‘The Krokodiloes’ teach singing workshop to Archer a cappella groups

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor|January 20, 2018

Photo credit: Cat Oriel

The Kroks warm up their voices in Archer’s orchestra room before their performance on Jan. 12. The Kroks originated in Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Club, founded in 1770.

It’s not every day that twelve men in tuxedos visit Archer’s campus to serenade a librarian and do backflips.

After the Harvard Krokodiloes’ performance on Friday, Jan. 12, where they sang to Head Librarian Stephanie Daehler on stage, the college students led a vocal workshop and gave a special performance to the middle school and upper school a cappella groups.

According to Omari Benjamin ’18, a member of the Unaccompanied Minors, The Kroks went through basic voice warm-ups, such as lip trills and scales. The group also introduced Archer students to a special scale, the “Krok Scale.”

“Something that [The Kroks] focus on is having a blended sound of the whole group, so everyone’s voices are balanced and equal,” Julianna Goldsmith ’18, member of the Unaccompanied Minors, said. “I learned that is something very important to have with an a cappella group.”

Goldsmith added that one member even did a backflip during the lesson.

“They did really cool choreography. Everyone was very committed,” Goldsmith said. “They also really listen to each other.”

Click on the video to the left to watch one of the songs performed by The Krokodiloes during their lunchtime performance, which was open to the entire school.

Goldsmith said that learning from a college a capella group was valuable, since she plans to continue singing after high school.

“I really want to do [a cappella] in college,” Goldsmith said. “I don’t know if it is like ‘Pitch Perfect‘, but that would be really cool.”

The gallery below contains pictures from The Krokodiloes lunchtime performance and exclusive interview with The Oracle.

  • The Kroks serenade Head Librarian Stephanie Daehler. They performed the song “What’s Your Name?” by Don and Juan.

    Photo credit: Cat Oriel
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  • Group members Frank Zhou, Jerry Registre and Derek Onserio pose for a photo in the Courtyard. Zhou, a senior who is originally from Aukland, New Zealand, also serves as the group’s general manager.

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  • Harvard junior Hugh Strike performs a solo. The group led a vocal workshop with Archer’s upper and middle school a cappella groups after their performance.

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