Rush The Spizzwinks(?)
Who We Are
Established in 1914, we're the oldest underclassman a cappella group in the world. For 112 years, we've performed for audiences across the globe and continue to do so today; as part of the Spizzwink Promise, every ’Wink travels to all six inhabited continents and their hometown, fully funded by the group. Over the years, we've performed for the likes of Joe Biden and Lady Gaga, and in venues including Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall.
Our musical repertoire spans a broad range of genres, from jazz to pop to Broadway and everything in between. We perform arrangements exclusively written by our past and present members, with over 600 songs in our library today, and we release a studio album every two years featuring all of our members, including this upcoming year!
This past year, highlights included swimming in Norwegian fjords, going on one of the longest ziplines in the world, hiking the Great Wall of China, and this year, we're visiting Machu Picchu and skydiving out of helicopters in New Zealand. Beyond the touring and performances, all the time we spend together forms an incredibly special connection among our members—by becoming a Spizzwink, you’ll join a tradition of musical excellence, find a family at Yale, and forge friendships that last a lifetime.
Meet the Rush Managers!
Abril Tello Cornejo (Murray '27)
(571) 665-1521
Voice Part: Tenor I
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Favorite Tour Spot: İstanbul, Türkiye
Gbemiga Salu (Stiles '27)
(857) 265-4770
Voice Part: Tenor II
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Favorite Tour Spot: Seoul, South Korea
Max Ondik (Morse '28)
Brennan Ujda (Morse '28)
What to Expect for Auditions
Who: You!
Where: Jonathan Edwards College Courtyard
When: Arrive 10 minutes before your audition slot
What: We'll warm you up (and down, basses) with a few vocal exercises. Next, you'll sing the voice part of Aura Lee that you learned. Finally, you'll sing a solo of your choice (one verse and one chorus is great!). Choose a song that you love and one that really shows off your voice. Most importantly, have fun with it! All genres are welcome.
Tips
We're all rooting for you! Here are a couple things that past auditionees have found helpful.
Before showing up to your audition, warm yourself up! Make sure the different parts of your range feel good. We'll also warm you up a bit during the audition itself.
Take good care of your voice in the days leading up to your audition. Drink plenty of water, get lots of sleep, and try not to wear out your voice too much beforehand!
Practice your music: get comfortable with one voice part of Aura Lee. If you can, find three other singers and practice in a quartet!
Have fun with it! Auditions can be nervewracking, but rest assured—we all want you to succeed. Do your best to take it easy and enjoy yourself!
Timeline
August 30th
8:00 PM
Woolsey Jam – Woolsey Hall
Hear a song from each of Yale's 17 a cappella groups!
August 31st
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Extracurricular Bazaar – Beinecke Plaza
Stop by our table to meet a few members and hear more about us.
September 1st
7:30 PM
Marsh Jam & Audition Signup – Marsh Lecture Hall
Hear more from each group, then sign up for auditions!
September 4th - 7th
Auditions – Jonathan Edwards College
Meet us in the JE courtyard 10 minutes before your time slot ready to go!
Date TBA
Time TBA
Time TBA
Singing Dessert – Saybrook Underbrook
Our chance to sing! We’ll perform a full concert so you can hear more from us.
Date TBA
Time TBA
Singing Dessert Afterparty – Davenport Buttery
Come hang out with us after our Singing Dessert! Featuring food.
September 13th - 14th
Callbacks – Jonathan Edwards College
It's simple–we want you back! Come and sing your second selection for us!
September 17th
9:00 PM
Tap Night!
Yale's a cappella groups come to Old Campus to welcome their newest members!
Map
We know it’s easy to get lost when you’re not familiar with campus yet – trust us, we were there. Here’s a map indicating all of the locations that you’ll be visiting while you rush the Spizzwinks(?). Call one of our rush managers if you have any questions!
See you at auditions!
The 'Winks on the bank of a Norwegian fjord in Balestrand! (2025)
After our joint concert with students from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music! (2025)
The 'Winks visit Disney! (2018)
The Class of 2026 on Family Weekend
On the City Wall of Nanjing! (2025)
Tap Night 2024 with the newly tapped '28s!
On the tube en route to Cambridge, having successfully Minded the Gap (2025)
Summer skiing in Alaska! (2016)
Performing at Donghua University (2025)
The 'Winks outside Beinecke Library (2023)
The Spizzwinks performing in Oahu, Hawaii! (2016)
Post-helicopter ride in the mountains of New Zealand! (2023)
The '28s on a very sunny day in the Forbidden City in Beijing (2025)
The Spizzwinks after our show at the Savile Club in London! (2025)
Spizzwinks and alumni singing in the Woolsey Rotunda for our 110th Anniversary (2024)
The 2024-2025 Spizzwinks!
