Meddiebempsters young and old will reunite during Homecoming for a celebration of the group's 70th anniversary. Members from various generations of Bowdoin's oldest a capella group will perform in a concert on Saturday night.
The performance will feature between 50 and 60 former members of the Meddies who are now alumni of Bowdoin. Current and former members have several events on their reunion agenda throughout the weekend, including rehearsals for Saturday's show.
Among the returning members of the group are New York composer Dave Sherman, Massachusetts arranger Steve Hays, Former Dean of the Ithaca College School of Music Art Ostrander, and conductor and Senior Lecturer of the Department of Music Tony Antolini.
Returning singers will represent different eras at the concert and will present the music by time period. The Meddies will begin by performing songs in the roots of the a capella tradition and will end with songs from its contemporary style.
A few of the group's older songs include "Lazy Afternoon," "Sal, Nell, and Sue," "Ding Dong Daddy," "Sunshine Girl," "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening," "Close as Pages in a Book," and "Oh You Beautiful Doll."
Former and current members of the group will sing together as one ensemble for two songs at the beginning of the concert, "Glorious Apollo" and Edvard Grieg's "Brothers, Sing On!"
They will also perform as one group for the concert's final piece, a medley of Bowdoin songs performed by the school's Glee Club and "Mood Indigo" by Duke Ellington.
"It's personally rewarding to be a part of a group that's been around for 70 years. It's nice to come together as a family for a performance like this," said Mike Krohn '09, the group's current music director.
The concert is free and open to the public. The Meddiebempsters will perform at the Studzinski Recital Hall in Kanbar Auditorium at 8 p.m.