Sil'hooettes

The Virginia Sil'hooettes
Also known as	The Sils
Origin	University of Virginia: Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Genres	A cappella, collegiate a cappella
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Collegiate
Website	Official site

The Virginia Sil'hooettes are a student-run, all-female identifying a cappella group at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. Once just the vision of four UVA students in the winter of 1988,^{[citation needed]} the Sil'hooettes are now the most award-winning a cappella group at UVA.^{[citation needed]} They have performed for thousands of people at venues including the Kennedy Center,^[1] The White House, John Paul Jones Arena,^[2] Baltimore Orioles home baseball games,^[3] and Boston Red Sox home baseball games.^[4]

History

The idea for the Sil'hooettes was first conceived before winter break in 1988 by JoEllen Constine, Laura Fleury, Karen Sherman, and Melissa Schimke, but the spring semester of 1989 was the group's first official semester on grounds.^{[citation needed]} At the time, there were only three other groups in existence, the Virginia Gentlemen, the Virginia Belles, and the Hullabahoos – who had had their inception less than a year before. Initially almost named "The Double-Breasted Jackets", the Sils' original uniform consisted of multi-colored double-breasted jackets (DBJs), but in the fall of 1995, the group made the switch to the current black and silver.

The Sil'hooettes typically range between 9 and 18 members, though the exact number varies from year to year. The group holds auditions for new members every fall and occasionally in the spring. The group posts relevant information regarding auditions to their website as auditions approach.

On October 1, 2012, USA Today named the Virginia Sil'hooettes one of the Top 5 Collegiate A Cappella groups in the country.^[5]

On November 18, 2013, HerCampus named the Virginia Sil'hooettes the #1 Female Collegiate A Cappella group in the country.^[6]

On February 2, 2016, CollegeMagazine named the Virginia Sil'hooettes the #1 "Female Group Running the A Cappella World".^[7]

Concerts

Every semester, the Sil'hooettes host at least one concert performance, usually held at the University of Virginia's McLeod Hall on a Friday or Saturday evening. The Sils' official website posts relevant information and online ticket sales as the date of the concerts approach. Every five years, the Sil'hooettes host an anniversary concert, inviting the Sil'unnae back to Grounds to celebrate the group's milestone. The Sils celebrated their 35th anniversary in April 2024.

The Sils celebrating 25 years of existence

Sil'hooettes of past and present at the 20th Anniversary Brunch at Boar's Head Inn

Albums

The Sil'hooettes produce a new studio album approximately every three semesters. Their most recent album, LYLAS: Love You Like A Sil, produced by James Gammon, was released in Fall of 2023. It received a CARA award for Best Upper Voices Collegiate Album and a BOCA 2024 feature.^{[citation needed]}

Awards and honors

Virginia Sil'hooettes awards and nominations

Awards and nominations Award Wins Nominations ACAs 2 9 CARAs 19 30 RARB 2 - BOCA 7 - CAMO 1 - sing 3 - Voices Only 7 - ICCAs 2 -
Totals[a]
Wins	43
Nominations	40
Note Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They acknowledge several different recipients, have runners-up, and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.

Musical awards

A Cappella Community Awards (ACAs)

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2011	Virginia Sil'hooettes	Favorite Female Collegiate Group (Runner-Up)	Won
	"Beautiful Child" by Rufus Wainwright	Favorite Gender-Bender Song/Solo	Nominated
	"Telephone" by Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé	Favorite Lady Gaga Cover (Runner-Up)	Won
2010	Virginia Sil'hooettes	Favorite Female Collegiate Group	Nominated
	Take It To The Bridge	Favorite Collegiate Album	Nominated
	"Wreckless Love" by Alicia Keys	Favorite Female Vocalist—Happiness Chijioke	Nominated
	Sara Dougadir	Favorite Arranger	Nominated
	"Wreckless Love" by Alicia Keys	Favorite A Cappella Song	Nominated
	"Redemption Song" by Bob Marley	Favorite Gender-Bender Song/Solo	Nominated

Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs)

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2019	Silver Hour	Best Female Collegiate Album (Runner-Up)	Won
	"Make Me Feel/Kiss" by Janelle Monáe/Prince	Best Female Collegiate Arrangement—Molly Murphy (Runner-Up)	Won
2018	From the Depths	Best Pop Album	Nominated
	From the Depths	Best Female Collegiate Album	Won
	"Don't Let Me Down" by The Chainsmokers	Best Female Collegiate Song	Won
	"Black Water Lilies" by AURORA	Best Female Collegiate Arrangement—Sarah Donnelly	Won
	"River" by Bishop Briggs	Best Female Collegiate Soloist—Emily Dietz	Won
2016	Luster	Best Female Collegiate Album	Won
	"I Will Never Die" by Delta Rae	Best Female Collegiate Song	Nominated
	"Wait It Out" by Imogen Heap	Best Female Collegiate Arrangement—Alex Peterson	Nominated
	"I Will Never Die" by Delta Rae	Best Female Collegiate Soloist—Sophie Maus	Nominated
2015	1989	Best Female Collegiate Album	Nominated
	"This Is What It Feels Like" by BANKS	Best Female Collegiate Song	Nominated
	"Creep" by Radiohead	Best Female Collegiate Soloist—Stephanie Lee	Nominated
2013	Playing With Lightning	Best Female Collegiate Album	Won
	"Around Us" by Jónsi	Best Female Collegiate Song	Won
	"Howl" by Florence and the Machine	Best Female Collegiate Arrangement—Liz Smith	Nominated
	"Mama" by Beth Hart	Best Female Collegiate Soloist—Happiness Chijioke	Won
2011	Blackout	Best Female Collegiate Album (Runner-Up)	Won
	"I See You" by Leona Lewis	Best Female Collegiate Song	Won
	"Beautiful Child" by Rufus Wainwright	Best Female Collegiate Arrangement—Caitlin Morton	Won
2010	Take It To The Bridge	Best Female Collegiate Album (Runner-Up)	Won
	"1234 (Van She Tech Remix)" by Feist	Best Female Collegiate Song (Runner-Up)	Won
	"Wreckless Love" by Alicia Keys	Best Female Collegiate Soloist—Happiness Chijioke	Won
	"Wreckless Love" by Alicia Keys	Best Hip-Hop/R&B Song	Nominated
	Take It To The Bridge	Best Female Collegiate Album Short List	Won
2008	Sauce	Best Female Collegiate Album	Nominated
	"Slow Me Down" by Emmy Rossum	Best Female Collegiate Arrangement—Sara Dougadir	Won
	"Butterflies and Hurricanes" by Muse	Best Female Collegiate Song (Runner-Up)	Won
	"Careful What You Wish for" by Jonatha Brooke	Best Female Collegiate Soloist—Jenna Pastuszek	Nominated
	"Dance With Me" by Lexi Witman	Best Scholastic Original	Nominated
2007	To Homer and Back	Best Female Collegiate Album	Nominated
	"They" by Jem	Best Female Collegiate Song	Nominated
	"A Broken Wing" by Martina McBride	Best Female Collegiate Soloist—Anne Foster	Won
2005	Tangled	Best Female Collegiate Album	Won
	"Beautiful Day" by U2	Best Female Collegiate Arrangement—Blaire Reinhard	Won
	"Where Would You Be" by Martina McBride	Best Female Collegiate Soloist (Runner-Up)—Anne Foster	Won
2005	Aftershock	Best Female Collegiate Album (Runner-Up)	Won
	"Wrong Impression" by Natalie Imbruglia	Best Female Collegiate Arrangement—Summerlyn Lotz	Nominated
	"Wrong Impression" by Natalie Imbruglia	Best Female Collegiate Song (Runner-Up)	Won
	"Two Satellites" by Mary Beth Maziarz	Best Female Collegiate Soloist (Runner-Up)—Melody Akhavan	Won
2001	"Snow on the Sahara" by Anggun	Best Female Collegiate Song (Runner-Up)	Won

Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB)

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2014	"This Is What It Feels Like" by Banks	2014 Track of the Year	Won
2014	1989	2014 Album Pick of the Year—Honorable Mention	Won
2012	Playing With Lightning	2012 Album Pick of the Year—Honorable Mention	Won
2009	Take It To The Bridge	2009 Album Pick of the Year	Won

Selection for "best of" compilation albums

Best of College A Cappella (BOCA)

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2018	"Until the Levee" by Joy Williams	BOCA 2018: Best of College A Cappella	Won
2016	"My Gun" by Tove Lo	BOCA 2016: Best of College A Cappella	Won
2014	"Idioteque" by Radiohead	Best of BOCA: The First 20 Years	Won
2012	"Idioteque" by Radiohead	BOCA 2012: Best of College A Cappella	Won
2011	"Telephone” by Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé	BOCA 2011: Best of College A Cappella	Won
2010	"Say (All I Need)" by OneRepublic	BOCA 2010: Best of College A Cappella	Won
2008	"You'll Think of Me" by Keith Urban	BOCA 2008: Best of College A Cappella	Won
2005	"Where Would You Be" by Martina McBride	BOCA 2005: Best of College A Cappella	Won
2003	"Wrong Impression" by Natalie Imbruglia	BOCA 2003: Best of College A Cappella	Won

Contemporary A Cappella Music Organization (CAMO)

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2005	"Devils and Angels" by Toby Lightman	Top Shelf A Cappella 2005	Won

sing

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2014	"This Is What It Feels Like" by BANKS	sing 11: One Louder	Won
2012	"Around Us" by Jónsi	sing IX: Supernovem	Won
2009	"Wreckless Love" by Alicia Keys"	sing VI: sunny side up	Won

Voices Only

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2017	"Black Water Lilies" by AURORA	Voices Only 2017	Won
2016	"Echo" by VÉRITÉ	Voices Only 2016	Won
2015	"This Is What It Feels Like" by BANKS	Voices Only 2015	Won
2013	"Starry Eyed" by Ellie Goulding	Voices Only 2013	Won
2012	"Around Us" by Jónsi	Voices Only 2012	Won
2011	"Beautiful Child" by Rufus Wainwright	Voices Only 2011	Won
2009	"1234 (Van She Tech Remix)" by Feist	Voices Only 2009	Won
2008	"Butterflies and Hurricanes" by Muse	Voices Only 2008	Won
2006	"Don't Cha Wanna Ride" by Joss Stone	Voices Only 2006	Won
2005	"When I Think About Angels" by Jamie O'Neal	Voices Only 2005	Won

Women's A Cappella Association

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2016	"I Will Never Die" by Delta Rae	WACA Vol. 3	Won
2015	"This Is What It Feels Like" by BANKS	WACA Vol. 2	Won

A cappella competitions

International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCAs)

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2003	Virginia Sil'hooettes	ICCA Semi-Finals—3rd Place	Won
	Virginia Sil'hooettes	ICCA Regionals—1st Place	Won

Discography

• LYLAS: Love You Like A Sil (2023)
• Tiny Bras (2021)
• Silver Hour (2018)
• From The Depths (2017)
• Luster (2015)
• 1989 (2014)
• Playing with Lightning (2012)
• Blackout (2010)
• Take It To The Bridge (2009)
• Sauce (2008)
• To Homer and Back (2006)
• Tangled (2004)
• Aftershock (2002)
• Flair (2001)
• Delirious (1999)
• Shades of Silver (1998)

Notable alumni

• Blaire Reinhard - musician, the Blaire Reinhard Band

References

1. Kennedy Center | The Virginia Sil'hooettes
2. www.silhooettes.com | Girl Talk
3. YouTube | Sil'hooettes Orioles Park National Anthem
4. YouTube | Sil'hooettes Fenway Park National Anthem
5. "Homepage". 20 September 2021.
6. "The 10 Best Female Collegiate A Cappella Groups | Her Campus". www.hercampus.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-25.
7. "The 10 Female Groups Running the a Cappella World". 2 February 2018.

External links

• Official Sil'hooettes website