Most of us in the Augmented 8 are refugees from college a cappella, several of us from Yale (others representing Stanford, Princeton, Colgate), and several alums of the Whiffenpoofs.

Jack was also a natural born singer. No doubt he sang in the cradle, but the first formal singing he did was as a choir boy in church, starting at the age of 8 or so. He never stopped. After moving to Washington D.C., he joined the men’s a cappella group The Augmented Eight, and sang with them for 40 years.

Stalwart bass and loyal alum, Lambert “Nick” Heyniger, has died. He was class of 1953 at Princeton and a Nassoon. A memorial service for him was held on June 1, 2024 at the Darrow School in New Lebanon, NY (Hudson Valley).  

The Augmented 8 notes with sadness, the passing of our distinguished alumnus, Bob Abernethy, on May 2, 2021, who enjoyed an illustrious career at NBC news and then on PBS as host of Religion and Ethics Newsweekly.  The New York Times published his obituary here.

Scott O’Gorman, who died April 3, 2020 at the age of 87, was a beloved member of the Augmented 8. He sang with the group for over forty years from 1964 to the early 2000’s.

We celebrate the life and mourn the loss of Bill Koplowitz, who died peacefully at home on September 26th. Loving husband of the late Maria Albanese Koplowitz, a cherished brother, father, grandfather and friend to many, we were graced with Bill’s intelligence, wit, humor and generosity for 94 years.

News Flash. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy met with a group rumored to be candidates to succeed him on the Court, and tested their mettle by challenging them to a singing contest.

On June 9, 2018, John Wesley Hanes, Jr. age 93, departed this world peacefully at his own home with his […]

For those who couldn’t attend our 60th Anniversary in 2010, but are still interested in some fine music and memories, we have a fabulous offer: A 2-disc set of our acclaimed 60th Anniversary Photo and Video DVD along with our latest CD release, “Through the Years,” for only $10. Act now, and we will add two more CDs, our 2000 and 2005 music releases for only $5 more.

Article by Hai Yu, George Washington University, May 2017 In 1992, D.C.-based economist and a cappella singer Bill Cline was driving […]