The Virginia Sil’hooettes is one of the premier a cappella groups at the University of Virginia. Simply stated, we are a group of girls who like to get together and sing other people’s music without instruments. Founded in the winter of 1988, the Sils have enriched the University of Virginia with stellar and award-winning a cappella music for twenty-one years. Bringing together girls from unique and diverse backgrounds, the Sils are an eclectic group of young women who sing but who also pursue varied educations. The Sil’hooettes is comprised of future nurses, businesswomen, engineers, and maybe a Broadway star or two. Years after our founding, the Sils have stayed consistent to the goals and values of our originators. Our founders wished for the Sils to be musically talented, independent, spontaneous, sil’ly and innovative – a goal we most assuredly achieve each and every year. As the Sils are completely student run, it is no surprise that we approach every musical endeavor with creativity and ambition. Last fall, the Sils performed as an opening act for the recording artist B.o.B. The year before, the Sils opened for the artist Ben Folds and were selected to perform the National Anthem at a Red Sox and Orioles game. Our latest album, “Blackout,” has upheld our standard of a cappella excellence garnering attention from the a cappella world. “Blackout” was recognized by winning two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs, aka the Grammy’s of a cappella) including Best Female Collegiate Song (“I See You”), Best Female Collegiate Arrangement (“Beautiful Child,” Caitlin Morton) and runner-up for Best Female Collegiate Album. Our albums have also been featured on Best of College A Cappella (BOCA), Voices Only and Sing VI. We also had the supreme privilege of singing for MTV’s “The Seven” and having our clip make national television. The Sils will sing anything, from classic rock to 90’s rap, pop punk, alternative, singer/songwriter, reggae, Top 40, and of course, Virginia standards. We also pride ourselves on writing and performing all of our own arrangements and challenge ourselves to be more musically innovative each year. As all Sils, past and present, will agree, The Virginia Sil’hooettes is more than just a singing group. It has come to define our collegiate lives and has shaped our very best memories thus far. S.I.L. "Sils Is Life"