The Octals

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Founded in 1996, The Octals are Dickinson College's oldest and only all-male a cappella group. They perform two major concerts each academic year, at the end of each semester, and perform at a variety of functions, on-campus, in the community and with other college a cappella groups. The group originally consisted of 8 Dickinsonians, but after the first members graduated, The Octals have never again had 8 (usually remaining between 10 and 14 members). The Octals perform a wide variety of music that includes rock, pop, country, barbershop, college songs, and rap.

Contents 1 Men's Singing at Dickinson College 2 A History from the Original Website 3 A Little History (from Limestone Cowboys) 4 Current Members 5 Former Members 6 Discography 7 Winter Concert 2006 8 Setlists 9 Noble Dickinsonia: Our Alma Mater 10 Links

[edit] Men's Singing at Dickinson College

The College’s musical tradition dates back to at least 1858 when the Medal of Honor winner and author, alumni Horatio Collins King wrote the Alma Mater, “Noble Dickinsonia.” The tradition of men’s singing at Dickinson can be traced to at least 1868, with the publication of the first yearbook, The Microcosm, in the spring of that year. From then on, Dickinson was graced with the voices of male a cappella groups for an uninterrupted period of over seventy-five years. In 1937 the College published a book titled Songs of Dickinson, which contains over seventy works from Dickinson’s past. Following a rapid disappearance during the years of World War II, men’s singing returned to campus in 1952 with the founding a new Glee Club, which the following year made a record of college songs. They recorded another record in 1954 and lasted until the 1970s. For twenty years the limestone walls were devoid of student-run singing, until 1996 when The Octals were founded by eight intrepid young musicians. Now more than ten years old, The Octals are Dickinson’s only all-male a cappella group and proudly carry on the torch of men’s singing at the College. Every other year, The Octals gather with former members of the Men's Glee Club at Alumni Weekend to cement this tradition and create new ones.

[edit] A History from the Original Website

In March of 1996 the 8 original members of the Octals rehearsed for the first time. This rehearsal marked the revival of male a cappella singing, which had been absent from Dickinson College, since the disbanding of the Men's Glee Club in the early 70's. With the help of Charlie Sellers, an alumni of the Glee Club, the Octals obtained copies of many old college songs and traditional a cappella arrangements. These arrangements along with others helped mold and solidify the group. The name was derived from a computer science and/or mathematical term, which denotes base 8 representation of numbers.

The first official Octals concert occurred a short five weeks later on the porch outside the Althouse chemistry building. The music ranged from traditional college songs to sea chanteys, along with classic doo-wop and few pop dittys. The concert was well accepted by Dickinson College students and faculty and marked the beginning of the tradition of having an Octals Concert on the last day of classes.

The following summer, The Octals were invited to sing at Dickinson's Alumni weekend, with the alumni members of the Dickinson College Men's Glee Club. After two days of rehearsal the two groups performed together in a packed Rubendall Recital, in the Weiss Center for the Arts. The weekend gave the group first-hand experience at learning the tradition of glee club singing and allowed them to make some lasting friendships.

The beginning of the 96-97 school year found the Octals back in rehearsal directed by member Erik Michael '98. The group had lost member Erik Birkholz '97 and had a tough choice to make : Either change the name... or keep it and face confusion from those with dynamic nummerary skills. They decided to keep the name and made a creed that there was never to be eight members ever again. They continued to practice and work on improving their humor and intonation.

During parents weekend they performed a concert in the Union Station (SNAR) in the Holland Union Building. The concert was performed twice over a two hour period with a variety of new arrangements and jokes. Between the two sets member Michael Anderson '97 and student Sue Muller sang lounge songs accompanied by Professor Truman Bullard. The group also performed at the Jazz concert with the Dickinson College Choir and Jazz Ensamble.

On December 12, the final day of classes, The Octals performed their first holiday concert. The concert was almost canceled due to Michael Anderson '97 having an appendectomy less than two weeks before. The Octals would not face defeat though and decided to continue on minus one. Resisting innuendoes of the "Sextals" while adjusting to the balance difference the concert went on as planed. It was divided into two sections: one traditional Octals eclectic variety and the other a collection of Christmas songs, including selections by Bach (P.D.Q). The concert went well considering the loss of one of its members.

The December 12, concert also marked the celebration of Saint Swithen's Day, an ancient Celtic holiday celebrating the life and deeds of Charles Horatio Swithen. His birth date is unknown but it is said that he was born a short time before the winter solstice. Keeping with his traditions, The Octals attempt to keep his spirit alive whenever they perform. The members never mention Swithen during their performances, believing his spirit would rest easier knowing they were not imitating him.

The following spring semester found the Octals, recruiting three new members. Their initiation was far from brutal and they fit well into the group. The group also became an official college recognition and began receiving funding from the Student Senate. Performances included: Common Hour; The YMCA International Gala, The Faculty Banquet, and of course the traditional Spring Concert. The concert was held on Althouse porch, and was similar to the previous year's concert, in style and feeling but not repertoire. It also was the first official concert for the three new members and the final concert for Michael Anderson '97.

The Freshman Banquet of the class of '01 was the first performance of the Fall '97 semester. While introducing the Alma Mater, member Alex Bloom '99, imitated the beloved President of the College, A. Lee Fritschler. Bloom was not expelled from the school. The Octals also sang the Alma Mater for the Convocation of the College and introduced a new and more Octalesque version, arranged by member Erik Michael '98.

Again the Octals performed over Parents weekend. Entering into the Union Station with the same entrance music Elvis used in his legendary performance in Hawaii. The room was filled with many parents and students, some even sat in the hall outside. The concert had many high points including: Erik Michael '98 having the audience laugh at a joke he stole from member Bob Ekey '99; Charlie Donaghy '99 making fun of fellow member Tucker Paine '99; Nick Hemeon '00 actually saying something funny. Other minor highlites of the semester included an appearance at the Dickinson Jazz Concert and a performance at Coolfont Resort in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

The December Holiday Concert was a gala affair. For the opening for this concert, President A. Lee Fritschler dressed as the ever popular Santa Claus, while being held captive by the Santa Patrol. The concert was the longest single concert for the octals, singing a total of nineteen songs including the encore, which was called for by the rousing applause of the 300 people who attended.

[edit] A Little History (from Limestone Cowboys)

written by John 'Fig' Newton '99

In the spring of 1996, the Octals are but a glimmer in a few young Dickinsonians' eyes. Junior Mike Anderson, in accordance with Bob Ekey, addressees the Dickinson College Choir with a request that any men interested in forming an a capella singing group contact him. The first meeting brings together eight men, Mike Anderson, Erik Birkholz, Erik Michael, Tucker Paine, Bob Ekey, John Newton, Charles Donaghy and Glenn Davis, who somehow click and before long create the entity entitled the Octals. The final name in agreed upon after suggestion by Birkholz who explains that it means "eight fractals." The only thing to do now is sing, and sing they do, practicing as much as they can under the direction of Erik Michael (affectionately known as "the professor") to put out their first concert that will establish the group and make the audience love them. Of course, that first concert is a great success, both for the group and for the future of music at Dickinson. Favorites like "Down in the Valley, "Aura Lee," and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" highlight the show, being particular favorites for the audience and for the group. The year ends with high hopes of more performances and more great times.

Over the next few years, the Octals change quite a bit. The alumni weekend in the summer brings together the Octals and the alumni Men's glee Club, who provide the Dickinson songs on this album. The meeting allows the Octals to feel a part of the long tradition of men's singing at Dickinson and fuels the desire to see it continue. That fall marks the loss of the first member, leaving the group with seven singers in all. In the remaining members' best interests, the name is retained with one stipulation, never again can there be exactly eight members of the Octals. Annual events are established for the fall semester including parents' weekend and jazz concert performances as well as the Christmas Concert on the final day of classes. Spring becomes recruiting time and 1997 brings in Nick Hemeon, Alex Bloom, and Dan Bastien, who help to compensate for the loss of senior member Mike Anderson. The following year's events continue to broaden the Octals horizons, establishing the group outside of the Dickinson community with a performance at Elizabethtown's Acapelloza. Though members Davis and Newton are sadly missed (they study abroad for the year)m the group copes and becomes an even bigger sensation. Spring this year brings a fresh, some say naïve, dynamic to the group. The spring concert mixes old and the new, highlights being "Circle of Life," arranged by Bloom and Michael, and a tribute to "the professor" bringing tears to eyes all around a standing ovation from the audience. Rembert assumes the role of "the professor", and the new regime begins full force in the fall of 1998. Those members on sabbatical return for their final year, looking forward to new music, new members and a new dynamic. The semester commences as usual with all the traditional gigs plus a few more; then Ekey suggest the cutting of CD. "Yikes!" They say with enthusiasm, and before they know it, Ekey ahs the funding and the resources for the project.

This is the fruit of not only that project but of the Octals as an established student ensemble. The last three years have seen us at our worst and best, and it has never been easy. What remains constant, regardless of our ups and downs, is that we all have a vested interest in this group and hence, we care a great deal for it, past, present and future. We hope that this recording reflects the Octals as a group of guys who love music and could not be happier to share it both with each other and with the rest of you all out there. Thanks for listening.

[edit] Current Members

Peter Birney - 2007 - Baritone/Bass

Andy Carroll - 2007 - Tenor 2

Ed Israel - 2007 - Baritone/Tenor 2

Jon Skvarka - 2007 - Bass/Baritone

Alex Stout - 2007 - Bass

Alexander "Sasho" Tomov - 2008 - Tenor 1

Andrew Cohen - 2009 - Tenor 2

Maury Joseph - 2009 - Baritone/Beat-box

Joey Kirk - 2009 - Tenor 1

Matt Kreger - 2009 - Tenor 1

Dan Willerth - 2009 - Bass/Baritone

George Mazzoli - 2010 - Baritone

Bliss McColl - 2010 - Bass

[edit] Former Members

Nickolas "Nicko" Evagelou - 2009 - Bass

Edward "Eddie" Krumpotich - 2007 - Baritone/Tenor 2

Ryan "Ball" Blaszczak - 2006 - Tenor 1

Chris Bowen - 2006 - Tenor 2

Rob Isaacs - 2006 - Tenor 2

Dan Jaller - 2006 - Tenor 1

Aaron Margolis - 2005 - Baritone

Rob Shaw - 2005 - Bass

Matt Hess - 2004 - Tenor 1

Dave Lohman - 2004 - Bass

Glenn Wall - 2004 - Bass

Ben Falls - 2003

John Judge - 2003 - Tenor

Adam Labadorf - 2003 - Bass

Scott Reznick - 2003

Nate Robinson - 2003

John Schmidt - 2003 - Bass

Dave Stein [1] - 2003 - Tenor

Frank Kanther - 2002 - Tenor/Baritone

Kevin Robinson - 2002 - Tenor

Jeffrey Skonier - 2002 - Bass/Baritone

Garrett Wheeler - 2002 - Bass

James Kelly - 2001 - Tenor 2

Jonathan Na - 2001 - Bass

Nicholas Skowronski - 2001 - Tenor 1

Nicholas Hemeon - 2000 - Baritone

J. Alex Rembert - 2000 - Tenor 1

Daniel Bastien - 1999 - Bass

Alex Bloom [2] - 1999 - Tenor 1

Glenn Davis - 1999 - Baritone

Charles "Chaz" Donaghy [3] - 1999 - Tenor 2

Robert Ekey [4] - 1999 - Bass

John "Fig" Newton - 1999 - Tenor 1

Tucker Payne - 1999 - Tenor/Baritone

Erik Michael - 1998 - Tenor

Michael Anderson - 1997 - Tenor/Baritone

[edit] Discography

"Dickinson College Songs" - Spring 2007

"Octals Live" - Spring 2002

1) I Get Around

2) You Don't Love me Anymore

3) Dickinson Medley

4) For the Longest Time

5) Carlisle Girls

6) And so it Goes

7) Come baby come

8) Gotta Mind to do right

9) Dream

10) Barbara Ann

11) Hey Mr. Bassman

12) Up the Ladder

"Limestone Cowboys" - 1998

1) Come Go with Me

2) Dickinson for Aye

3) Dream

4) Workin' on the Railroad

5) Our College Home

6) And So it Goes

7) Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie

8) Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata

9) Alma Mater

10) Alma Mater '98

11) Tenting Tonight

12) Gotta Mind to do Right

13) My Bonne Lass She Smelleth

14) Goodnight Sweetheart, Fight Fight for Dickinson

15*) The Lion Sleeps Tonight (*unnumbered ghost track)

[edit] Winter Concert 2006

The Octals performed in front of a completely full audience in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium on December 8, 2006 at 8:00pm. Senior members of the group reported it to be among the largest, most energetic crowds they had ever seen at an a cappella concert. The guest performance was provided by Soulfege, a coed group from Lafayette College. Dr. Robert Massa opened the show with a story about the definition of an "octal." After the show The Octals had a party at the on-campus Music House, that included The Syrens, some members of Soulfege, and countless groupies.

Show Facts:

- Dr. Massa's son, Daniel, is in Soulfege and arranged When I Fall in Love for The Octals

- Old School Show Medley included the theme songs for the popular 1990s TV shows Hey Dude, California Dreams, Saved by the Bell, and Golden Girls

- Every Time We Touch was performed in darkness with glow-sticks and a strobe light.

- Walk the Line included Alex Stout wearing all black and introducing himself, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash."

- Mater Alma Mater was performed with Dickinson College clothing on as part of the promotion for the upcoming CD release.

- Ain't Too Proud to Beg included choreographed dance moves for the entire group.

- Up the Ladder was Eddie Krumpotich's last song as an Octal, and also one of his first from his freshman year.

Set List:

Old School Show Medley - Arr. Jon Skvarka - Solos, Matt Kreger, Dan Willerth, Andrew Cohen, Sasho Tomov, Ed Israel, Andy Carroll

Danny Boy - Traditional

Walk the Line (Johnny Cash) - Arr. Jon Skvarka - Solo, Alex Stout

Four Shades of Gray - Arr. Sasho Tomov - Solos, Andy Carroll, Matt Kreger, Andrew Cohen, and Sasho Tomov

Everything I Have (Clay Aiken) - Arr. Eddie Krumpotich - Solo, Eddie Krumpotich

Every Time We Touch (Cascada) - Arr. Jon Skvarka - Solo, Joey Kirk

-- intermission by Soulfege --

When I Fall in Love (Nat King Cole) - Arr. Daniel Massa

California Dreamin' (Mamas & Papas) - Arr. Ed Israel - Solo, Ed Israel

Thugz Mansion (2Pac) - Arr. Maury Joseph - Solos, Maury Joseph and George Mazzoli

Mater Alma Mater - Erik Michael

Ain't Too Proud to Beg (The Temptations) - Arr. Jon Skvarka - Solo, Jon Skvarka

Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen) - Arr. L. Neilissen

Up the Ladder (The Supremes) - Traditional Octals song - Solo, Eddie Krumpotich

[edit] Setlists

Holiday Concert December 12, 1996

Rubendall Recital Hall, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

Set I: Entrance, Dickinson for Aye, Yesterday, Passing By, Dream, Longest Time (John Newton), Smoke Gets in your Eyes (Erik Michael)

Set II: Deck the Halls, Introductions, The Holly and the Ivy, Carol of the Bells, The Wassail Song, Joy to the World, Throw the Yule Log on, Uncle John

Encore: Goodnight Sweetheart (Chaz Donaghy)

Holiday Concert December 3, 1998

Rubendall Recital Hall, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

Set I: Reindeer Intro, Lion Sleeps Tonight (Alex Rembert), Wait 'Till the Sun Shines Nellie, Tenting Tonight, Dickinson for Aye, Circle of Life/Hakuna Matata (Alex Bloom, Dan Bastien), Gotta Mind to do right, Duke of Earl (Bob Ekey), And so it Goes (Dan Bastien), My Bonnie Lass

Set II: Dona Nobis Pacem, Santa's Dilemma, Carol of the Bells, Go Tell it on the Mountain (Tucker Paine, John Newton), Hanerot Halalu, Deck the Halls, Introductions, Silent night/Joy to the World, Throw the Yule Log on Uncle John, Goodnight Sweetheart->Fight Fight for Dickinson (Chaz Donaghy)

Encore: Ave Maria

4th Annual Spring Concert April 30, 1999

Althouse Steps, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

Set I: A-Team Intro, Mosquitoes, Shenandoah (Glenn Davis), Pretty Little Angel Eyes (Alex Bloom), Adios Hermanos (John Newton, Alex Rembert), One Jump (Alex Rembert)

Set II: Silhouettes (Kevin Robinson), When Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Frank Kanther), Our College Home, I Wonder Why (Nick Hemeon)

Set III: Introductions, O Danny Boy (Tucker Paine), Stand By Me (Nick Skowronski), Crazy Love (Jamie Kelly), Kiss the Girl, Please Kind Sir, New York State of Mind (Dan Bastien), One by One, Good Night Sweetheart-> Fight, Fight for Dickinson,

Encore: It's So Hard to say goodbye (Dan, Glenn, Tucker, Chaz, Bob, Fig, Bloom)

9th Annual Winter Concert December 8, 2005

Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

Set: New Age Girl, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, One Is the Loneliest Number, To Make You Feel My Love, We Love To Go To Dickinson, Afternoon Delight, MaryLou, 90's Medley, Hole in the World, I Wish I Could Go Back To College, Holiday BeatBox Medley, Alcohol, Siberia

[edit] Noble Dickinsonia: Our Alma Mater

Words by: Horatio Collins King, Class of 1858

Air: Lauriger Horatius (O Tannenbaum)

Alma Mater, tried and true, Noble Dickinsonia, Oft out hearts shall turn to you, Noble Dickinsonia. How each ancient classic hall, fondest memories will recall, Sacred is each gray old wall, Noble Dickinsonia.

Scion of a hundred years, Noble Dickinsonia, Witness of our smiles and tears, Noble Dickinsonia. Age shall not thine honor dim, Till death comes with visage grim. We will chant our loving hymn, Noble Dickinsonia.

Men may come and men may go, Noble Dickinsonia, Yet in deep and peaceful flow, Noble Dickinsonia. Shall thy stream of learning wide, Thru the Ages grandly glide, Ever to thy sons a pride, Noble Dickinsonia.

[edit] Links

Octals.org [5]

Men's Glee Club [6]

"Walk the Line" [7]

"Four Shades of Gray" medley [8]

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" [9]