Savoir Faire means "know-how", and these women have it when applied to a cappella singing.

Savoir Faire is an all-female a cappella pop group established at Penn State in the spring of 1997.

The women are looking forward to putting on an entertaining show at 9 tonight in the HUB-Robeson Center.

"You'll see a lot of animation, which is what I think college students are looking for," said Savoir Faire's assistant business manager Monica Constantino (junior-hotel and restaurant management).

Students can expect a wide variety of music, including songs from Pat Benatar, The Dixie Chicks, Christina Aguilera and Ben Harper.

"We bring in some shocking material you wouldn't expect girls to do," musical director Michelle Mancuso (senior-advertising) said.

It doesn't matter to Savoir Faire who originally writes the music.

"The music can be written by males or females," Constantino said.

The women enjoy a wide variety of music.

They arrange most of their music themselves, with a few pieces arranged by alumni.

Savoir Faire is glad to be able to offer students a break from a stressful week.

The group hopes to provide students with a time to relax during the finals crunch.

"It's fun. It's entertaining. It's a break from studying," Savoir Faire's business manager Maria Riggi (senior-math) said.

Savoir Faire's first CD, With Love ... Savoir Faire, was recently released.

It was an exciting time for the group, with production spanning two semesters.

"It feels awesome. It was a really stressful process," Riggi said.

Some may think it would be difficult to sing a cappella, but the members of Savoir Faire work together to make it as easy as possible.

"You definitely rely on each other," Constantino said.

Riggi described how a cappella singing is a challenge.

"It's hard for some people. You have to be able to blend. You also have to be able to stand out there, in a solo you can use your Broadway voice," Riggi said.

Not just anyone can join Savoir Faire. The group currently has 16 members and is dropping to 14 in the spring. Auditions are a competitive two-day process.

Savoir Faire believes that all a cappella groups on campus have talent.

Each group produces a different sound, especially coed and all-male groups.

"It just comes down to the focus during the performance. It's about using your strengths to make yourselves sound the best you can," Constantino said.

A cappella music is traditionally dominated by men.

Savoir Faire loves being able to make a powerful sound with an all-female group.

"It's empowering to know that 16 girls run a group all by themselves. I like how girls' voices sound and blend together; it's a sound like nothing else," Mancuso said.

Savoir Faire will be performing on the HUB first floor tonight.

More information on ordering With Love ... Savoir Faire can be found on Savoir Faire's Web site (www.clubs.psu.edu/ up/savoirfaire).