The New Blue was founded in 1969, the same year that Yale first admitted undergraduate women, making us not only Yale's oldest female a cappella group, but also its oldest women's organization of any kind. A symbol of women's accomplishments at Yale, the New Blue is proud to be celebrating its 40th year.

In 1969, Amee Wood, a member of a women’s a cappella group at Skidmore called The Sonneteers, and Jim Weber, then president of the Yale Glee Club and member of the Yale Alley Cats, organized the first auditions for a brand new all-female a cappella singing group. All eleven girls who auditioned were accepted into the group, and then the girls were left on their own. These dynamic women soon dubbed themselves "The New Blue," a name representing a new face of Yale-- a face which included women-- reforming the mold of Yale's "Old Blue," as the university had been traditionally called.


At first, it was difficult for the New Blue to be taken seriously. The group's first album was entitled Since You Asked, in response to the omnipresent quips, "The new who?" New Blue managed to organize and fund their first tours to Cornell University, Chicago, and Florida. The level of ability and musicianship continued to evolve, but The New Blue had yet to find a niche for itself. In the late 80's, New Blue's repertoire underwent a dramatic transformation. Many new arrangements were added, and the group took on an even more empowered image, boasting a new deeper sound that was richer and more womanly.


Today, The New Blue's repertoire remains almost exclusively arranged by members. Over the last few years, the group has produced six CDs. The 30th Anniversary CD, Can't Stop, was the recipient of the Contemporary A Cappella Society's award for Best Female Collegiate Album. The New Blue has toured all over the world and U.S., in the past few years delighting audiences from Ireland to Greece and Turkey, from Texas to Florida, and has sung for former president George Bush as well as current president Barack Obama during his years as a senator.



The New Blue just released Blueprint (2009) to commemorate the New Blue's 40th year. Today's New Blue is still proud to be part of a wonderful legacy of empowered women, musicality, and class.