Congratulations on your acceptance to Yale, Class of 2028, and welcome to Rush 2024!

Rush is the three-week audition process through which Yale first-years can become part of the Alley Cats. In addition to auditions and callbacks, Rush consists of performances and meals with current members of the group. Our Rush managing team — Charlie Calkins ‘26, Ben Jimenez ‘26, Jonathan Akinniyi ‘26, and Stellan Min ‘27— is here to answer any questions you may have about the group or the rush process, and can be reached at rush@yalealleycats.com. The Cat experience is unlike any other that can be found here at Yale: an 80-year-old tradition of song, travel, and friendship. We'd love to welcome you into that tradition, and we can't wait to meet you!

Your Audition

Remember to relax—your audition should be fun, so there’s no need to worry. Here’s how it will work: first, we’ll warm up together with a few exercises to get to know your voice. Then you’ll sing Aura Lee in a quartet with a few of the Cats. You'll find links to the sheet music and recordings of the four voice parts below. Finally, you’ll have the chance to solo on any song you’d like! We want to hear you sing something that’s comfortable and fun for you. We’ve heard everything from John Legend's "All of Me" and Hamilton's "You'll Be Back" to the Italian Aria "Il Mio Bel Foco", so whatever solo you select, we’re excited to hear it!

Aura Lee Sheet Music

Rush Rules

The Yale Singing Group Council has set out a number of guidelines that apply throughout the rush process. It's good to familiarize yourself with them as all groups in the council abide by them. You can view them at the SGC site and then clicking the "Rushee Handbook" tab across the top of the page.

We're so excited to share our music, travel, and tradition with the next class of Alley Cats, and we hope that you might be the next to join the family!