The Pitchforks of Duke University Information

Founded in 1979, The Pitchforks are the oldest a cappella group at Duke University. They perform on campus and across the country throughout the year, appearing in venues ranging from dorm common rooms to professional sports arenas. They have sung the national anthem at Chicago Bulls and Duke Basketball games, performed for the Queen of Jordan, and opened for Ben Folds in 2009 and The Band Perry in 2015. In 2014 and again in 2018, the ‘Forks crossed the Atlantic to tour with some of Britain’s best collegiate singers. Back at Duke, the Parents’ Weekend Fall Classic and the Gothic Christmas concert are two of the group’s favorite traditions. With sixteen albums released to date, The Pitchforks have a long history of studio recording. Seven tracks have been featured on BOCA compilations since 1997, including their recent single, "Perfect" (2018). The group has also received numerous CARA Awards, including Best Male Collegiate Album for Bring It Back (2006) and Disconcert (2008), Best Male Collegiate Song and Best Male Collegiate Arrangement for "Fireflies" off of their album All In (2010), and an arrangement award for "Hallelujah" off of their 2012 album Refraction. The group's most recent full-length release, Fall Asleep At Sunset, is dedicated to the late Benjamin F. Ward, longtime mentor and advisor to generations of Pitchforks.