Why Should You Be A Nassoon?

When it comes time for audition season, it’s not just about a group choosing you—it’s about you choosing a group, too. There are countless reasons why some of the best singers on campus have chosen the Nassoons over the last 83 years, and they’re different for everyone. We’re confident that you’ll love being a Nassoon, but see the reasons for yourself below!

Note: We’re now entering our fourth year of having removed our “all-male” descriptor, and hold auditions for low-voice (TTBB*) singers. We are committed to selecting members based on their vocal talent, passion, group fit, and willingness to contribute to a supportive environment where all members can thrive.

*TTBB stands for Tenor I, Tenor II, Baritone, and Bass, though we’re all somewhere in between. If you can sing at least an octave below middle C—a C3, for those keeping track at home—your vocal range is a good match for our repertoire. If you’re unsure, we’d encourage you to audition anyway. We’d love to meet you!

Reason #1: The PEOPLE

Any ‘Soon past or present will tell you that the best part about being in the group is the community you build with the rest of the members. Generations of good people have attracted more of the same, and the result is a group that is, simply put, fun to be around. The social aspect of the group is as much a part of your life as you choose, but frequent members-only events, inter-a cappella socials, and mixers with other universities’ groups make for an exciting social calendar. It’s no coincidence that current members count the Nassoons among their closest friends at Princeton.

Reason #3: The Tours

As a Nassoon, you'll get a chance to travel around the world. While entertaining in countless venues, you’ll experience everything from dinner with the American Consul in Jordan to signing autographs in a packed hall in Japan. Tours are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to engage with the world, and due to generous support from our alumni, it won’t cost you a cent. In fact, that’s the Nassoons’ Promise: every aspect of being in the group (performance attire, transit, touring, social events) is covered by the group.

In the past few years, we have taken trips to Puerto Rico, Tokyo, London, Miami, Munich, Liechtenstein, Cancun, Singapore, Seoul, and Hong Kong, to name a few. Every tour is distinct.

Reason #2: The Music

If you've ever followed three or more Nassoons into a stairwell, or been inside one of our cars when "Love On Top" comes on, you would find it safe to say that the Nassoons are all about the music. As one of the oldest collegiate singing groups in the country, we have some of the finest arrangements around—old and new. If you’d like to hear some samples or watch recent music videos, check them out here. You'll see there that the repertoire spans everything from pop hits to a Nassoon original raving about Princeton’s amazing financial aid policy; one that many members make use of!

Reason #4: The Tradition

The Nassoons were Princeton’s first a cappella group when they were founded back in 1941, and just the fifth in the nation. Even as thousands of a cappella groups have come up across the country, the Nassoons’ rich history sets us apart. Our alumni remain connected to each other and to the current group for the rest of their lives. Last spring, we sang “Happy Birthday” to Alex Forger ‘45, a founding Nassoon. The tradition never dies.

Members write new arrangements every semester, keeping the repertoire refreshingly up-to-date. But some pieces have remained classics over time, like “Tigertown Blues,” “While My Lady Sleeps,” “Hodja,” and of course, our founding song, “Perfidia.” The feeling of singing that last one next to a ‘Soon who graduated eight decades ago is one that no other Princeton group can boast.

Reason #5: The Perks

Whether it means never paying for domestic or international tours, singing for celebrities like Tina Fey, Mark Hoppus, and Gustavo Dudamel, being treated like royalty at the Homestead Resort, or featuring in a Hollywood movie alongside Paul Rudd, we think the perks of being a Nassoon are endless.

Try out this audition season and see for yourself what our group has to offer. We think you’ll like what you find!