Sabrinas Transition From Overalls to Red and Black

“The Glee Club has no intention of accepting women,” Laura Yerkovich ʼ80, a member of the first cohort of women at Amherst College, was told in 1976. These words tell what the first women at the college experienced during the transition to coeducation. There were no options for them to sing. But Yerkovich and Billie Wyeth ʼ80, were undeterred — characteristic of the fierce, bold, and trailblazing group of women who first walked this campus.

Despite diverse interests, the women “simply needed to be together and needed to be singing.” As such, the Amherst Kumquats came to be. The Kumquats were the first all-female acapella group on campus, co-founded in 1976 by Wyeth and Yerkovich. Eventually, the Kumquats became the Sabrinas, aptly named for the water nymph statue subject to college-wide pranks and informally considered the first woman on campus. Their goal, which may have changed slightly over the past 50 years, was to “make them laugh, not think we’re sexy.” They wore white shirts and overalls, and choreography typically accompanied their campus performances.

Last Saturday, though, instead of wearing overalls in Johnson Chapel, the Sabrinas donned their now-quintessential red and black in the brand-new student centerʼs black box theater to celebrate the groupʼs 50th anniversary. In an ode to tradition, they opened their show as the ʼ76 Sabrinas did — with a peppy, barbershop quartet-style rendition of “Slow Boat to China” by Frank Loesser, arranged by Betsy Hauser Abernathy ʼ83. The 2026 Sabrinas were joined by over 40 former members of the group, including Julier Wyeth and several other original members of the Sabrinas. They performed nine songs during the 90-minute showcase, with reflections and impromptu performances from alumni (including an iconic spin on “My Boyfriend is Back” by the 1980s Sabrinas, complete with choreography) interspersed between songs. 

This showcase also offered a unique opportunity to honor those Sabrinas who have since passed away. The expanded group honored Nikki Scott ʼ97, Maddie Giegold ʼ13, and Nancy Girard ʼ79 before performing their penultimate song, “Linger” by The Cranberries — arranged by Jenna Idenward ʼ13 and Angela Gao ʼ26 and soloed by Audrey Lee ʼ27. This performance was particularly moving following this appreciation of former members. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

The group closed their concert with a song now emblematic of the Sabrinas: “Helplessly Hoping” by Crosby, Stills, & Nash. This song was first brought to the group in 2007 after three Sabrinas performed it at a Marsh Coffee Haus event. It has since become tradition, and the group performs it at the end of every concert. Charlie Jenkins ʼ28, current director of the Sabrinas who spearheaded this concert, noted how the style of the song has changed throughout the years — adding new harmonies, changes in speed, rhythm, dynamics, and even lyrics. Wyeth and Martha Plotkin ’81 remarked that at times, they “turned off the lights and sat on the floor so they could just hear each other.” The current Sabrinas do this each time they rehearse “Helplessly Hoping.” Each performance of the song is distinct to each cohort of the Sabrinas, and for the first time, we heard how an intergenerational group of Sabrinas sound on the song. 

After tears, laughter, and lots of applause, they invited the audience to join them in singing “Happy Birthday” to the group — another tradition that has since been revived. 

New and old Sabrinas shared some reflections on the showcase and the rehearsals leading up to it. Jenkins felt the day “served as a reminder to cherish these relationships and moments.” This was Claire Cho ʼ30’s first-ever Sabrinas show, and she realized that the “Sabrinas were not only a strong community of singers, but also a strong community of Amherst women bonded by years of friendship and passion.” Polly Ikonen ʼ87 was gratified “to discover that [they] remain connected, with deep affection for one another, through [their] shared music and musical memories. Astonishingly, the music came flooding back.”

“All of our voices blended to produce the distinct Sabrinas’ sound, which I’ve heard for four years now but has never felt as full as it did today,” Saara Basuchoudhary ʼ27 said.

Plotkin, an original Sabrina, closed her reflection with the following: “In those very first months of co-education, this unique ensemble of musical comrades offered us a way to bring joy, feel supported, and find a meaningful voice on the Amherst campus. We relied on enthusiasm and blind faith that the Sabrinas had to and would continue to grow. And that, we, and all of you did! Congratulations with love, admiration, and appreciation from your earliest sisters in song!”

They certainly won’t wait another 50 years to celebrate together again!