• ESTABLISHED 1953 • THE VIRGINIA GENTLEMEN Official Information Packet • ESTABLISHED 1953 • • THE ‘GENTS ONLINE • 2 SAMPLE THE VGs: ENJOY AN AUDIO SELECTION HERE WWW.THEVIRGINIAGENTLEMEN.COM @VIRGINIAGENTS on Instagram and Twitter THE VIRGINIA GENTLEMEN on Facebook • ESTABLISHED 1953 • • INTRO TO THE ‘GENTS • 3 this new era, the VGs have added pop, classic rock, and R&B to their original WHO WE ARE barbershop repertoire. The group holds a very close relationship with their University, performing often at special events such as Graduation, The Virginia Gentlemen Convocation, dignitary visits, represent the finest and solemn vigils. Their offering of men’s a diverse repertoire and cappella music in Virginia. professionalism allow them to For over 65 years, the perform at over 100 venues “VGs” have wowed per year locally, nationally, audiences with their and abroad, from conferences, musical talent, weddings, and special dinners performance mastery, and to cruises, political functions classic style. Hailing from and philanthropies. The the University of Virginia, Virginia Gentlemen not only this small group of young J oining a embody skill and experience men represents both the tradition of excellence: new with their clean- cut future of ensemble music member Jay appearance and classic style, and the tradition of Moody, 2018. but for decades they have also American Doo Wop. charmed audiences with their energetic personalities. The Our Foundations group also produces a CD every two The Virginia Gentlemen were originally years; these albums have received many founded in 1953 as an elite octet of awards from BOCA, CARA, and Voice the University of Virginia Glee Club, Only for “Best Soloist,” “Best Album,” eventually becoming an independent and “Best Song.” organization in 1987. In 65 Years of Delighting Audiences: In the Spring of 2018, alumni and members of the VGs gathered in Charlottesville for a celebratory concert. • ESTABLISHED 1953 • • THE ‘GENTS PERFORM • 4 IN 2016, the Virginia Gentlemen Closer to home, the Virginia reached an impressive milestone, Gentlemen have enjoyed close becoming one of the first a cappella relationships with their University and groups to perform on all seven local businesses in Charlottesville. continents. Between voyaging on ships They can often be seen performing at of the repeatedly #1 cruise line in the UVA’s Darden School of Business for world as guest performers, as in 2018, large- scale corporate events or at and undertaking philanthropic land- dinners and wedding celebrations at tours to Peru, China, or Europe, the the Farmington and Boar’s Head organization has been left with the Country Clubs. Alongside professional gleam of experienced travelers who endeavors, the VGs give back to the are adaptable and charming before Charlottesville community through audiences in any region of the world— charity performances for groups like just ask the penguins in Antarctica! Relay for Life, Women Against In the U.S., the VGs have performed Violence, and medical research for presidents at the White House and foundations, helping raise thousands of recently featured in the PBS dollars in benefits each year. documentary special “Doo Wop Performances by The Virginia Generations.” Gentlemen make many events particularly special. OCEAN BOUND: The group enjoys a San Juan sunset before embarking on a trans- Atlantic crossing, during which they will entertain guests with several performances each day. HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE • ESTABLISHED 1953 • • OUR REPERTOIRE • 5 • Good Lovin’ • Young Rascals Variety is what differentiates the • Hallelujah • Leonard Cohen • Hard Day’s Night • The Beatles Virginia Gentlemen from the rest. • Help! • The Beatles The VGs have accumulated over 65 • If I Ain’t Got You • Alicia Keys years’ worth of the best original a • It’s Alright • Huey Lewis and the News cappella arrangements in the world. In • Jack and Diane • John Mellencamp addition to the new pieces we add • Lady in Red • Chris De Burgh each year, here is a list of some of our • Lonesome Road • James Taylor favorites that have stood the test of • My Girl • The Temptations time. • Ob- La- Di, Ob- La- Da • The Beatles • On the Turning Away • Pink Floyd • Perfidia • Alberto Dominguez • Problem • Ariana Grande • All I Have to Do is Dream • Everly Brothers • Runaround Sue • Dion DiMucci • Amazing Grace • John Newton • Shenandoah • Virginia Folk Song • Attention • Charlie Puth • Sir Duke • Stevie Wonder • Beyond the Sea • Bobby Darin • Some Kind of Wonderful • Grand Funk • Blue Moon • Richard Rogers Railroad • Brandy • Looking Glass • Still the One • Orleans • Brown Eyed Girl • Van Morrison • Sweet Caroline • Neil Diamond • Can’t Help Falling in Love • Elvis Presley • Tainted Love • Gloria Jones • Crazy Love • Van Morrison • Toxic • Brittany Spears • Danny Boy • Trdl. Irish • Unchained Melody • Righteous Brothers • Down by the Salley Gardens • Trdl. Irish • Valerie • Amy Winehouse • Easy • The Commodores • Wagon Wheel • Old Crow Medicine Show • Fly Me to the Moon • Frank Sinatra • When We Were Young • Adele • Give Me Love • Ed Sheeran • You May Be Right • Billy Joel CLICK HERE TO SAMPLE THE SOUNDS OF THE VIRGINIA GENTLEMEN TIMELESS QUALITY: In 2018, the VGs perform their famous arrangement of Billy Pilgrim’s Insomniac, which instantly become a greatest hit when it was released in 1994. • ESTABLISHED 1953 • • 6 The Virginia Gentlemen at Rotunda Sing 2018. Performing for the University Community is crucial to their success and relationship with fellow “Wahoos.” The group serenading a client with their interactive love song “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” by Elvis Presley— always a crowd favorite. • ESTABLISHED 1953 • • TESTIMONIALS • 7 Onboard a voyage in 2018, the VGs enjoyed a serendipitous meeting with an alumna of U.Va.’s first class of women! RECENT TESTIMONIALS “The Virginia Gentlemen are the University of Virginia at its finest. The VGs are top- flight individuals, and as a group they can’t be beat. I’ve had the pleasure of listening to them dozens of times over the years. I’ve always enjoyed their performances enormously— and you will, too.” - Larry Sabato, CNN Contributor and Director for the Center for Politics at U.V.a. “These college students won the hear ts of almost every passenger and hopefully will become a reg ular on [these ships].” - Richbfish, a passenger with the VGs on the world’s #1 cruise line in 2018 The members of "The Virginia Gentlemen" have become famous not only for their music, but also for their noble gestures...they do it all with a level of professionalism and enthusiasm that is truly admirable.” - 2016 Article in the Noticias de Cruceros Magazine “We hired the Virginia Gentlemen to sing at our daughter’s wedding and could not have been more pleased. Our friends and family are still talking about those cute, preppy young men with angelic voices. Their rendition of the Ave Maria brought tears to our eyes and was such a beautiful moment.” - Jan Lokie, a recent wedding client • ESTABLISHED 1953 • • CONTACT THE ‘GENTS • 8 VISIT THE.VIRGINIAGENTLEMEN.COM AND LISTEN AT THE.VIRGINIAGENTLEMEN.COM/LISTEN FOR FURTHER INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT CLARE DRAPER [email protected] .