For the first time EVER, Carolina’s a cappella group is coming to Atlanta for a concert at historic Buckhead Theatre! Mark your calendar now for Feb. 13 (Valentine’s Day gift?!?) at 8 p.m. It’s the perfect event to reconnect with other Tar Heel alums and families. Let’s show the Clef Hangers Atlanta Tar Heel Pride!
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Clef Hanger History
In the fall of 1977, Barry Saunders and Tom Terrell formed the university’s first close harmony a cappella group. In December of that year, the all-male group (then known as the Morrison Dorm Singers) performed for the first time at the old Morrison Dorm Coffeehouse. It would not be until 1978 that the group settled on the name, “Clef Hangers,” adopted their now traditional vests and bowties, and held their first official performance on a warm April afternoon in the Pit. Since that time, the “Clefs” have had the opportunity to delight audiences across the world with their vocal music.
Since the group’s inception, it has released 19 professionally-produced studio albums, with the most recent album, released in 2013, being The Mallard. Songs from five separate albums have been featured on a total of seven Best of Collegiate A Cappella Compilation CD’s, and in 2004, The Clef Hangers received their first Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) for “Best Soloist” in the song “Easy.” Since then, the Clefs have won two CARA’s for “Best Male Collegiate Song” with “My Love” and “Ain’t Nothing Wrong.” In addition, their Twist album has received runner-up CARA’s for “Best Male Collegiate Album,” “Best Male Collegiate Song” (“Nude”), and “Best Male Collegiate Arrangement” (“Boondocks”). The Clefs have received numerous other CARA nominations and runner-ups.
Since their first tour to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1980, the Clefs have performed for audiences in Spain, France, Scotland, Jamaica, Greece, Italy, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New York, and numerous other locations. During a tour to New York City, they performed for the nation on the television show “Good Morning America.” In the spring of 2002, they were personally invited by Chancellor James Moeser to sing at Commencement, a tradition that has continued ever since. The Clef Hangers perform for a packed Memorial Hall every year during their fall and spring concerts, which sometimes feature special guests like Dean Smith and Roy Williams. You can catch the Clef Hangers at their annual fall and spring concerts or at a variety of performances throughout the academic year in Chapel Hill, across the state of North Carolina, and beyond.