The Graduates

We are a kind, friendly group of people who you will find to be both professional and fun. We will show up on time (typically fairly early so we can warm up and get a sense of the space!) and work hard. Most of all, you can expect that we will sound great!

"The Graduates" is an a cappella group composed of talented adults who share a passion for music! The Graduates brings together a group of singers from diverse walks of life, ranging from new college grads to young professionals to adults of all ages in and around Philadelphia. Our group seeks and celebrates an inclusive group of members of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and identities.

Founded in March of 2012 by Villanova University alumnae Christine Manning and Heather Shaw, The Graduates was created as a way for Philadelphia-area college graduates to continue sharing their voices beyond collegiate a cappella. Now, over 10 years (and a global pandemic!) later, The Graduates have alumnae from undergraduate universities throughout the East Coast, including (but certainly not limited to) Villanova, Wesleyan, Penn State, Franklin & Marshall, and Princeton University. In recent years, we have expanded to even include graduates from post-graduate schools in Philadelphia, including grads from Drexel, Jefferson, PCOM, Temple, and Wharton.

The Graduates have performed at various events throughout the greater Philadelphia area, including (but not limited to) singing the National Anthem at Villanova and Phillies games and opening for Philadelphia's Christmas Village in December. The Graduates host mid-semester concerts at venues throughout the city and host their semi-annual concerts at venues in Old City. Their repertoire is diverse, consisting of songs ranging from classic rock to contemporary pop to classic oldies to those guilty pleasure you'd usually save for singing in the shower.

In our *ideal* performance setting, we would have microphones and amps to help us fill the space with sound: 1-3 mics for soloists, one for vocal percussion, one for the Bass part, and then another 1-2 to amplify the group. In addition to crowd-facing amps, we would also have a monitor, and would have sound assistance to help us get the levels right.

That said, *we do not need this setup to perform!* We have performed everyone from large stages and sporting events to small restaurants and parks. We're happy to do whatever it takes to make your event great!