An A-Cappella Christmas

The Crescendevils Make Triumphant Debut

by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson

December 11, 2012

The Crescendevils made a triumphant debut on Dec. 2, kicking off the 2012 a cappella winter concerts with a gleefully irreverent performance that brought down the house.

Formed in late 2011, the Crescendevils tap a storied musical tradition at Dickinson. The oldest operating student a cappella group is the Octals, an all-male ensemble that presents standards and barbershop classics. The all-female Syrens specializes in romantic chart-toppers, while the co-ed Infernos bring a light-hearted touch to new and recent hits. No longer the newest kid on the block, the co-ed D-Tones offer contemporary hits with a laid-back, casual flair. Each group's winter concert is a much-anticipated holiday-season event on campus.

For their first full public concert, the Crescendevils donned silly hats and sang a variety of carols and hits with help from guest artists the Syrens. On Tuesday, the D-Tones followed up with songs by Michael Bublé and Sam Sparro, among others, and the Octals welcomed Santa to the stage to help them sing Christmas carols. Thursday evening saw the Infernos' melange of hits ranging from “Use Somebody” to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” And on Friday, the Syrens capped the fun with time-honored tunes such as “The Way You Love Me,” “Because” and “Cry Me a River.” And the week that began with a guest appearance by the Syrens ended with a second collaboration, as the Octals joined the Syrens onstage.

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