About the Alleycats
Founded in 2001 by Ben Murray and Dan Wright - two St Andrews students sharing 3 litre bottle of cider and a passion for a cappella singing - The Alleycats are now the oldest collegiate contemporary a cappella group in Scotland and the only mixed-voice contemporary a cappella group in St Andrews.
The Alleycats spent the first of their nine lives as an all-male group, performing a mix of contemporary, traditional, and inebriated a cappella to adoring crowds of first year girls and OAPs. During this time, the group released a number of studio albums, giving them names which were unspeakable cat related puns, like More Than a Feline and The Cat Pack.
After the group released their third album, the fifth litter of Alleycats turned their efforts in a different direction (towards England) and decided to compete in the first ever Western European division of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), held in Oxford in February 2006. Although they did not place (and undoubtedly came last), they all agreed it had been worth it simply for the great chat, something The Alleycats have always valued. Consequently, and as part of their never-ending quest to create newer and more sophisticated cat puns, they chose to name their next album Platinum Chat, which is of course French for really good chat.
When the 2007 leavers, who had been the strongest proponents of the ‘Alley Chat’ policy (as it had come to be known), left the group to become famous, morale began to drop, and it became evident that a new incentive was needed to keep attendance at rehearsals up - cue the entrance of the female Alleykittens! As the first mixed-voice year progressed, it was soon discovered that, despite popular wisdom, a female presence does not always have a civilising effect on 20 year old boys. By that point, however, there was no turning back, since Alan, who had been the resident soprano when the group was all-male, had already discovered his new calling and become the mixed-voice group’s resident rapper (with a bit of breakdancing on the side).
After helping to host the first Scottish round of the ICCA in St Andrews in February 2008, the group was desperate for an excuse to think of more cat related puns, and so in April, after a brief copyright dispute with the Pussycat Dolls, they returned to the studio to record their fifth album, Meow, That’s What I Call Music!, which many feel has been the mostly aptly named album to date to be released by The Alleycats--or anyone else, for that matter.
Now The Alleycats are facing their greatest and most terrifying challenge yet: the British public. They will be competing against hundreds of other singing groups, of all shapes, sizes, and genres, in front of millions of viewers, hundreds of studio audience members, and at least five fans on BBC1’s Last Choir Standing, starting Saturday, 5 July at 7:45 pm on BBC1.
The Alleycats Are...
Philip De Winter Shaw
Hello! I’m Philip, a tenor kitten of the latest Alleycat litter. Originally hailing from Edinburgh, I’ve spent the last few years getting up to all sorts of shenanigans - from going to drama school to living and working in Melbourne for a year. Post-madness, however, I have convinced myself that it’s time to be sensisble (for a short time at least) and get a degree, so Psychology is now my homeboi. Singing and songwriting have long been passions of mine, and no matter where my path has led me they have always been faithful travel buddies. Thankfully, my days at St Andrews are already being filled with the joys of the theatre scene and moreover the musicality of the Alleycats. Me-spigging-ow!
Lizzy Weintz
In addition to Tesco and “House, M.D.”, music is something I could never live without. Luckily, singing in The Alleycats ensures that my days at St Andrews
are filled with the sounds of Stevie Wonder and Queen, the Fratellis and the Fugees. Before singing a cappella with fellow students, I enjoyed participating in my school’s music department, whether appearing as “Milkmaid Number Two” in “Oliver,” or playing piano at a school showcase. When I’m not singing, songwriting, or butchering a Chopin piece, I’m working toward a future degree in English. I’m very fortunate to have met The Alleycats, who make my days more interesting, certainly louder, but only seldom flatter (or sharper, in that case).
Cammy Dobbie
I’m Cammy, another Edinburgh lad. Music is a big part of my life and when not singing in the alleycats i bash the drums, play the piano and guitar. I am a Bass II and you will generally hear me putting in low notes along with the other bases. For the past two years i was in my school’s chamber choir and did some a capella pieces and large scale choral works. This is my first year singing in a full a capella group and i cant wait for the experience. I was only encourged to sing in 5th year of high school by my good friend, and teacher at the time, Steve Griffin. I never thought i would really get into singing but i was soon proven totally wrong!! I’m here at St-Andrews studying Economics and hope to go on to do something uself in the world when i graduate.
Bec Hawley
I’m Bec, the Musical Director (aka mum) of The Alleycats. I try to keep any unruly Alleycats in order and make sure that at least half of the rehearsal is spent rehearsing. Duties as an MD include: arranging music, banging out notes on the piano, and losing my voice. In addition to this I keep myself crazily busy at uni by playing the violin, performing in the occasional student play or musical, and, on the side, studying for my degree in international relations. I’m from Leicester so am a huge rugby fan and Tigers supporter. I spent last year living and working in Stuttgart and Paris, where I both learned heaps and had the absolute time of my life.
High Five Situation.
John Maclean
My name is John and I love a cappella. I have been part of The Alleycats for two years and have enjoyed every minute of it! Apart from singing
with The Alleycats I am heavily involved with student theatre and charities, and of course getting a degree. I am a third year student studying history and
ultimately plan to become a teacher (but with a lot of singing with friends along the way!).
Emma Wilson
Hello all, my name is Emma and i am fresher. My degree intentions are for MaHons Management and this year i’m also studying economics and IR (nerd). I come from the far off land of Edinburgh and fell in love with the Alleycats when i came up for an open day last year and saw them perform. When i’m not singing my head off (much to the annoyance of others) then i can generally be found dancing embarressingly, laughing, getting fat or geeking it out!
Dave McKean
I’m Dave McKean, survivor of the Edinburgh private education system and 20 year old, still working along at St Andrews university where I am in my third year studying classical studies. Musically, my tastes differ (more than) slightly from what we perform in The Alleycats. I prefer rock bands like Biffy Clyro and Queens of the Stone Age. Yet tragically, for lack of trying, I am the least musically talented of The Alleycats with no ability to play an instrument or read music. Why am I in the group you ask? I am a naturally talented singer, obviously! Being one of the two basses in the group I am responsible for creating those notes that you wouldn’t think should come out of a person but do - like Alan but on the other side of the musical scale.
Still, my real passion is film, both the watching and condemning of. Because if you have dreams of being a film critic you should embrace them from an early age so that when your moment comes (and it will) you can jump at it. ( Incidentally, if anyone reading this needs a film critic I am fully open for offers!).
Laura House
Hey, my name is Laura and I am now a third year studying English and Art History. I’m a blend of English and American pronunciations and spellings, thanks to having moved around a bit before coming to university. I love every aspect of music- reading it, studying theory, singing, creating harmonies, playing around on the piano and guitar- you name it! When not singing or enjoying amazing chat with the rest of The Alleycats, you can find me at or in a Mermaids or Just So production, giving hall tours with student Ambassadors, volunteering with the children at Canongate primary school, or simply sipping tea with friends. I am so thankful to have joined The Alleycats and can’t wait to find out what this year has in store for us!
Tyler Mattiace
Generally, when The Alleycats are rehearsing somewhere, you should be able to find me outside on the phone, pacing back and forth while searching my pockets for more heartburn tablets or paracetamol. I’m Tyler, Manager of The Alleycats, bass II, and when time permits (which it doesn’t really), fourth year student of International Relations at St Andrews. Music has been a part of my life since I started playing the saxophone in primary school, age 10, right on through my first (and last) leading role in a school musical, age 13, and my first contemporary a cappella group in high school, age 17, up to joining The Alleycats in my first year at St Andrews. When I’m not singing with The Alleycats, I am texting The Alleycats to remind them about rehearsals, organizing concerts for The Alleycats, printing publicity for The Alleycats, or occasionally, sleeping.
Rebecca Tindal-Carill-Worsley
Hi, my name is Rebecca but as that was already taken, The Alleycats have renamed me TCW for obvious reasons. I’m from Aberdeenshire, and joined St Andrews this year as a second year transfer student to study Theology. My love of music started from a very young age, with the cliché of the singing into the hairbrush routine. My official musical career however started with the piano, but seeing as I wasn’t very good, it was my poor piano teacher who introduced me to singing, basically so that she didn’t have to listen to me play any more. I was hooked and since then I haven’t really stopped singing, whether it be arias or pop songs, and I can’t wait to be a part of the a capella scene with The Alleycats.