This Valentine's Day, the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, an honorary music fraternity for men, want students to give the gift of song.
The Sinfonians travel in groups of about 12 and perform a cappella renditions of popular and classic love songs.
Pricing starts at $40 Feb. 12 and 13 and increases by $5 for appointments between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Feb. 14. There is a student discount.
"We're twice as good but half the price of a barbershop quartet" said senior anthropology major and Phi Mu Alpha member Joe Uong.
Curtis Viselli, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia's musical director, said the Valentine's Day serenades have been ingrained in the fraternity's tradition for several years.
"It's a really big part of what we do [in the fraternity]," said Viselli, a music and physics junior. "Singing is the thing that we all do together."
Although the Sinfonians perform in the Music Building every week, Valentine's Day is their big event, Viselli said.
Last year the fraternity made more than $2,000 by performing all around the city and showing up at dorms, classrooms and restaurants.
"We went to the woods one time," Viselli said. "We'll go anywhere [in Gainesville]."
Fraternity members gathered in front of the Reitz Union between classes Wednesday to advertise the serenades by performing songs from their repertoire, including "My Girl," "Happy Together," "Stand By Me" and the fraternity's signature tune, "A Serenade to a Girl."
Applied physiology and kinesiology freshman Danielle Davis, who was passing by, was surprised when the Sinfonians personally serenaded her.
"I think that people will like that," she said. "I definitely enjoyed it."
The Sinfonians are available for hire Feb. 12 through 14. Packages include three songs and a rose.
For more information or to schedule a serenade, send an e-mail to ufphimualpha@gmail.com.
