Chor Kleines joined by Yale’s Whiffenpoofs on Ookayama Campus for joint singing session
Chor Kleines, an official student club of Science Tokyo, held a joint singing session with the Whiffenpoofs, an a cappella group from Yale University, on August 4 on Ookayama Campus, fostering international exchange through music.
Founded in 1909, the Whiffenpoofs are the world’s oldest collegiate a cappella group. Each year, 14 senior Yale students are selected for the group, who go on to perform more than 200 concerts across six continents throughout the year.
Thirteen members of the Whiffenpoofs participated in this event. After touring the Science Tokyo Museum, the Collaboration Center for Design and Manufacturing and Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza (Taki Plaza), they held a joint singing session with 32 members of Chor Kleines.
At the joint singing session, Chor Kleines began by performing four songs, including their group anthem Voice of the Forest, which is based on an American student song, and Kahi, the required piece they plan to perform at this year’s National Choral Competition.
After this, the Whiffenpoofs performed four songs, including Operator, a traditional piece passed down over many years, in a performance that incorporated dancing and finger snapping. At the end of the joint singing session, the groups split into different vocal parts, and the Chor Kleines members taught the Whiffenpoofs their group anthem, after which everyone sang it together.
The members of Chor Kleines and the Whiffenpoofs listened intently to each other’s performances and genuinely seemed to enjoy themselves. This exchange served as a great opportunity to draw inspiration from one another’s performances and further deepen their own musical expression in the future.
Chor Kleines will perform at the Tokyo Choral Competition on September 19. Drawing on this experience with their Yale counterparts, the group looks forward to practicing diligently and delivering a performance true to their spirit.
Comments from Chor Kleines member
Ohki Ito (4th year, Life Science and Technology)
Even though I am not very familiar with English, I realized once again that music allows us to connect across language barriers. I am grateful for this valuable opportunity.
Comments from Whiffenpoofs member
Charles Calkins (4th year, History, Yale University)
Chor Kleines gave a wonderful performance. The joint singing session was so much fun, and everyone was delighted. I am grateful for the opportunity to interact with a Japanese choir.
