By Tyra Sutak For the Camera
Posted: 10/29/2012 04:00:00 PM MDT
The CU BUFFoons, an a cappella group, have been going strong since 1962. (Courtesy photo)
If you goWhat: The CU BUFFoons’ 50-year reunion
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Various locations around Boulder and the University of Colorado campus, including CU’s home football game with Stanford at 4:15 p.m. Saturday
Info: cubuffoons.com or cualum.org/back2boulder/reunions/buffoons/
For many people, the mention of a cappella evokes images of Lea Michele and the rest of the “Glee” cast parading through the halls of their fictitious high school, singing pop songs from the past decade in perfect harmony and performing choreographed twirls.
But for a group of past and current members of one University of Colorado Boulder singing group, a cappella means so much more.
And so many more years. It was 1962 when Colorado’s oldest collegiate a cappella group was formed on the CU campus. Modeled after and inspired by the prestigious Yale Whiffenpoofs, the CU BUFFoons began performing locally.
“Just the fact that we got something going on the CU campus; we used to sing at the sororities and dorms, just drop by and sing. Those were happy memories,” said Oakleigh Thorne, who founded the CU BUFFoons 50 years ago after serving as musical director for the Yale Whiffenpoofs.
Now in its 50th year, current and former BUFFoons — the group is composed each year of 13 elected male undergraduates — will be reuniting during CU’s homecoming weekend, Friday-Sunday to celebrate their half-century of existence.
Any reunion of a group of singers wouldn’t be the same without a performance, and former and current members of the group will perform Friday at the Pearl Street Stampede and Saturday at Folsom Field just before CU kicks off its football game with Stanford.
Joe Riedel, a current CU senior who is second tenor and business manager for the BUFFoons, is ecstatic he got to be a part of the storied group.
“It has definitely been the best decision of my college career,” Riedel said, “These guys are musicians, and we all have the same attitude about music.”
The current CU BUFFoons will perform its fall concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Old Main. Admission is free.