OUR HISTORY

Following the creation of the UCONN A Cappella Association a year earlier, a starry-eyed, innovative senior named Drew Brathewaite (Class of '99) and a couple of his buddies would come together in the Fall of 1999 and revolutionize the music community in Storrs, forming the University of Connecticut’s first all-male identifying a cappella group. Built initially as a continuation of the long tradition of exclusive collegiate barbershop ensembles, the group’s repertoire quickly expanded as member’s talents exceeded the bounds of any single genre. No longer would groups sit comfortably in one corner of the musical landscape - Brathewaite & co. had set out to do something completely different. With a uniquely excellent sound, unparalleled musical acumen, a hilarious degree of youthful levity, and true brotherhood, A Completely Different Note was born. Today, it holds a reputation as one of the most highly acclaimed cappella groups in New England and across the country. 

Since its inception, CDN has brought electrifying performances to audiences nationwide, singing at places like Radio City Music Hall, the White House, the Connecticut Governor’s Mansion, and - most importantly - numerous UCONN basketball games and other sporting events. Moreover, our love of close harmony has embarked us on tours criss-crossing the continent, with stops throughout the Northeast, Nashville and the southern United States, California, the Great Lakes, Montreal, and an annual tour up and down New York City. We’ve had the honor of sharing our music with members of Congress, foreign dignitaries, renowned composers, and countless generations of our beloved Husky community, and have been privileged to sing alongside legendary groups like the Georgetown Grace Notes, Boston University Aural Fixation, and the Dartmouth Aires. Holding workshops at high schools across Connecticut to inspire the next generation of vocal performers and preserving our unique traditions and values through the decades, CDN has worked to cultivate a large, vibrant community of talented artists that never forget where they once called home.