Richmond College Glee Club, The Spider (1897)

A cappella singing has a long history at the University of Richmond.  The Richmond College Glee Club predates the current campus, appearing in the very first Spider yearbook in 1897.  This group performed frequently, both on campus and at colleges, churches, and high schools throughout Virginia.  Westhampton College formed its own Glee Club around 1922.  Both groups appeared on local radio as early as 1926.  Both also raised funds for their activities by producing operettas and variety shows, including minstrel shows in blackface.

Westhampton College Glee Club, The Tower (1932)

Throughout their histories, the Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs had semi-official status, since they were often led by a faculty member, and eventually earned their members academic credit.  In 1973 the two glee clubs were combined into the University Choir.  Other ad hoc vocal groups such as the Spider Quartet (1924-37), the Cuckoo Quartet (1933), the Jeters (1958-61), and the Westhampton Octet (1958-60) make brief appearances in The Collegian.

Four student a cappella groups were founded in the 1990s, three of which are still active today: the Octāves (male voices), the Sirens (female voices), and Choer du Roi (all-gender), which was originally known as “Actual Bells Are Missing.” The Umoja Gospel Choir, founded in 1994, appears to have ceased activity around 2012.  A second all-gender a cappella group, Off the Cuff, was founded in 2003 and is still going strong.

Octāves, The Web (1998)

In fall 1992, the Octāves sang the national anthem at a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game.  The tradition of performing during Family Weekend also started that semester.  “Midnight Expressions,” a monthly open-mic night held in the gazebo on Westhampton Lake, was another frequent venue for the Octāves.

Sirens, The Web (1998)