The idea for the Sil'hooettes was first conceived before winter break in 1988 by JoEllen Constine, Laura Fleury, Karen Sherman, and Melissa Schimke, but the spring semester of 1989 was the group's first official semester on grounds.[citation needed] At the time, there were only three other groups in existence, the Virginia Gentlemen, the Virginia Belles, and the Hullabahoos – who had had their inception less than a year before. Initially almost named "The Double-Breasted Jackets", the Sils' original uniform consisted of multi-colored double-breasted jackets (DBJs), but in the fall of 1995, the group made the switch to the current black and silver.
The Sil'hooettes typically range between 9 and 18 members, though the exact number varies from year to year. The group holds auditions for new members every fall and occasionally in the spring. The group posts relevant information regarding auditions to their website as auditions approach.
On October 1, 2012, USA Today named the Virginia Sil'hooettes one of the Top 5 Collegiate A Cappella groups in the country.[5]
On November 18, 2013, HerCampus named the Virginia Sil'hooettes the #1 Female Collegiate A Cappella group in the country.[6]
On February 2, 2016, CollegeMagazine named the Virginia Sil'hooettes the #1 "Female Group Running the A Cappella World".[7]
Concerts
Every semester, the Sil'hooettes host at least one concert performance, usually held at the University of Virginia's McLeod Hall on a Friday or Saturday evening. The Sils' official website posts relevant information and online ticket sales as the date of the concerts approach. Every five years, the Sil'hooettes host an anniversary concert, inviting the Sil'unnae back to Grounds to celebrate the group's milestone. The Sils celebrated their 35th anniversary in April 2024.
The Sils celebrating 25 years of existenceSil'hooettes of past and present at the 20th Anniversary Brunch at Boar's Head Inn
Albums
The Sil'hooettes produce a new studio album approximately every three semesters. Their most recent album, LYLAS: Love You Like A Sil, produced by James Gammon, was released in Fall of 2023. It received a CARA award for Best Upper Voices Collegiate Album and a BOCA 2024 feature.[citation needed]
^Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They acknowledge several different recipients, have runners-up, and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.
