A Little Bit of Holiday Glee
Posted by
Robert Yule
Washington, D.C.
December 22, 2011
Last weekend, the Foundation traveled to New York City for a special holiday concert benefitting our mission to create an HIV-free generation around the world.
We attended the second annual
Sing Out, Raise Hope concert, headlined by Yale’s oldest a cappella group, the
Whiffenpoofs. The Whiffs hosted this sold-out show at the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall just a few days after performing at the White House in Washington, D.C.
The Whiffenpoofs with Glee star Darren Criss (center, red tie)
Photo: Harold Levine
This year’s concert raised awareness and funds for the Foundation and for The Trevor Project, and featured renditions of holiday songs, American jazz classics, and contemporary pop hits.
It also brought together fellow collegiate a capella groups the Harvard Krokodiloes and the Princeton Nassoons, as well as jazz singer and Yale graduate
Allison Williams, daughter of NBC’s Brian Williams.
The special guest of the night was not a fellow student a capella star, but he plays one on TV –
Darren Criss from the hit show Glee.
Criss was literally fresh off the plane from Los Angeles after wrapping filming for the year on Glee, and before beginning his Broadway debut as the lead in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
He headlined the second act, singing fan favorites from his character Blaine Anderson, as well as many original songs on piano and guitar.
Thanks to the Whiffenpoofs and their guests, it was a night of great music and generosity – and the perfect way to end the year.
Robert Yule is the Senior Media Manager for the Foundation, based in Washington, D.C.