Princeton Tigertones

Princeton Tigertones
Name	Princeton Tigertones
Origin	Princeton, New Jersey
Genre	A cappella, barbershop, jazz
Years active	1946–present
Associated acts	Princeton University, Princeton Nassoons, Collegiate a cappella

Princeton Tigertones The Princeton Tigertones are an all-male a cappella singing group founded at Princeton University in 1946. The ensemble is known for a repertoire spanning barbershop, jazz, pop music, and traditional music drawn from American, British, and global sources, performing on campus, in the United States, and internationally. The group has toured with ensembles affiliated with institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, and Oxford University and has produced numerous recordings and alumni who later engaged with Broadway, Hollywood, and Grammy Awards-related projects.

History

Formed in the immediate post-World War II era, the group emerged alongside other collegiate ensembles tied to Ivy League traditions such as the Princeton Nassoons and the Princeton Footnotes; early activities reflected student culture influenced by figures like Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and the popular collegiate circuits of the 1940s and 1950s. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the ensemble adapted to cultural shifts associated with events like the Vietnam War, the rise of rock and roll, and changing campus life at Princeton University. In later decades the Tigertones engaged with the broader collegiate a cappella movement that included groups at Yale University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and national organizations such as National Public Radio features and competitions influenced by media like the Sing Off. The ensemble’s tradition of formal concerts, informal campus serenades, and alumni reunions parallels institutions such as the Whiffenpoofs of Yale University and the Harvard Krokodiloes.

Membership and Organization

Membership is drawn from matriculated students at Princeton University selected through annual auditions in coordination with university scheduling and student activities structures like the Princeton University Concerts calendar. The group's governance historically mirrors student-led organizations at Ivy League schools, involving elected officers analogous to leadership in the Student Government and coordination with university bodies such as the Frist Campus Center and the University Chapel for performance space. Members have included those who later pursued careers with organizations like The New York Times, McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, Columbia Records, and institutions such as Harvard Business School and Yale Law School.

Musical Style and Repertoire

The ensemble’s musical approach blends arrangements of standards by composers and songwriters such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Paul Simon, The Beatles, and contemporary writers like Sara Bareilles and Ben Folds. Repertoire includes barbershop close-harmony pieces, jazz standards connected to artists like Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald, and contemporary pop and rock arrangements referencing Michael Jackson, Prince, Aretha Franklin, and Radiohead. The Tigertones have commissioned or adapted works in the manner of collegiate ensembles that cite arrangers associated with Vocal Point and groups from Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley.

Performances and Tours

Regular performances include campus concerts at venues such as McCarter Theatre Center, private functions for organizations like Tiger Inn and Cap and Gown Club, and appearances at events tied to athletic programs including NCAA ceremonies and alumni weekends. Touring has taken the ensemble to cities like New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and international destinations such as London, Paris, Rome, and cities in East Asia and Europe, often sharing bills with groups from Oxford University and Cambridge University. The Tigertones have participated in charity concerts and benefit performances alongside organizations like United Way and cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Recordings and Media

The group’s discography features studio albums, live recordings, and holiday collections distributed across decades, following a pattern similar to collegiate a cappella releases from Tufts University and University of Virginia. Media exposure has included radio play on outlets like NPR and regional public radio stations, filmed segments for broadcast television in markets such as New York City and Philadelphia, and appearances on digital platforms that spotlight collegiate music akin to YouTube showcases and playlist placements referencing arrangements popularized by The Boston Pops and recording producers affiliated with Columbia Records and RCA Records.

Notable Alumni and Awards

Alumni have pursued careers in the performing arts, finance, law, media, and academia, holding positions at institutions including Broadway productions, Warner Bros., NBC, The Wall Street Journal, and faculty posts at universities like Columbia University and Yale University. Some former members achieved recognition through awards and honors connected to Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, and industry acknowledgments similar to Grammy Awards nominations; alumni involvement in professional music has led to collaborations with artists and organizations such as Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the New York Philharmonic.

Category:Princeton University musical groups Category:Collegiate a cappella groups