Hopewell Elementary students give a a warm welcome to the Dartmouth Aires Dec. 13, 2011. (Staff photo by Diccon Hyatt.)

Robbie Hoffman and the Dartmouth Aires wow students at Hopewell Elementary School Dec. 13, 2011. The choir, including Pennington native Hoffman, won 2nd place on the NBC competition show The Sing-Off. (Staff photo by Diccon Hyatt.)

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As a member of the Dartmouth Aires acapella choir, Robbie Hoffman has sung on national television, with his group taking second place in the NBC competition show, The Sing-Off this year. But it wasn’t until last month that Hoffman got the chance to perform for his biggest fans.

Hoffman, a baritone with the 16-person choir and a junior at Dartmouth College, is also a Pennington native, and on Dec. 13, his group performed at Hopewell Elementary and Toll Gate Elementary, where Hoffman went to school.

At Hopewell, students had been rooting for the Dartmouth Aires all season because of Hoffman, and greeted the choir with hand-made signs and rousing cheers. Music students even sang to the group after their performance, belting out, “You’re the Most Wonderful Choir, Dartmouth Aires,” performed to the tune of, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

“That was touching,” Hoffman said. “Their following the show meant so much to us.”

The Dartmouth Aires competed against 11 other acapella groups, vying to impress a panel of judges. Surviving round after round of eliminations, the Aires finally lost out on the show’s Nov. 28 finale to Arizona-based group, the Pentatonix.

Hoffman stayed in the competition despite a busy school schedule. He is studying sports marketing at Dartmouth in addition to playing on the lacrosse team. He studied abroad in Bareclona last semester, flying back to the U.S. for the finale of The Sing Off. All that didn’t leave much time for his other hobbies, playing guitar and skiing.

Hoffman said he and his parents Penny and Rob also enjoy dog breeding.

The Sing-Off was Hoffman’s first TV appearance, and might have also been his last foray into Hollywood, though he said the Aires might be called back for a guest performance or two next year. Hoffman said he plans to pursue a career in sports marketing, not the performing arts.

Hoffman said the experience opened his eyes to how much work goes into show business. The choir practiced for 10 to 12 hours every day to get ready for the competition.

Hoffman grew up in Hopewell Valley and went to high school at The Lawrenceville School in Lawrence.

The choir was treated like celebrities when they came to Hopewell Elementary school. A panel of students posing as judges offered comments after each of the aires’ crowd-pleasing songs. The students also presented the choir with a $1,000 check for Saving Strokes, a charity that helps rehabilitate people who have suffered strokes. The Aires had raised funds for Saving Strokes while on The Sing Off.

The Dec. 13 performance was just the beginning of a whirlwind week of performances for the Aires. The next Friday, they performed at the White House and met President Obama, the First Lady and their holiday guests.