OCTET '06-'07:
Year in Review
The Octet kicked off the school year with energetic performances at both
the school-wide jamboree as well as the traditional entry sings. After a highly
competitive and impressive series of auditions, the group welcomed three
talented new members: Abiy Hailemichael '10, Aroop Mukharji '09 and James R
Trotta '10. The year's first concert occurred at Currier Ballroom with the
Accidentals. The highlight of the show was no doubt Eugene Hermando Won '09 on
the Chinese Yo-Yo during halftime. While Dan Wollin '07 jammed on a disco
music-box in the background, Eugene stunned the crowd with his ridiculous
abilities, capturing the hearts of innumerable freshman girls and Daniel
Yudkin, '08. The group also roadtripped to Smith and Wheaton College. Nothing
happened.
In December, the Octet once again found itself singing with girls. The
final semester concert was sung with Ephoria, and culminated in a
joint-rendition of the coming of age classic "Too Close," by the Beatles. The
group also performed "How Deep Is the Ocean," an arrangement by the Octet's
founder, Warren Hunke '42.
As the Year of the Dog blossomed into the Year of the Pig, signalling the
beginning of Winter Study, the Octet decided it was necessary to host a Winter
Training Retreat in Manchester, VT, to instruct the young ones in the arts of
hunting wild animals, brewing moonshine and other manly things that a capella
groups do when they are not singing. The retreat was followed by the annual Pub
Crawl, marked by much lively intellectual discourse, and a group trip to New
York. The foray into the city saw an unofficial intergenerational reunion, as
Octet veterans from as early as '99 were present. The senior class, however,
was conspicuously absent, and were reportedly "rubbing tanning lotion
on one another."
The arrival of spring semester brought about the return of class and more
importantly, Octet rehearsal. The group also roadtripped to Wellesley College,
the highlight of which was Tommy Gill '08. Later in the semester, finding
itself inundated with women and the prospect of singing with them again, the
Octet decided to host a follow-up to the Women's Center's Vulvapalooza (at
which the Octet performed)- an all-male a capella festival, co-hosted by the
Springstreeters, aptly titled "Scrotapalooza." High points included poetry
readings, a song about flank steak and fully choreographed song-and-dance
numbers.
Spring Break soon followed the Octet's legendary glorification of
manhood, and was celebrated with a road trip to New Orleans. The trip had a
number of stops that included other colleges, single hotel rooms and Wawa's.
Good times were had, and suprisingly little singing was done.
As the end of the semester became a reality, the Octet found itself
dreading the departure of one of its strongest classes. It was time,
unfortunately, to say goodbye to the colorful and musical seniors of '07:
Merritt "Mad Dog" Edlind, Blake E. B. Emerson, Auyon Mukharji, David Culver
Senft, and Daniel Joaquim Wollin. Their formal exodus into the world of Octet
alumdom was marked by the receipt of a magic eight ball, followed by their
respective senior solo. Blake Emerson's rendition of Jay-Z's "I Just Wanna Love
You" was particularly noteworthy. The group ended the year laying down a few
tracks at a local studio before bidding farewell to the senior class. All in all, the year
was a massive success, filled with memorable concerts, roadtrips and parties,
and far too much fraternal love.
Aroop Mukharji '09 and Auyon Mukharji '07
Members, Williams Octet '06-'07