadioheadBest of BOCA: The First 20 YearsWon
2012"Idioteque" by RadioheadBOCA 2012: Best of College A CappellaWon
2011"Telephone” by Lady Gaga ft. BeyoncéBOCA 2011: Best of College A CappellaWon
2010"Say (All I Need)" by OneRepublicBOCA 2010: Best of College A CappellaWon
2008"You'll Think of Me" by Keith UrbanBOCA 2008: Best of College A CappellaWon
2005"Where Would You Be" by Martina McBrideBOCA 2005: Best of College A CappellaWon
2003"Wrong Impression" by Natalie ImbrugliaBOCA 2003: Best of College A CappellaWon

Contemporary A Cappella Music Organization (CAMO)

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2005"Devils and Angels" by Toby LightmanTop Shelf A Cappella 2005Won

sing

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014"This Is What It Feels Like" by BANKSsing 11: One LouderWon
2012"Around Us" by Jónsising IX: SupernovemWon
2009"Wreckless Love" by Alicia Keys"sing VI: sunny side upWon

Voices Only

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017"Black Water Lilies" by AURORAVoices Only 2017Won
2016"Echo" by VÉRITÉVoices Only 2016Won
2015"This Is What It Feels Like" by BANKSVoices Only 2015Won
2013"Starry Eyed" by Ellie GouldingVoices Only 2013Won
2012"Around Us" by JónsiVoices Only 2012Won
2011"Beautiful Child" by Rufus WainwrightVoices Only 2011Won
2009"1234 (Van She Tech Remix)" by FeistVoices Only 2009Won
2008"Butterflies and Hurricanes" by MuseVoices Only 2008Won
2006"Don't Cha Wanna Ride" by Joss StoneVoices Only 2006Won
2005"When I Think About Angels" by Jamie O'NealVoices Only 2005Won

Women's A Cappella Association

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016"I Will Never Die" by Delta RaeWACA Vol. 3Won
2015"This Is What It Feels Like" by BANKSWACA Vol. 2Won

A cappella competitions

International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCAs)

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003Virginia Sil'hooettesICCA Semi-Finals—3rd PlaceWon
Virginia Sil'hooettesICCA Regionals—1st PlaceWon

Discography

  • Silver Hour (2018)
  • From The Depths (2017)
  • Luster (2015)
  • 1989 (2014)
  • Playing with Lightning (2012)
  • Blackout (2010)
  • Take It To The Bridge (2009)
  • Sauce (2008)
  • To Homer and Back (2006)
  • Tangled (2004)
  • Aftershock (2002)
  • Flair (2001)
  • Delirious (1999)
  • Shades of Silver (1998)

Notable alumni

References

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