MadHatters
Encyclopedia
The University of Wisconsin MadHatters (or UW MadHatters) is a collegiate a cappella
group on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Created in 1997, the UW MadHatters are the first established a cappella
group on the UW-Madison campus. The MadHatters have grown significantly in popularity in the a cappella community, having released several albums and receiving several awards. The MadHatters are notable for being featured on two Best of Collegiate A Cappella (BOCA) compilation albums as well as hosting the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella
. The MadHatters currently have 15 vocalists and two vocal percussion
ists.
on State Street
multiple times and performing at the acclaimed UW Varsity Band Concert in April 2002 in addition to their regular performances at hospitals, senior homes, various schools, and community events.
The group has gained nationwide recognition since the release of State Street, their first album. Recorded with the University's women’s a cappella group Tangled up in Blue, each group had one track earn a spot on the 2002 BOCA CD, and is credited as the first a cappella album recorded in 5.1 Dolby Digital
Sound. This widespread publicity helped the MadHatters to take their first ever concert tour. In January 2003 the group traveled to the East Coast
performing at Harvard University
and in New York City
.
In the fall of 2003 the MadHatters released their second album, a live CD of their sold out 2003 spring concert at the Orpheum Theatre, entitled No Jacket Required. In January 2004, the MadHatters took their second major tour to the west coast, stopping and performing in Denver, Las Vegas
, San Diego, Orange County
, Los Angeles
, Hollywood, San Luis Obispo
, and San Francisco. In February 2004, the MadHatters were selected to compete in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella contest for the first time. That semester, the MadHatters had their main show again at the Orpheum Theatre, despite a small fire in the theatre the morning of their concert. At that show, the MadHatters sold out the theatre again, having the largest turnout for any show at the time.
for more than 41,000 people at Miller Park (Milwaukee) for a Brewers
/Cubs
game on August 17, 2004. On November 10, 2004, the MadHatters performed at the then new Overture Center
and sold out the show, filling the house to its 2,251 person capacity. Shortly after, the group began recording their second studio album, Friday After Class. At the end of the 2004 Fall semester, the group received the UW Student Organization Office's "Outstanding Achievement Award" for their hard work, dedication, and contributions to the school and community throughout the semester. In April, the group received a second award from the Student Organization Office, the annual "Outstanding Contribution to Campus" award.
In April 2005, the group released their followup album to State Street, entitled Friday After Class. One year later, in April 2006, the group returned to the Overture Center for their largest concert series yet, 2 nights at Overture Hall. In the Fall of 2007, the group sold out the Capitol Theater of the Overture Center on back-to-back nights in December and released their third studio album, Not For Credit. The group had a second track selected to the Best of Collegiate A Cappella (BOCA) CD and Contemporary A cappella Recording Award nomination in 2008 for the track "I Believe" off the Not For Credit album.
The group's 2008-2009 tour went international for the first time, touring in the country of Mexico
throughout January 2009. Their fourth album, Random Play, was released on April 10, 2010 after the MadHatters’ sold out performance at the Orpheum. At their annual Fall Concert on December 3, 2010, the MadHatters released their first holiday album, Cheer on Tap. At their spring concert the next semester, April 16, 2011, with a dollar from each seat sold and a third of all CD sales in the month of April, the group was proud to donate over $4000 to Going for Ten Thousand, a student-run organization that helps raise money for the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
In Spring 2011, the MadHatters began work on their next full-length studio album.
“Year In Pictures” Issue. The picture was taken at the MadHatters’ November 21 Fall Concert Series at the Overture Center in Madison, WI and was a feature picture in the issue’s tribute to Michael Jackson
. However, this picture cannot be found anywhere in the TIME magazine 2009 pictures of the year online album.
Collegiate a cappella
Collegiate a cappella ensembles are student-run and -directed singing groups that perform entirely without instruments. Such groups can be found at many colleges and universities in the United States, and increasingly worldwide....
group on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Created in 1997, the UW MadHatters are the first established a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group on the UW-Madison campus. The MadHatters have grown significantly in popularity in the a cappella community, having released several albums and receiving several awards. The MadHatters are notable for being featured on two Best of Collegiate A Cappella (BOCA) compilation albums as well as hosting the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella
International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella
The International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, originally the National Championship of Collegiate A Cappella , is an international competition that attracts hundreds of college a cappella groups each year...
. The MadHatters currently have 15 vocalists and two vocal percussion
Vocal percussion
Vocal percussion is the art of creating sounds with one's mouth that approximate, imitate, or otherwise serve the same purpose as a percussion instrument, whether in a group of singers, an instrumental ensemble, or solo.-In Western music:...
ists.
Beginning to Early 2000s
In 1997, choral department students Chris Yahng and Chad Musolf gathered a group of men interested in singing beyond the normal choir concerts and formed the a cappella group. Over a short period of time, the group's popularity rose dramatically, leading to the MadHatters selling out the historic Orpheum TheaterOrpheum Theatre (Madison, Wisconsin)
-Orpheum Theatre :The Orpheum Theatre is a live performance and musical theater in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, located at 216 State Street, one block from the Wisconsin State Capitol building.-History:...
on State Street
State Street (Madison)
State Street is a pedestrian mall located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, United States, near the Wisconsin State Capitol. The road proper extends from the west corner of land comprising the Capitol westward to Lake Street, adjoining the campus of the University of Wisconsin - Madison at Library...
multiple times and performing at the acclaimed UW Varsity Band Concert in April 2002 in addition to their regular performances at hospitals, senior homes, various schools, and community events.
The group has gained nationwide recognition since the release of State Street, their first album. Recorded with the University's women’s a cappella group Tangled up in Blue, each group had one track earn a spot on the 2002 BOCA CD, and is credited as the first a cappella album recorded in 5.1 Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is the name for audio compression technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories. It was originally called Dolby Stereo Digital until 1994. Except for Dolby TrueHD, the audio compression is lossy. The first use of Dolby Digital was to provide digital sound in cinemas from 35mm film prints...
Sound. This widespread publicity helped the MadHatters to take their first ever concert tour. In January 2003 the group traveled to the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
performing at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In the fall of 2003 the MadHatters released their second album, a live CD of their sold out 2003 spring concert at the Orpheum Theatre, entitled No Jacket Required. In January 2004, the MadHatters took their second major tour to the west coast, stopping and performing in Denver, Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, San Diego, Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Hollywood, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
, and San Francisco. In February 2004, the MadHatters were selected to compete in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella contest for the first time. That semester, the MadHatters had their main show again at the Orpheum Theatre, despite a small fire in the theatre the morning of their concert. At that show, the MadHatters sold out the theatre again, having the largest turnout for any show at the time.
Mid 2000s to present
The group sang the National AnthemThe Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
for more than 41,000 people at Miller Park (Milwaukee) for a Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
/Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
game on August 17, 2004. On November 10, 2004, the MadHatters performed at the then new Overture Center
Overture Center
Overture Center for the Arts is a performing arts center and art gallery in Madison, Wisconsin, which replaced the Civic Center. The center was commissioned by Jerome Frautschi, designed by Cesar Pelli, and built by J.H. Findorff and Son. Flad Architects and Potter Lawson led the project as...
and sold out the show, filling the house to its 2,251 person capacity. Shortly after, the group began recording their second studio album, Friday After Class. At the end of the 2004 Fall semester, the group received the UW Student Organization Office's "Outstanding Achievement Award" for their hard work, dedication, and contributions to the school and community throughout the semester. In April, the group received a second award from the Student Organization Office, the annual "Outstanding Contribution to Campus" award.
In April 2005, the group released their followup album to State Street, entitled Friday After Class. One year later, in April 2006, the group returned to the Overture Center for their largest concert series yet, 2 nights at Overture Hall. In the Fall of 2007, the group sold out the Capitol Theater of the Overture Center on back-to-back nights in December and released their third studio album, Not For Credit. The group had a second track selected to the Best of Collegiate A Cappella (BOCA) CD and Contemporary A cappella Recording Award nomination in 2008 for the track "I Believe" off the Not For Credit album.
The group's 2008-2009 tour went international for the first time, touring in the country of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
throughout January 2009. Their fourth album, Random Play, was released on April 10, 2010 after the MadHatters’ sold out performance at the Orpheum. At their annual Fall Concert on December 3, 2010, the MadHatters released their first holiday album, Cheer on Tap. At their spring concert the next semester, April 16, 2011, with a dollar from each seat sold and a third of all CD sales in the month of April, the group was proud to donate over $4000 to Going for Ten Thousand, a student-run organization that helps raise money for the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
In Spring 2011, the MadHatters began work on their next full-length studio album.
Albums
The MadHatters have recorded 5 studio albums and 1 live album| State Street (2002) | ||
|---|---|---|
State Street
(Recorded with UW Tangled Up in Blue)
|
Tracks
|
|
| No Jacket Required (2003) | ||
No Jacket Required
|
Tracks
|
|
| Friday After Class (2005) | ||
Friday After Class
|
Tracks
|
|
| Not For Credit (2007) | ||
Not For Credit
|
Tracks
|
|
| Random Play (2010) | ||
Random Play
|
Tracks
|
|
| Cheer On Tap (2010) | ||
Cheer On Tap
|
Tracks
|
|
Honors and Recognition
TIME Magazine
A highlight of 2009 for the MadHatters was having a picture of their rendition of the “Thriller Dance” included in the December 21, 2009 TIME MagazineTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
“Year In Pictures” Issue. The picture was taken at the MadHatters’ November 21 Fall Concert Series at the Overture Center in Madison, WI and was a feature picture in the issue’s tribute to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
. However, this picture cannot be found anywhere in the TIME magazine 2009 pictures of the year online album.
BOCA
The MadHatters have had 2 songs appear on the Best of Collegiate A Cappella compilation albums:- I Was Brought To My Senses - State Street - Featured on BOCA 2002
- I Believe (When I Fall in Love) - Not For Credit - Featured on BOCA 2008
Voices Only
The MadHatters had one track selected to appear on the Voices Only Compilation albums:- Forever - Random Play - Featured on Voices Only 2010