The video starts playing and two students are hard at work, solving complex mathematical equations. After a not-so-grueling time, they finally arrive at the last problem: solve 7 + 3 = X. The answer—hopefully obvious to any RPI student—signifies an important number for a group of 14 men and women. It was the big theme of the Rusty Pipe’s 10th Annual Pipe-A-Thon in DCC 308 on December 2.
It has been almost ten years since Adam Biegeleisen ’99, Elyse Shapiro ’99, and Sam Beroz ’99 first put life into what is now the Rusty Pipes, one of the three a cappella groups at RPI. With each passing year, the Pipes grow stronger, participating at the National Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (NCCA) and earning the title of Regional Champion in 1997. The Pipes now travel and perform shows at various locations, especially in high schools during their winter tour.
The 10th Annual Pipe-A-Thon started off in a packed room with a video skit of various instances of the number ten. Count Von Count (played by Joe Cambareri ’08) listed 10 STDs, 10 marshmallows, and even 10 shots of alcohol. A sort of Pokemon Olympics even took place, with Poorna Shankar ’10 dressed up as Jigglypuff to impress the judges with his skills—all three judges gave him scores of 10.
Singing finally began when the Pipes came rushing in from the back and onto the stage. To start off the concert, they sang Greenday’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” featuring soloist Christian Dommell ’07. Afterwards, another video went up commemorating the Pipes’ history throughout the years.
After opening up the show, the Pipes gave the stage to University of Massachusetts Amherst’s co-ed a cappella group, The Vocal Suspects. Although their set of songs was slightly different from what was listed in the program, The Vocal Suspects sang “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley. They then continued with Sting’s “Every Breath You Take” and moved on to “Dark Blue” by Jack’s Mannequin. Things mellowed out when they sang Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek,” but the upbeat tempo was restored after the Suspects’ final song, “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia.
Dommell then gathered the alumni and present Pipes percussionists for a “percussion jam,” where each person would perform a 10-second jam. After each percussionist did his own style, all five synchronized to mix their own beats and still sounded well together.
Following The Vocal Suspects was University of Rochester’s Vocal Point, an all-female a cappella group. Vocal Point started singing to Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” then danced to “I Feel Lucky” by Mary Chapin Carpenter. They then slowed things down with “Don’t Know Nothing” by No Fun At All. The ladies also sang two holiday songs, the first was Joni Mitchell’s “River” and the second was Brian Setzer’s “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus.” Vocal Point ended their performance with “Gone Daddy Gone” by the Violent Femmes.
It was finally time for the Pipes to come back and perform the second half of the concert. To kick it off, the Pipes performed Splashdown’s “Charming Spell,” with Michele Viani ’09 as the soloist. Afterwards, Johanna Carroll ’09 and Shawn Jiles ’09 sang a duet to Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You.” The Pipes then moved on to singing “Lullabye” by Billy Joel and “Ironic” by Alanis Morisette with soloist Amy Latten ’09.
Another compilation video was shown of Rusty Pipes skits from the past to the present. Once the video ended, the Pipes began again with this year’s repertoire. Jiles soloed in “Better State of Mind,” while Kate Dannheim ’09 belted out Jewel’s “Foolish Games.” Viani sang another solo with Evanescence’s “Call Me When You’re Sober.”
Before the final songs of the night were sung, a special goodbye was given to Kristen Welch ’07, since it was her last Pipes concert before graduation. Tom Davis ’08 finished off the Pipes’ repertoire with “Time is Running Out” by The Muse.
Of course, who can forget the traditional song performed by alumni and present Pipes members? To conclude the concert, the Pipes performed U2’s “Pride,” which sparked the enthusiasm of the visiting alumni. The Pipes aimed to please at the Pipe-A-Thon, and the audience was definitely not disappointed.
