Who are the Sils?
The Virginia Sil'hooettes is the most award-winning a cappella group at the University of Virginia.
Our History
Established in the spring of 1989, the Sils have enriched the University of Virginia with stellar and nationally recognized a cappella music for almost thirty years. While music is the commonality, the Sils hail from unique and diverse backgrounds, creating an eclectic group of people who sing but also pursue different academic interests. The Sil’hooettes is comprised of future doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers, teachers, and maybe a Broadway star or two.
The Sil'hooettes have accomplished quite a bit since the group was established in 1989. We sang at the White House in the winters of 2012 and 2015, entertaining guests as they viewed holiday decorations. We have opened for the recording artist B.o.B. and for musician Ben Folds and performed on national television, when MTV’s “The Seven” aired a clip of an impromptu performance in New York City. We even were honored to sing at the University of Virginia's reception honoring Edward R. Stettinius Jr. Prize for Global Leadership recipient former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and Presidential Precinct Young Leader Award recipient Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye. Of course, while these performances have been thrilling adventures for past and present Sils, performing at UVA's Rotunda Sing and Lighting of the Lawn are definitely highlights of each year.
The Sil'hooettes have accomplished quite a bit since the group was established in 1989. We sang at the White House in the winters of 2012 and 2015, entertaining guests as they viewed holiday decorations. We have opened for the recording artist B.o.B. and for musician Ben Folds and performed on national television, when MTV’s “The Seven” aired a clip of an impromptu performance in New York City. We even were honored to sing at the University of Virginia's reception honoring Edward R. Stettinius Jr. Prize for Global Leadership recipient former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and Presidential Precinct Young Leader Award recipient Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye. Of course, while these performances have been thrilling adventures for past and present Sils, performing at UVA's Rotunda Sing and Lighting of the Lawn are definitely highlights of each year.
Musical Accomplishments
In 2017, The Virginia Sil'hooettes became the first UVA a cappella group to release a music video, showcasing our award-winning rendition of "River" by Bishop Briggs. Our most recent album, Tiny Bras, won 2 Contemporary A Capella Recording Awards, including Best Upper Voices Collegiate Arrangement ("Best Part"), Best Upper Voices Collegiate Solo ("Best Part"), and received runner-up for Best Upper Voices Collegiate Song ("Boomerang"). From the Depths, released in April 2017, won four Contemporary A Capella Recording Awards, including Best Female Collegiate Album, Best Female Collegiate Arrangement ("Black Water Lilies"), Best Female Collegiate Solo ("River"), and Best Female Collegiate Song ("Don't Let Me Down"). Our album Luster, released in December 2015, won the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) for Best Female Collegiate Album and received runner-up for Best Female Collegiate Arrangement ("Wait It Out"), Best Female Collegiate Song ("I Will Never Die"), and Best Female Collegiate Solo ("I Will Never Die"). Our album Playing with Lightning, released in 2012, won three CARAs, including Best Female Collegiate Album, Best Female Collegiate Song ("Around Us") and Best Female Collegiate Solo ("Mama"). Many of our songs are featured on various compilation CDs, but most notably, our song "Idioteque," originally by Radiohead, recently made it onto Best of BOCA: The First 20 Years.
More Info
The Sils will sing anything from classic rock to 90’s rap, pop punk, alternative, singer/songwriter, country, reggae, Top 40, and of course, Virginia standards. We also pride ourselves on writing and performing all of our own arrangements, and we constantly challenge ourselves to push the limits of our musical innovations every year.
All Sils, past and present, will agree that The Virginia Sil’hooettes is so much more than just a singing group. We have formed lifelong friendships and lasting memories with each other. Being a Sil’hooette is not just something we do; it’s a part of who we are even after we graduate. S.I.L. "Sils Is Life."
All Sils, past and present, will agree that The Virginia Sil’hooettes is so much more than just a singing group. We have formed lifelong friendships and lasting memories with each other. Being a Sil’hooette is not just something we do; it’s a part of who we are even after we graduate. S.I.L. "Sils Is Life."
