1994 - 1995
'94-'95 was a year of many firsts for the Harmonics. First tour, first cd (tentatively titled 'Flaming Avocados in Purgatory'), first all-campus show, first major league performance (for a Giants game at Candlestick Park). Joining Ryan H and Lara S on soprano was Radhika D (who single-handedly possesses the longest name in Harmonics history). The all new alto section consisted of Emma P, Christine N, and Zareen P, whose incredibly rich tone defined Change in my Life, which she soloed all the years she was in the group. Into the mix of Brian, Matthew, and Jody blended sophomore Pat H. Joining Bob on bass were Kevan L and Zach F. Damon S, Lusan C, and Charlotte S all sang for part of the year.
The main event of the year (at least to hear the alumni tell it), was the Harmonics spring tour to Southern California, where the Harmonics sang with Chevy Chase, as well as several other wandering lunatics on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. This tour also included the first infamous trip to Tijuana, which concluded with a besotted rendition of Moondance to the US Border guards. This was necessary because Ryan had cleverly forgotten her ID, and therefore needed to get through customs without being looked at too carefully. This inspired less scrupulous group members to consider setting up an immigration racket on the side. However, this was vetoed.
By the end of this year, the Harmonics were members of the Stanford A Cappella nation by any standards. We were invited, for the first time, to the Amnesty International Show, the largest charity show on campus, and performed our first all-campus show (outside of spring show) with Counterpoint in Toyon Hall. The Harmonics by this point focused entirely on pop and doo-wop music from the past four decades, with an emphasis on the eighties. This spring show was the last in Toyon, titled "Start the Insanity", and themed on Cheez Whiz. This show also started another Harmonics spring show tradition: choosing a poster model from within the group. For this first poster, who could be a more fitting inspiration than herr direktor, Brian.
The Harmonics’ first cd, The Greatest Hits of Pitchpipe was recorded at Stanford's CCRMA, and was engineered, produced, and mastered by founder, member, and all around great guy Bob. This CD included traditional Harmonics favorites like Change and Seven Bridges Road, as well as new songs like Heat of the Moment and Moondance. A track from Pitchpipe is featured on the BOCA Humor compilation cd: Matthew's startling solo rendition of Basketcase by Green Day, played entirely on dented pitchpipes.
The end of the year saw the graduation of two founding members, Brian and Jody (who was, along with Bob, the first 4 year member of the group). The pitchpipe (by this point dented from having saved Brian's life) was passed to Emma P, making her the fifth musical director.