Hey alums,
Sorry for the inactivity. My bad.
Well the Octaves are back! We have 5 new Taves this semester who we're really excited to have in the group: Ben '11, Clayton '09, Eric '11, Joe '10, and Nic '11. We're already hard at work learning new music for our various upcoming gigs and possible recording in the spring! Hopefully we can raise enough money between now and then to start our new album!
I'm not sure if you've checked out the new website yet, but you definitely have to. It's pretty damn awesome. It would be great if you could just reply to this post with a sentence or two about what you are doing with your life now, post-Octaves. We're still working on finding the rest of the alums, so if you know how to contact anyone not on my list, please let me know at mike dot thomas at richmond dot edu.
Hope all is well,
Mike
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Master List
Alright guys, the semester is over, and now I'm ready to dedicate countless summer hours posting on this blog all things Octaves. The groups is entering it's 18th year of existence, meaning there are a LOT of alums out there who are unaccounted for. My biggest summer project will be to contact them all and let them know about this site (and the new homepage), even if I have to visit a couple of jail cells along the way. I can't do a very good job of this, however, if I don't know who I'm looking to get in touch with. So, first of all, I'd like to try and generate a list of all the Octaves who have ever existed, ever. I've already started a small list, but only of the most recent alums. Please comment back on this post with any names you have that are missing from the list. If you have contact information, that's great, but please don't post it; instead, send me an email at mike dot thomas at richmond dot edu telling me all you know. Here's the list so far by graduation year, and congrats to our newest alums!
07: Stephen Longenecker, Ryan Hansen, Greg Swaim
06: Dave Raiser, Drew Setterberg, Mike Hinchcliffe, Matt Schaffer, Godfrey Plata, Brad Seligmann
05: Mark Naylor, Tom Gregorio, Matt Kiel, Carlisle Geaves, Tim MacGougan, Durron Tyre
04: Will Rawls, Andrew Nalband, Ben Castoriano
03: Scott Olmstead
02: Kevin Powell, Chris Ward, Patrick Traynor, Brent Miller, Andrew Bogle
01:
00:
99:
98: Ben R
97:
96:
95:
94: Rich Mento
93:
92: Tripp Hudgins
91:
90:
There are definitely a few too many blank years if you ask me. I don't know if there were any graduates in 90 or 91, but I included them anyway. Even if there are folks who did not graduate as members of the Octaves, but were still part of the group during any of their time at UR and you think they would enjoy reading up on Octaves happenings, include them in the list.
Hope all is well, and I hope to see you all soon at our next reunion, whenever that actually is.
--Mike Thomas; '08
07: Stephen Longenecker, Ryan Hansen, Greg Swaim
06: Dave Raiser, Drew Setterberg, Mike Hinchcliffe, Matt Schaffer, Godfrey Plata, Brad Seligmann
05: Mark Naylor, Tom Gregorio, Matt Kiel, Carlisle Geaves, Tim MacGougan, Durron Tyre
04: Will Rawls, Andrew Nalband, Ben Castoriano
03: Scott Olmstead
02: Kevin Powell, Chris Ward, Patrick Traynor, Brent Miller, Andrew Bogle
01:
00:
99:
98: Ben R
97:
96:
95:
94: Rich Mento
93:
92: Tripp Hudgins
91:
90:
There are definitely a few too many blank years if you ask me. I don't know if there were any graduates in 90 or 91, but I included them anyway. Even if there are folks who did not graduate as members of the Octaves, but were still part of the group during any of their time at UR and you think they would enjoy reading up on Octaves happenings, include them in the list.
Hope all is well, and I hope to see you all soon at our next reunion, whenever that actually is.
--Mike Thomas; '08
Saturday, April 21, 2007
New Website
Good News! The Octaves have an official website again! After a month or two scramble, and an address change, you can access the new site at www.richmondoctaves.com
It's not complete just yet, but enjoy the members and history section. I'll be working on the alumni section later, but first we have to generate a list of all the alumni in the world. So respond to this post with the names and years of all Octaves you know who haven't been listed yet. I really hope we have enough Taves reading this site to get a complete list.
So,
-Visit the new site.
-Respond with the names of all the Taves you know exist.
Peace and love,
--Mike--
It's not complete just yet, but enjoy the members and history section. I'll be working on the alumni section later, but first we have to generate a list of all the alumni in the world. So respond to this post with the names and years of all Octaves you know who haven't been listed yet. I really hope we have enough Taves reading this site to get a complete list.
So,
-Visit the new site.
-Respond with the names of all the Taves you know exist.
Peace and love,
--Mike--
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Inactivity
Alums,
Sorry for the recent inactivity on the blog. I've been completely swamped with work here at the end of the semester. If you all want to start a dialogue, feel free to do so. I should be back to posting again in May after exams.
-Mike T
Sorry for the recent inactivity on the blog. I've been completely swamped with work here at the end of the semester. If you all want to start a dialogue, feel free to do so. I should be back to posting again in May after exams.
-Mike T
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
CARA Awards
The Octaves are proud to announce that Ben Mertz's arrangement of Come Clean has been selected as the Runner-up for the 2007 Best Male Collegiate Arrangement. This is quite an achievement for Ben, and though we are disappointed that he didn't win the award, we are certainly honored by the recognition he did receive.
Other results:
Male Collegiate Album:
Winner: Bring It Back -- Duke Pitchforks
Runner-up: Abbeys Road -- BU Dear Abbeys
Male Collegiate Song:
Winner: Hysteria -- Duke Pitchforks
Runner-up: Baba O'Riley -- BU Dear Abbeys
Male Collegiate Arrangement:
Winner: Baba O'Riley by Victor Sandman -- BU Dear Abbeys
Runner-up: Come Clean by Ben Mertz -- THE OCTAVES
We are proud of the achievements of our latest album and honored to have been nominated for three CARAs. Shotgun is still on sale through the Octaves (contact Lee) or the UR bookstore. The Octaves' ninth album is currently in planning, but look for it to hit shelves as early as Fall 2009.
Other results:
Male Collegiate Album:
Winner: Bring It Back -- Duke Pitchforks
Runner-up: Abbeys Road -- BU Dear Abbeys
Male Collegiate Song:
Winner: Hysteria -- Duke Pitchforks
Runner-up: Baba O'Riley -- BU Dear Abbeys
Male Collegiate Arrangement:
Winner: Baba O'Riley by Victor Sandman -- BU Dear Abbeys
Runner-up: Come Clean by Ben Mertz -- THE OCTAVES
We are proud of the achievements of our latest album and honored to have been nominated for three CARAs. Shotgun is still on sale through the Octaves (contact Lee) or the UR bookstore. The Octaves' ninth album is currently in planning, but look for it to hit shelves as early as Fall 2009.
Spring Fever XIII Pictures
Hey guys,
Hope all who came out to Spring Fever had an excellent time. I know I did. Anyway, here are the long awaited pictures:
Hope all who came out to Spring Fever had an excellent time. I know I did. Anyway, here are the long awaited pictures:
Monday, March 26, 2007
Okay so I lied
Alums,
I apologize for never getting some pictures or videos up before Spring Fever. We were all just so busy with rehearsals, school, family, etc.
On a more positive note, SPRING FEVER WAS AWESOME! We all had such a great time on stage and really enjoyed having all the alumni come join us for some songs. Our group was as big as it's ever been with the 9 of you who came up on Saturday night, and we had a blast partying with yall after the concert. Pictures of the concert and party (and some totally incriminating evidence) will be posted soon for the enjoyment of all the alums.
Feel free to leave us feedback about Spring Fever. All your input is appreciated.
Hopefully we'll see more of you out there next year, and thanks to all who joined us this year!
--Mike T--
UR '08
Alumni Relations Director
I apologize for never getting some pictures or videos up before Spring Fever. We were all just so busy with rehearsals, school, family, etc.
On a more positive note, SPRING FEVER WAS AWESOME! We all had such a great time on stage and really enjoyed having all the alumni come join us for some songs. Our group was as big as it's ever been with the 9 of you who came up on Saturday night, and we had a blast partying with yall after the concert. Pictures of the concert and party (and some totally incriminating evidence) will be posted soon for the enjoyment of all the alums.
Feel free to leave us feedback about Spring Fever. All your input is appreciated.
Hopefully we'll see more of you out there next year, and thanks to all who joined us this year!
--Mike T--
UR '08
Alumni Relations Director
Thursday, March 22, 2007
CDs
Hi Guys,
I just read through the reviews of Shotgun and it looks amazing. I've seen a few places online that are selling it, but I'm interested in making the most money go to the group as possible (the bookstore used to take a big chunk out of our profit - I assume it's still the same).
So what's the best way to get my hands on a CD and help the group?
-Patrick
I just read through the reviews of Shotgun and it looks amazing. I've seen a few places online that are selling it, but I'm interested in making the most money go to the group as possible (the bookstore used to take a big chunk out of our profit - I assume it's still the same).
So what's the best way to get my hands on a CD and help the group?
-Patrick
A test.
I am just making sure that I can actually post here. It's awesome to know that the 'Taves are still running along at breakneck pace. Wondrous. Who knew at that first rehearsal that anything would really come of it?
Huzzah!
Huzzah!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
SPRING FEVER XIII STARTS TOMORROW NIGHT!!!!!
Hey alums!
We're very excited for Spring Fever this year. I know I promised some footage of the group you love best, so be sure to visit this page on Friday morning to check it out. Remember the schedule:
Friday, 3/23: 7:30 pm in Camp Concert Hall
Featuring: The Octaves, Off the Cuff, Bucknell Bisonchips, JMU Bluestones, and The Octaves (again)
Saturday, 3/24: 7:30 pm in Camp Concert Hall
Featuring: The Sirens, Choeur du Roi, UVA Hoos in Treble, and a special OCTAVES DOUBLE SET!
Since this blog is only reaching about 10-12 alums, tell everyone you know, and send their email addresses to mt8rn@yahoo.com so I can invite them to the blog. Also, I'm working on a master list of all the Octaves in the world right now... unfortunately I can only go about 6 years back. Hopefully you all can help me complete it.
I'll see you all this weekend, and don't forget to check the blog again on Friday!
--Mike T--
UR '08
Alumni Relations Director
We're very excited for Spring Fever this year. I know I promised some footage of the group you love best, so be sure to visit this page on Friday morning to check it out. Remember the schedule:
Friday, 3/23: 7:30 pm in Camp Concert Hall
Featuring: The Octaves, Off the Cuff, Bucknell Bisonchips, JMU Bluestones, and The Octaves (again)
Saturday, 3/24: 7:30 pm in Camp Concert Hall
Featuring: The Sirens, Choeur du Roi, UVA Hoos in Treble, and a special OCTAVES DOUBLE SET!
Since this blog is only reaching about 10-12 alums, tell everyone you know, and send their email addresses to mt8rn@yahoo.com so I can invite them to the blog. Also, I'm working on a master list of all the Octaves in the world right now... unfortunately I can only go about 6 years back. Hopefully you all can help me complete it.
I'll see you all this weekend, and don't forget to check the blog again on Friday!
--Mike T--
UR '08
Alumni Relations Director
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
SPRING FEVER XIII!!!!
Hey alums,
Just wanted to remind you that Spring Fever XIII is coming up in less than two weeks! If you are in the area, or if you want to take a trip, come out to our annual concert on March 23 and 24 in the UR Camp Concert Hall at 7:30pm. This year's guest groups include some of the best in the nation, including the Bucknell Bisonchips, the JMU Bluestones, UVA's BOCA '07 honored Hoo's in Treble, and UR's own Choeur du Roi, who will be releasing an album next week.
The current Octaves, especially myself, would love to see you all in the audience next week as the performance would not be the same without alums.
More news to come about Spring Fever in the next week or so, including a possible sneak peak at some of the songs we may or may not be performing.
I look forward to meeting some of you soon,
--
Mike T.
Alumni Relations Director
Just wanted to remind you that Spring Fever XIII is coming up in less than two weeks! If you are in the area, or if you want to take a trip, come out to our annual concert on March 23 and 24 in the UR Camp Concert Hall at 7:30pm. This year's guest groups include some of the best in the nation, including the Bucknell Bisonchips, the JMU Bluestones, UVA's BOCA '07 honored Hoo's in Treble, and UR's own Choeur du Roi, who will be releasing an album next week.
The current Octaves, especially myself, would love to see you all in the audience next week as the performance would not be the same without alums.
More news to come about Spring Fever in the next week or so, including a possible sneak peak at some of the songs we may or may not be performing.
I look forward to meeting some of you soon,
--
Mike T.
Alumni Relations Director
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Octaves Update -- Feb, 2007
Alright, so I've fooled around with the Blogger thing a bit, and now lets start updating you all with the current state of Octaves Nation.
This past year or two (don't know when you were last contacted) has definitely been busy for the Taves. Last semester alone, we released our newest CD, Shotgun, toured the North East, and performed a holiday concert before exams in addition to other various Taves shindigs (does anyone say that anymore?).
Here's a little time line of Taves since September:
- September 16, 2006: Shotgun, the Octaves eighth CD, released at Parents Weekend.
- October 6-10, 2006: The Octaves tour the Northeast including stops in Boston, New York, and New Jersey.
- October 7, 2006: Perform at the 10th Annual Faneuil Hall A cappella Festival and place third overall for best performance.
- October 8, 2006: Perform in New York City: Times Square, and Columbia University with the Columbia Nonsequitor.
- October 11, 2006: Perform at UR with the UNC Lorelis (soooo hot).
- November, 2006: Lonely No More (Shotgun) selected for BOCA '07! We were estatic to be recognized on a national level for our latest recording.
- December 31, 2006: Octaves latest CD, Shotgun, receives an awesome review by RARB. The link is to the right. Enjoy!
- February 1, 2007: Octaves nominated for three Contempotary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) including Best Album by a Male Collegiate Group, Best Song by a Male Collegiate Group (Lonely No More), and Best Arrangement for a Male Collegiate Group (Come Clean; arr. Mertz).
And we continue to keep ourselves busy preparing for Spring Fever XIII and various other performances this semester. Also very cool: the UVA Academical Village People invited us to their big Winter Jam. It's like their version of Spring Fever, but it's at a bigger University, so it's gonna be huge. If you're gonna be around Charlottesville on February 17, be sure to come see us (and we'll have a few CDs too, if you don't have a copy yet).
I'm going to try monthly news updates for now during the busy winter months, but stay tuned if you want to contribute more to the conversation here. I think it would be really cool to construct a detailed history of the group so future Octaves can reflect on the origins and development of the group they love. So that will come next.
Health and happiness to you, your friends, and family,
--
Mike T
Alumni Relations Director
This past year or two (don't know when you were last contacted) has definitely been busy for the Taves. Last semester alone, we released our newest CD, Shotgun, toured the North East, and performed a holiday concert before exams in addition to other various Taves shindigs (does anyone say that anymore?).
Here's a little time line of Taves since September:
- September 16, 2006: Shotgun, the Octaves eighth CD, released at Parents Weekend.
- October 6-10, 2006: The Octaves tour the Northeast including stops in Boston, New York, and New Jersey.
- October 7, 2006: Perform at the 10th Annual Faneuil Hall A cappella Festival and place third overall for best performance.
- October 8, 2006: Perform in New York City: Times Square, and Columbia University with the Columbia Nonsequitor.
- October 11, 2006: Perform at UR with the UNC Lorelis (soooo hot).
- November, 2006: Lonely No More (Shotgun) selected for BOCA '07! We were estatic to be recognized on a national level for our latest recording.
- December 31, 2006: Octaves latest CD, Shotgun, receives an awesome review by RARB. The link is to the right. Enjoy!
- February 1, 2007: Octaves nominated for three Contempotary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs) including Best Album by a Male Collegiate Group, Best Song by a Male Collegiate Group (Lonely No More), and Best Arrangement for a Male Collegiate Group (Come Clean; arr. Mertz).
And we continue to keep ourselves busy preparing for Spring Fever XIII and various other performances this semester. Also very cool: the UVA Academical Village People invited us to their big Winter Jam. It's like their version of Spring Fever, but it's at a bigger University, so it's gonna be huge. If you're gonna be around Charlottesville on February 17, be sure to come see us (and we'll have a few CDs too, if you don't have a copy yet).
I'm going to try monthly news updates for now during the busy winter months, but stay tuned if you want to contribute more to the conversation here. I think it would be really cool to construct a detailed history of the group so future Octaves can reflect on the origins and development of the group they love. So that will come next.
Health and happiness to you, your friends, and family,
--
Mike T
Alumni Relations Director
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Current Octaves
Hey alums,
I'm Lee Jablow, Co-Executive Officer of The Octaves and RC '09. I'm glad you took the time to check out this blog and reflect so warmly on your undergrad years with the Taves. I just want to let you know that, since our website is not quite functional/presentable at this time, we have set up a temporary MySpace page (yeah, I'm not too thrilled about it either..) that should keep people up-to-date with what's going on with the group. We recently put up some clips from our new album, Shotgun. Hopefully, we'll get our website redesigned soon (anyone know of any web designers?) Aside from that, Mike will be your main contact about what's up with the group, but feel free to contact the group at any time for any specific info (octaves@richmond.edu).
Regards,
Lee
PS - Mark your calendars for Spring Fever XIII on March 23rd and 24th, 2007!!
I'm Lee Jablow, Co-Executive Officer of The Octaves and RC '09. I'm glad you took the time to check out this blog and reflect so warmly on your undergrad years with the Taves. I just want to let you know that, since our website is not quite functional/presentable at this time, we have set up a temporary MySpace page (yeah, I'm not too thrilled about it either..) that should keep people up-to-date with what's going on with the group. We recently put up some clips from our new album, Shotgun. Hopefully, we'll get our website redesigned soon (anyone know of any web designers?) Aside from that, Mike will be your main contact about what's up with the group, but feel free to contact the group at any time for any specific info (octaves@richmond.edu).
Regards,
Lee
PS - Mark your calendars for Spring Fever XIII on March 23rd and 24th, 2007!!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Welcome!
Welcome all to the Richmond Octaves new Alumni Relations homepage. This is a forum where you can get the latest Octaves news including upcoming events, reunion details, and CD release information, or you can contact and catch up with old friends, or share a great memory or two with the group. If you would like to comment on the blog entries, please feel free to do so. Check back from time to time to get the latest Octaves scoop.
As the newly appointed Alumni Relations officer, I will act as a liaison between the group and alumni, "actively maintaining the alumni registry and strengthening the alumni network" (Octaves Constitution 2005). So make my job easier and tell all the alums you know about this new site.
I haven't met many of you, but I am looking forward to getting to know all of you a bit more though this forum. My name is Mike, and I am currently a Junior who joined the group last spring. I believe I have a lot of good ideas to improve the line of communication between alums and current members, including this blog, which is the first of the ideas to come to fruition. If you have any comments or questions, or if you would like to be added as a contributer to the webpage, please let me know via email.
Sincerely,
-- Mike T--
UR '08
As the newly appointed Alumni Relations officer, I will act as a liaison between the group and alumni, "actively maintaining the alumni registry and strengthening the alumni network" (Octaves Constitution 2005). So make my job easier and tell all the alums you know about this new site.
I haven't met many of you, but I am looking forward to getting to know all of you a bit more though this forum. My name is Mike, and I am currently a Junior who joined the group last spring. I believe I have a lot of good ideas to improve the line of communication between alums and current members, including this blog, which is the first of the ideas to come to fruition. If you have any comments or questions, or if you would like to be added as a contributer to the webpage, please let me know via email.
Sincerely,
-- Mike T--
UR '08
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