Our History

We are After Hours, the University of Rochester's co-ed a cappella group. Formed in 1998 as a vocal jazz group, After Hours was originally called Charivari, after the Old French term for "rough music". Two years later the group dynamic changed from vocal jazz to rock & pop, making way for the University of Rochester's newest a cappella ensemble After Hours.

Over the past 8 years, After Hours has grown among the rich undergraduate community at Rochester. We exclude no musical genre and continually strive to expand our repertoire to include new and innovative musical styles and techniques. Most recently, to add additional accompaniment in our performances, we have pioneered the use of American Sign Language with a cappella at the University of Rochester.

After Hours headlines two major concerts per year on campus, one in both the Fall and Spring semesters. We also perform at many other events throughout the year including a joint a cappella show with other University of Rochester groups during Meliora Weekend in the Fall. Each year After Hours offers Valentine's Day serenades to the University of Rochester community. These consist of our entire group crooning and swooning for that special someone of your choosing.

Our presence off-campus has been felt both in Rochester and abroad. In recent years we have caroled during the winter season at Strong Memorial Hospital and local nursing homes. After Hours also makes a dedicated effort to travel on weekends, usually 2 or 3 times each semester, to perform with other a cappella groups at different colleges and universities. We are perennial contenders in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) and are ranked as one of the nation's 100 best groups.

As recording artists, we have four full-length CDs to our name. The latest, The Buffet of Kings, was cut in May 2008 at Blackdog Studios in Rochester, NY. We had a great experience working with the engineers and producers at Blackdog, and would highly recommend their services to anyone in search of world-class recording in a comfortable and affordable environment.

Most importantly, our members consist of a tight-nit group of friends both on and off stage. From caroling to ice-skating and potlucks to traveling, we continue to build camaraderie with and without musical accompaniment. Auditions for After Hours, which take place at the beginning of both the Fall and Spring semesters, have become increasingly exciting and competitive in recent years.

The University of Rochester provides a great community for its students, faculty, and staff, and After Hours is grateful to be a part of it.

© After Hours A Cappella