The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus cordially welcomes you—whether you are a newly minted member of the class of 2016 or a returning 2015 Yalie—to Rush 2012! Rush is a unique opportunity for you to get to know us and for us to get to know you through a series of concerts, auditions and rush meals. It's an intense but fun-packed month-long experience that begins as soon as school starts and culminates with Tap Night sometime in September.

If you are interested in joining our Society and becoming part of our 74-year brotherhood of music and revelry, this page belongs to you! Use it wisely—take a look at the Rush Calendar, read through the Rush Guide & FAQs and meet our Rush Managers (Aaron Effron, Jason No, and 9 Tigers) below. We look forward to meeting you!

Do I need to be an experienced singer to rush the SOBs?

No. In fact, many of the current SOBs did not start singing seriously until they came to Yale. Everyone in the group has a different musical background, ranging from studying at Juilliard to singing in the shower. You don't need to be a trained singer to rush the SOBs; you just need to have a passion for music and an interest in singing in college.

What are auditions like?

SOB auditions are fun and very low-key, so don't worry! When you arrive, you'll have a chance to meet all the guys and sing a few warm-ups and exercises with us.

After that, we'll ask you to join three of us in performing the "Aura Lee" quartet. Take some time to look over the music and practice singing through one of the parts. Someone of your voice part will be available to help you if you get stuck, so don't sweat it if you're having trouble with your line.

You can download an audition music kit in the Rush Links.

Finally, we'll ask you to perform a solo of your choice. Pick something that you're comfortable with and that showcases your voice. Rushees have been tapped into the group after singing everything from operatic arias to "Happy Birthday"; the important thing is to find a song you enjoy singing and go for it.

A cappella rush at Yale is reputed to be one of the most exciting moments of a person's life—akin to giving birth to quintuplets, getting through Level 9 in Mario Kart and dining 'n' dashing at a Waffle House when your waitress is a retired NFL linebacker.

But rest easy, citizens of Yaletown! The SOB Rush Guide to the Galaxy is here to help you navigate through the labor pangs, frantic button-pressing and sprinting skills. Read on.

What is rush really like? Imagine two to three weeks of meeting awesome people while exploring Yale's dining halls, listening to some sweet tunes and singing with each group through stress-free, fun-packed auditions.

That's rush.

You'll be signing up for an audition right after Dwight Jam; we'll give you a packet that contains all the info you need for the next two weeks.

The audition! See the Rush FAQs below for more info. We'll also schedule you for a rush meal then.

Between the start of auditions (Saturday 3rd) and callbacks (Friday 16th) you'll go on one or more rush meals with the SOBs. Rush meals are a great way to meet members over a plate of Berkeley mac 'n' cheese or an ice-cream sandwich.

During these two weeks, each group will host a singing dessert for their rushees. Instead of the two songs you get at Woolsey/Dwight Jams, you'll have two whole sets of song for your listening pleasure. The SOB Singing Dessert will be on Thursday, September 6th at 8 PM in Sudler Hall.

Two weeks into rush, we'll call back a number of rushees for another audition—it's just as relaxed and fun as the first, and helps us get to know your voice better.

And then... you'll see.