Union College Men's Glee Club
Encyclopedia
In 1869, several undergraduate men at Union College
formed the College Musical Association, which represented every known musical endeavor at Union. Enduring many obstacles to its existence during its first quarter century, in 1894 the college administration elected to actively support the Musical Association, comprised at that time by the Mandolin, Banjo and Glee Club
s. The Glee Club's director at that time was Frank C. MacMahon.
, Hudson Valley
and western New England
. The Glee Club was entered into many Intercollegiate Glee Club contests and was a several-time state and regional champion. At the 1931 IMC festival at Carnegie Hall
, the Union Men's Glee Club under the direction of Elmer A. Tidmarsh, attained an overall ranking that placed it within the top five in the United States.
Throughout the 1930s, the Glee Club regularly performed in NYC, including live radio broadcasts from several posh hotels including the Ritz-Carlton. It was heard regionally over WJZ (WABC (AM)
) and WKBW and nationally over the NBC radio Blue Network
. In 1948, the Glee Club was heard over WGY every Sunday morning.
1948 brought the Glee Club its first First Place finish in the annual Utica, New York
Eisteddfod and broadened its touring schedule in the 1950s to include joint concerts with many New England and Mid-Atlantic colleges. These traditional, joint concerts continued under the stewardship of Hugh A. Wilson who became the director of the Glee Club in 1963. Prof. Wilson assumed directorship of the Union College Women's Glee Club in 1977. Both clubs performed performed jointly, and for the last time in May 1984. The Union College Choir was directed by Prof. Wilson until his retirement in 1998.
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
formed the College Musical Association, which represented every known musical endeavor at Union. Enduring many obstacles to its existence during its first quarter century, in 1894 the college administration elected to actively support the Musical Association, comprised at that time by the Mandolin, Banjo and Glee Club
Glee club
A glee club is a musical group or choir group, historically of male voices but also of female or mixed voices, which traditionally specializes in the singing of short songs—glees—by trios or quartets. In the late 19th Century it was very popular in most schools and was made a tradition...
s. The Glee Club's director at that time was Frank C. MacMahon.
Overview
Moving through the turn of the century, Musical Association toured the Mohawk ValleyMohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains....
, Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
and western New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. The Glee Club was entered into many Intercollegiate Glee Club contests and was a several-time state and regional champion. At the 1931 IMC festival at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, the Union Men's Glee Club under the direction of Elmer A. Tidmarsh, attained an overall ranking that placed it within the top five in the United States.
Throughout the 1930s, the Glee Club regularly performed in NYC, including live radio broadcasts from several posh hotels including the Ritz-Carlton. It was heard regionally over WJZ (WABC (AM)
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
) and WKBW and nationally over the NBC radio Blue Network
Blue Network
The Blue Network, and its immediate predecessor, the NBC Blue Network, were the on-air names of an American radio production and distribution service from 1927 to 1945...
. In 1948, the Glee Club was heard over WGY every Sunday morning.
1948 brought the Glee Club its first First Place finish in the annual Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
Eisteddfod and broadened its touring schedule in the 1950s to include joint concerts with many New England and Mid-Atlantic colleges. These traditional, joint concerts continued under the stewardship of Hugh A. Wilson who became the director of the Glee Club in 1963. Prof. Wilson assumed directorship of the Union College Women's Glee Club in 1977. Both clubs performed performed jointly, and for the last time in May 1984. The Union College Choir was directed by Prof. Wilson until his retirement in 1998.