One minor correction to the article “Eph Cappella” (June 2011): The house octet contest did not “take a hiatus” in the early ’50s, though the flood tide of rock and roll was building. I led the Beta house octet from 1951 to 1955, and we won the award twice in those years. We also expanded the repertoire beyond pop and show tunes to include the occasional Elizabethan madrigal or Purcell part song. The competitions were not quite all inter-fraternity, either. We got beat by eight excellent freshmen in 1953 or 1954, the first year that rushing was deferred till sophomore year.

Rummaging through the Beta house musical stash, I once found a fine arrangement of “You Were Meant For Me” by Warren Hunke ’42, and we won with it. Many years later I met him at a concert on campus and was glad to thank him.

Music was one of the glories of my years at Williams. I’ve led my own a cappella group ever since graduation, largely staffed by faculty colleagues at three different colleges. If the great Elizabethan composer William Byrd had known the delights of Soprano Alto Tenor Bass singing, he’d have changed the charming little doggerel in his book’s introduction to: “Since singing is so good a thing/ I wish all folk would learn to sing.”

Mac Nelson ’55, Brocton, N.Y.


I read with interest “Eph Cappella.” The Overweight Eight, which produced a record circa 1957 with help from my late husband Peter D. Pelham ’55, was led by Dave Paresky ’60. Shortly after the dedication of the Paresky Center, I sent the record to Dave, noting it should be part of the history of that magnificent building. I kept a silver bowl with the inscription: “To Pete Pelham, in grateful appreciation of your encouragement and support. The Overweight Eight.”

Isobel Pelham, San Clemente, Calif.