The Radcliffe Pitches are a premier treble-voiced a cappella singing ensemble at

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...

, founded in 1975 at the

Hasty Pudding Club The Hasty Pudding Club, often referred to simply as the Pudding, is a social club at Harvard University, and one of three sub-organizations that comprise the Hasty Pudding - Institute of 1770. The club's motto, ''Concordia Discors'' (discordant h ...

. The group is made up of 12 to 14 Harvard undergraduates who perform at Harvard and internationally on the group's various tours. During their tours, the group has travelled within the U.S. and to international destinations including Bermuda, Spain, England, France, Germany, China and several other countries.Knight, H.: "Harvard Group Sings Praises Of A Cappella", ''The San Francisco Chronicle'', June 4, 1999.Martin, D.: "Pitches set the house on fire", ''New Straits Times'' (Malaysia), August 27, 2004. The Pitches also perform regularly on the Harvard campus; they can be heard at large concerts in

Sanders Theatre Memorial Hall, immediately north of Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is an imposing High Victorian Gothic building honoring Harvard men's sacrifices in defense of the Union during the American Civil War"a symbol of Boston's commitment ...

and smaller gigs including The Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Jam alongside other all-female ensembles in Cabot Café. Other notable performances include appearances at the 1993 inauguration celebrations for President

William Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and again ...

Trescott, J; Norris, M; and Washington Post Staff Writers: "The Chosen Performers; Talent, Sites Named For Inauguration", ''The Washington Post'', January 11, 1993. and the

Hasty Pudding Man of the Year The Hasty Pudding Man of the Year award is bestowed annually by the Hasty Pudding Theatricals society at Harvard University. It has been awarded since 1967 to performers deemed by the society members to have made a "lasting and impressive contribut ...

awards. The Pitches' repertoire is based in jazz standards and inspired by artists such as

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

and Frank Sinatra. Songs in their repertoire include: "

Whatever Lola Wants "Whatever Lola Wants" is a popular song, sometimes rendered as "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets". The music and words were written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross for the 1955 musical play ''Damn Yankees''. The song is sung to Joe Hardy by Lola, ...

", "

It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" is a 1931 composition by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Irving Mills. It is now accepted as a jazz standard, and jazz historian Gunther Schuller characterized it as "now legendary" and "a pro ...

", and " My Funny Valentine". The Pitches also perform jazz twists to popular songs, for example; an arrangement of

American Boy "American Boy” is a song by British singer and rapper Estelle featuring American rapper Kanye West from the former's second studio album '' Shine'' (2008). The song was written by the artists, alongside Ethan Hendrickson, will.i.am, John Le ...

by Estelle which they performed in

Spring 2015 at their 40th Anniversary Jam. All of the Pitch arrangements are done specifically for the group by current and previous members of the group and friends of the group. The group's founders were Radcliffe College undergraduates who wanted to sing in a close harmony setting. The original Pitches chose their group's name from a number of entries in a campus naming contest. In the words of co-founder

Kathy Manning Kathy Ellen Manning (born December 3, 1956) is an American lawyer and politician from North Carolina. She is the U.S. representative from North Carolina's 6th congressional district. The district is in the heart of the Piedmont Triad and includes ...

(Radcliffe College Class of 1978): The Pitches choose new group members through an audition process, held in the fall and spring of each academic year and open to all Harvard undergraduates.

Selected Repertoire

* A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square * Anything Goes * Baby, I Love You * Bei Mir Bist Du Schön * Big Girls Don't Cry * Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy * Don't Tell Mama * Fire * House of Blue Lights * It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) * It's My Party * It's Raining Men * I’ve Been Loving You * Mack the Knife * Makin’ Whoopee * Mr. Sandman * My Funny Valentine * My Baby Just Cares for Me * Never Will I Marry * Oh! Darling * Orange Colored Sky * Our Love is Here to Stay * Precious * Roxanne * Saving All My Love for You * Say a Little Prayer * That Old Feeling * The Masquerade Is Over * This Could Be the Start of Something Great * Trashin’ the Camp * Tuxedo Junction * Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets) * What a Wonderful World * You'd Be Surprised * You Don't Own Me

References

External links

The Radcliffe Pitches official websiteRecords, 1978-1996.Schlesinger Library
Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University. {{authority control Harvard University Harvard University musical groups Collegiate a cappella groups Musical groups established in 1975 University choirs