Dear Krok alumni, honorary members, and far-travelled international friends,
This evening, the Harvard Krokodiloes of 2026 celebrate and pay homage to 80 years of camaraderie in song. As Harvard’s oldest a cappella group—and by some accounts the world’s pre-eminent collegiate ensemble—the Kroks have much to celebrate in our ninth decade.

Founders David Binger, David Biddle, Francis Cabot, and Arthur Nichols III (as the time-worn tale goes) formed a quartet in the Hasty Pudding Club upon returning to Harvard after serving in World War II. For its name, the budding group settled on a variant of the title of the Pudding’s librarian, krokodilos. That this was also the Greek term for the stuffed crocodiles on the clubhouse walls was a welcome connection. Since that oft-debated founding, and with the augmentation of eight fellow songsters, the Kroks grew into a globetrotting musical sensation delighting audiences on and beyond Harvard’s campus, including Leonard Bernstein ’39 and jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald in our early years.

The Kroks of the ’60s initiated the group’s expeditions abroad, including a two-month expedition to India in ’64 and singing for American GIs in West Germany and Austria in ’68. These “Vintage Kroks,” spanning K’60-K’71 and directed by Glen Howard ’71, will take to the stage this evening with a number of Krok classics, including an arrangement of “Lady is a Tramp” by legendary arranger and Honorary Krok Jeff Gutcheon.

The Kroks of the ’70s began our special relationship with Maestro Bernstein and launched the first annual Spring Tour to Bermuda, as well as a marked expansion of the group’s repertoire, forging the much-beloved Krok sound with its blend of jazz, rock, and swing. That expansion was due in large part to prolific arrangers such as Peter Mansfield ’76, who this evening leads the 18-strong Kroks of the ’70s with his own arrangements of “I Love You For Sentimental Reasons” and “Let’s Do It.”

The Kroks of the ’80s saw the group embark on its first multi-country World Tour at the initiative of legendary tour planner Gordon Bloom ’82, and aided by a plug from maestro Bernstein. Those early tours saw the Kroks make acquaintances with Madame Taeko Matsuda in Japan and the Sayn-Wittgenstein family in Germany, continuing a tradition of international friendship that lasts to the present day. Adopting the moniker “Dinosaurs,” the Kroks of the ’80s are led this evening by Stu Malina ’84, whose arrangements—including this evening’s I Got Rhythm — have helped to define the sound of the Kroks.

The Kroks of the ’90s, led this evening by Dan Krueger ’95, saw arrangers such as Todd Fletcher ’91 and others establish new Krok canon such as “Take The A Train” and the expansion of our annual Summer Tour to dozens of new destinations.

The Kroks of the ’00s and ’10s, this year split into two groups led by Josh Bean ’16, Austin Weber ’19, and Fraser Weist ’18, were graced by talented arrangers such as Dave Liang ’00, along with Bean, Weber, and Weist themselves, numbers from all three of whom are featured in this evening’s program. The turn of the millennium also witnessed lasting changes to the Krokodiloes’ governance and institutional structure which have made the Kroks resilient to changes at Harvard and around the world.

The Kroks of the ’20s, directed by Jack Golden ’23 this evening, were impacted profoundly by the COVID-19 pandemic, which put into stasis the touring and in-person singing which is so characteristic of the Krok experience. Through the leadership of Channy Hong ’22, in the midst of the pandemic 134 Kroks participated virtually to produce 38 songs across 2 albums in our “Year to Remember” project.

To join our fellow Kroks of years past onstage tonight is a singular honor for the Krokodiloes of 2026. Our journey as an institution —as a brotherhood—is bigger than any one of us, and though we are certainly proud of our place onstage tonight, the Kroks of 2026 are reminded that we are but one chapter in that luminous legacy.

Eighty years is a long time indeed, but what it meant to be a Krok beneath those portentous crocodiles by the Pudding fireplace is still what it means to be a Krok today. We sing, and we treasure one another without reserve. Tonight, we celebrate that commitment with our fellow-Kroks and friends from around the world. Thank you for being with us this evening.

Nunc Est Cantandum,
Will Flintoft
General Manager of the Krokodiloes of 2026

The Kroks of 2026 are ecstatic to be at the forefront of tonight’s performance and the festivities to come. The Krokodiloes are Harvard’s oldest a cappella singing
organization, and having reached the milestone of 80 years, there is much cause for celebration. The brotherhood cultivated by this organization has extended further back than any one of us undergraduate members can remember, and it is remarkable to consider how our legacy will continue in the years ahead.

Since coming together in September, we have been hard at work. In October, we sang here at Sanders Theatre for our Fall Jam and subsequently joined the Yale Whiffenpoofs in concert for the ill-fated Harvard-Yale football game in New Haven.

This past January, we embarked on our Winter Tour, stopping in New York, North Carolina, Los Angeles, and San Francisco before traveling overseas to Dubai and Egypt. We shared our music with a variety of audiences in addition to friends and alumni.

This spring also saw the return of our Valentine’s Day Concert, where we performed at First Church, Cambridge to lament our troublesome love lives (or the lack thereof). We serenaded The Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year, Rose Byrne, and this past week, we joined the Hasty Pudding Theatricals and the Radcliffe Pitches on our annual Spring Tour to Bermuda.

Now, our journey has brought us here with you all tonight. Please sit back and enjoy the performance, full of classic Krok tunes and new arrangements crafted by our
supportive alumni and current members. Finally, we’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to both the Board of Directors and the 80th Planning Committee: Frank
DeSimone ’09, Will Granger ’22, Peter Wu ’16, and Mike Paladino ’17. Their work and support have been instrumental in making this weekend a reality.

– The Kroks of 2026