The Whiffenpoofs with John Berkely and Dana Rodes
The Whiffenpoofs members Nimal Eames-Scott, Brad Ward, Ike Silver and Dan Stein talk with Grace Presbyterian Village executive director John Berkely and Dana Rodes, residential and assisted living sales counselor at Grace Presbyterian Village.
Residents and staff at Grace Presbyterian Village experienced an outstanding performance by The Whiffenpoofs, Yale University’s renowned a capella group consisting of male college seniors who sing a variety of hits from original composers to traditional Yale songs. The Whiffenpoofs group is the oldest a capella group in the United States and has performed on multiple television shows as well as in front of former presidents. The residents were thrilled to attend the exclusive show at Grace Presbyterian Village. After the performance, residents had the chance to talk with the singers one-on-one and purchase their CDs.
“It was a joy to see the residents’ faces light up as they sang along when they heard some of their favorite songs,” said John Berkely, executive director at Grace Presbyterian Village. “As I looked around the audience, I could see couples holding hands during songs that brought back memories. It was definitely a treat to have this group of talented singers on our campus.”
The Whiffenpoofs of Yale began over 100 years ago and now the group consists of 14 Yale seniors. The prestigious group travels across the country and around the globe to perform in numerous countries and cities each year. The men have made appearances on “Saturday Night Live,” the hit show “Glee” and “The Sing-Off.”
“It is always a pleasure to see an audience enjoy our performance, and we treasure the ability to make music with some of our closest friends,” said Bobby Dresser, one of the members. “The great thing about performing for seniors is that they have a special connection to the songs we love to sing. ‘The Whiffenpoof Song,’ ‘I'll Be Seeing You’ and ‘Nature Boy,’ among others, are a few such gems written decades ago. It's always more fun to sing for an audience that has lived your music.”
“Not only do The Whiffenpoofs sing beautiful music, but they have funny stories and ways to connect to the audience in between songs,” said Berkely. “The overall experience was very positive and created nostalgia among our residents. The musical experience and joy they brought to our campus was infectious. After the concert, I could still hear residents humming up and down the halls.”