University of Michigan Men's Glee Club
Encyclopedia
The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club is an all-male glee club
(or choir
) at the University of Michigan
currently conducted by Eugene Rogers. With roots tracing back to 1859, it is the second oldest glee club in the United States and is the oldest student organization at the University. The group is composed of about 100 singers from several of the schools and colleges at the University of Michigan. They perform repertoire ranging from music of the Renaissance
to African-American spirituals.
club and in 1897 by a mandolin
club, and during the 1890s and the first few years of the twentieth century, there was also a Freshmen Glee Club. The name of the group also changed with the addition of the ensembles; for example, in 1897 the group was called the University Glee, Banjo, and Mandolin Club. In 1905, the Banjo Club ceased to exist, and in 1923, the Mandolin Club also dropped from the group, which became simply the University of Michigan Glee Club. Due to the increasing popularity of the Girl's Glee Club in the 1930s, the group was renamed the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club in 1938, and in 1944 the group added "Varsity" to the title, although this was dropped four years later. Finally, as an indicator of the cautious and businesslike 1980s the group added "Inc." to its official name in 1989.
During the founding of the Michigan Union
in the early 1900s, Union Opera
s were held to raise money for the proposed building. Women were not allowed to act in these operas, so men played all the parts. Thus, the Glee Club played a prominent role in the operas, providing many of the singers and several of the composer
s. In fact, some of today’s favorite Glee Club songs, such as "The Bum Army" and "Ann Arbor Days", were originally written for the Michigan Union Operas.
For a great part of the twentieth century, the Glee Club continued to expand its membership, maintaining a presence on the local entertainment scene, and continuing the tradition of touring set forth by their earlier counterparts. Tours in the early twentieth century were usually undertaken during Christmas break. These tours were by train, and the Glee Club manager would communicate with concert sponsors through telegrams. Most of these were local, but the Glee Club did take some extended tours, such as the "prairie states" tour in 1926 and 1941. This was the last tour for some time, as World War II
had broken out; the six-year hiatus that followed (1942–1947) was the longest gap without tours in the twentieth century.
and a performance before Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
. Dick Bailin, historian for the 1955 tour, recounts the events of that day:
The European tour in 1959 commemorated the centennial of the Glee Club. In addition to a four-week concert tour, which included performances at the Free University
in West Berlin
, the group competed in the International Musical Eisteddfod
in Llangollen
, Wales
. The tour was planned so that this competition would be at the very beginning of the tour, but this plan almost backfired as the boat they were traveling on (the S.S. Seven Seas) was almost a day late getting into England. After a 3 a.m. arrival and only three hours sleep, the Glee Club became the first American choir ever to win the male choir competition.
After winning the Llangollen prize in 1959, the Glee Club planned four subsequent trips in which they stopped in Wales for the competition. In 1963, a five-week tour included special performances at the residence of the American Ambassador in Athens
and the American Embassy in London
. The Glee Club once again won the male choral division first place prize. In 1967, the Glee Club celebrated the University’s sesquicentennial year by embarking on a world concert tour between May and July, the longest yet for the Glee Club. After traversing the world for eight weeks, the Glee Club returned to Llangollen and took third place. In 1971, the Glee Club returned to Europe under the direction of Willis Patterson and won the male competition at the International Music Eisteddfod
yet again, and in 1978, this achievement was repeated under Leonard Johnson. This victory in Wales marked the fourth time the Michigan Men’s Glee Club had won the prize. The Glee Club's final appearance at the Llangollen Eisteddfod was in 1985 under the direction of Patrick Gardner, resulting in a third-place finish for the Club. Unfortunately, changes in the school calendar and the fact that the competition is held in early July have prevented the Club from attempting another victory. However, to celebrate their four first-place finishes, the Glee Club gives out four "Llangollen Awards" annually to members who embody the spirit of this competition.
Many other highlights come from the Duey years. In September 1965 the Glee Club—along with Harvard University
, Smith College
, and Howard University
--was invited to represent the United States at the first International University Choral Festival. This event was held at Lincoln Center in New York
and at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
The Glee Club also made appearances on the Dinah Shore
Show, the Pat Boone
Show, and Ed Sullivan
’s "Toast of the Town". David Wallingford, member from 1951 to 1953, recounts the events of that evening on Ed Sullivan's show.
in New York, the pre-game festivities for the final game of the 1984 World Series
at Tiger Stadium, and at the Intercollegiate Musical Council National Seminar at Harvard University in 1986. One highlight occurred in 1983 when the Glee Club, on their West Coast Tour, performed a concert in San Diego and sang The Hymn and several other Michigan songs for Earl V. Moore - former Dean of the School of Music and composer of numerous Michigan songs.
Under the direction of recent conductor, Jerry Blackstone
, the Michigan Men’s Glee Club embarked on four major overseas tours. In 1989 the Glee Club spent three weeks touring Asia with concerts in Hong Kong
, Japan
, and South Korea
. In 1992 the Club embarked on a trip to Eastern Europe, where they were one of the first American groups to visit the new country of Estonia
, which had recently declared independence from the defunct Soviet Union
. 1996 brought the Club to South America including Brazil
, Argentina
, Uruguay
, Chile
, and Peru
, and the Club most recently traversed Australia
in 2000. The highlight of this tour was the inaugural Men of Song Festival hosted by the Brisbane Boys' College
in which 132 young men participated in a workshop and joint concert led by the Glee Club. Under Blackstone the Men’s Glee Club has been well-reviewed around the world; the secretary of the Warsaw Philharmonica exclaimed, "I was completely enchanted. It is unbelievable that an amateur group could surpass our most professional choirs with such ease of execution" A reviewer for Voices, Journal of the Federation of Choral Music, Chile, further remarked on this distinctive sound:
Under Blackstone’s direction the Club was invited to perform at three conventions of the American Choral Directors Association
, including the 1997 National Convention in San Diego. The Club also released six compact discs during this time and was featured on two tracks of Mannheim Steamroller
’s 2001 album Christmas Extraordinaire
.
In 1989 a new constitution was adopted and in 1991 the first annual Male Vocal Arts Day, a workshop for high school men, was held. In the spring of 2001 the combined Men’s Glee Club and Smith College Glee Club and Chorale gave a performance of Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem
in Northampton
, MA. The following fall the endeavor was repeated in Hill Auditorium
with the Smith and Michigan Women’s Glee Clubs.
Stephen Lusmann led the Club from 2002–2005; highlights of his tenure include an appearance at the IMC National Convention at Harvard University, a sixteen day tour of Great Britain
and Ireland
in 2004 and the club's premiere performance at Carnegie Hall
with the Smith College Glee Club in 2005.
From 2005 to 2011, the Club was under the direction of Paul Rardin. Notable achievements during this time include international tours to Spain (2008) and Cuba (2011), as well as the celebration of The Club's sesquicentennial during the 2009-2010 academic year. Rardin left the University of Michigan to accept the position of Director of Choirs at Temple University
in 2011. He is succeeded by Eugene Rogers.
More
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...
(or choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
) at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
currently conducted by Eugene Rogers. With roots tracing back to 1859, it is the second oldest glee club in the United States and is the oldest student organization at the University. The group is composed of about 100 singers from several of the schools and colleges at the University of Michigan. They perform repertoire ranging from music of the Renaissance
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
to African-American spirituals.
Incarnations and early tours
The Glee Club has undergone many changes since its inception. Once only a group of six or eight men usually from only one academic class, it has grown into a group of 100 men representing the majority of the schools and colleges at the University of Michigan. During the 1860s and 1870s, there were separate Glee Clubs, which usually numbered somewhere in the tens or twenties, for each graduating class. In 1876, the classes came together to form the University Glee Club, which numbered eight men during its first year and then jumped to sixteen the next year. In 1890, the Glee Club was joined by a banjoBanjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
club and in 1897 by a mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
club, and during the 1890s and the first few years of the twentieth century, there was also a Freshmen Glee Club. The name of the group also changed with the addition of the ensembles; for example, in 1897 the group was called the University Glee, Banjo, and Mandolin Club. In 1905, the Banjo Club ceased to exist, and in 1923, the Mandolin Club also dropped from the group, which became simply the University of Michigan Glee Club. Due to the increasing popularity of the Girl's Glee Club in the 1930s, the group was renamed the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club in 1938, and in 1944 the group added "Varsity" to the title, although this was dropped four years later. Finally, as an indicator of the cautious and businesslike 1980s the group added "Inc." to its official name in 1989.
During the founding of the Michigan Union
Michigan Union
The Michigan Union is a student union at the University of Michigan. It is located at the intersection of South State Street and South University Avenue in Ann Arbor, Michigan....
in the early 1900s, Union Opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s were held to raise money for the proposed building. Women were not allowed to act in these operas, so men played all the parts. Thus, the Glee Club played a prominent role in the operas, providing many of the singers and several of the composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s. In fact, some of today’s favorite Glee Club songs, such as "The Bum Army" and "Ann Arbor Days", were originally written for the Michigan Union Operas.
For a great part of the twentieth century, the Glee Club continued to expand its membership, maintaining a presence on the local entertainment scene, and continuing the tradition of touring set forth by their earlier counterparts. Tours in the early twentieth century were usually undertaken during Christmas break. These tours were by train, and the Glee Club manager would communicate with concert sponsors through telegrams. Most of these were local, but the Glee Club did take some extended tours, such as the "prairie states" tour in 1926 and 1941. This was the last tour for some time, as World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
had broken out; the six-year hiatus that followed (1942–1947) was the longest gap without tours in the twentieth century.
The Duey Years and Later Tours
Under the tenure of Philip Duey, who conducted the Glee Club from 1947 to 1969, the Club's recognition expanded into the national and international spheres aided by overseas tours and broad media attention. Through radio, television, recordings, and motion pictures, Duey made a national name for the Michigan Men’s Glee Club. In 1954, the Glee Club provided the music for an RKO film, Songs of the Colleges, which featured scenes from colleges and universities from around the country. In the fall of 1951, the Glee Club started the tradition of performing joint concerts with the Glee Club of a football opponent when they invited the Cornell Glee Club to Ann Arbor. The Glee Club had not previously had the membership base or the financial resources to attempt an international trip, but in the spring of 1955, a four-week trip to Western Europe was undertaken. Highlights included an appearance at the American Embassy in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and a performance before Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Dick Bailin, historian for the 1955 tour, recounts the events of that day:
- "Finally, we arrive at The Hague, home of the Dutch government and a city in its own right. There is time to spare, so we eat our first meal in Europe--a full three-course dinner for $ .60! At last the Club piles into the bus and drives on to the City Hall. Here we wait in hushed expectation, and finally it happens--the Queen herself appears on the steps and the large crowd of Dutch people gathered around us applauds wildly. The Glee Club sings three songs, including the Dutch National Anthem, and while Dr. Duey is being presented to the Queen, numerous carefully concealed cameras are whipped out and many pictures are taken. Thus our tour starts in an exciting and illustrious way."
The European tour in 1959 commemorated the centennial of the Glee Club. In addition to a four-week concert tour, which included performances at the Free University
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
in West Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, the group competed in the International Musical Eisteddfod
International Eisteddfod
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where...
in Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The tour was planned so that this competition would be at the very beginning of the tour, but this plan almost backfired as the boat they were traveling on (the S.S. Seven Seas) was almost a day late getting into England. After a 3 a.m. arrival and only three hours sleep, the Glee Club became the first American choir ever to win the male choir competition.
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and the American Embassy in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The Glee Club once again won the male choral division first place prize. In 1967, the Glee Club celebrated the University’s sesquicentennial year by embarking on a world concert tour between May and July, the longest yet for the Glee Club. After traversing the world for eight weeks, the Glee Club returned to Llangollen and took third place. In 1971, the Glee Club returned to Europe under the direction of Willis Patterson and won the male competition at the International Music Eisteddfod
International Eisteddfod
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is a music festival which takes place every year during the second week of July in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where...
yet again, and in 1978, this achievement was repeated under Leonard Johnson. This victory in Wales marked the fourth time the Michigan Men’s Glee Club had won the prize. The Glee Club's final appearance at the Llangollen Eisteddfod was in 1985 under the direction of Patrick Gardner, resulting in a third-place finish for the Club. Unfortunately, changes in the school calendar and the fact that the competition is held in early July have prevented the Club from attempting another victory. However, to celebrate their four first-place finishes, the Glee Club gives out four "Llangollen Awards" annually to members who embody the spirit of this competition.
Many other highlights come from the Duey years. In September 1965 the Glee Club—along with Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, and Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
--was invited to represent the United States at the first International University Choral Festival. This event was held at Lincoln Center in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The Glee Club also made appearances on the Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
Show, the Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
Show, and Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
’s "Toast of the Town". David Wallingford, member from 1951 to 1953, recounts the events of that evening on Ed Sullivan's show.
- "The first [memory that I want to share] has to do with our opening song [Laudes atque Carmina]. We were to appear on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town". We were permitted because of time limitations to sing only two songs, but we wanted to sing our traditional opening hymn also. Ed Sullivan said there wasn't time--but like all loyal and resourceful Glee Clubbers, we hummed it behind the curtain through the commercial and through the introduction--the tradition was not broken."
The Modern Era
In the 1980s, under the direction of Patrick Gardner, the group made appearances at Avery Fisher HallAvery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall is a concert hall, in New York City and is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex. It is the home of the New York Philharmonic, with a capacity of 2,738 seats.-History:...
in New York, the pre-game festivities for the final game of the 1984 World Series
1984 World Series
The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
at Tiger Stadium, and at the Intercollegiate Musical Council National Seminar at Harvard University in 1986. One highlight occurred in 1983 when the Glee Club, on their West Coast Tour, performed a concert in San Diego and sang The Hymn and several other Michigan songs for Earl V. Moore - former Dean of the School of Music and composer of numerous Michigan songs.
Jerry Blackstone
Jerry Blackstone is a Grammy Award winning American choral conductor. He is the Director of Choirs and Chair of the Conducting Department at the University of Michigan and the Music Director of the University Musical Society Choral Union....
, the Michigan Men’s Glee Club embarked on four major overseas tours. In 1989 the Glee Club spent three weeks touring Asia with concerts in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. In 1992 the Club embarked on a trip to Eastern Europe, where they were one of the first American groups to visit the new country of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, which had recently declared independence from the defunct Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. 1996 brought the Club to South America including Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and the Club most recently traversed Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 2000. The highlight of this tour was the inaugural Men of Song Festival hosted by the Brisbane Boys' College
Brisbane Boys' College
Brisbane Boys' College , is an independent, Presbyterian and Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Toowong, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
in which 132 young men participated in a workshop and joint concert led by the Glee Club. Under Blackstone the Men’s Glee Club has been well-reviewed around the world; the secretary of the Warsaw Philharmonica exclaimed, "I was completely enchanted. It is unbelievable that an amateur group could surpass our most professional choirs with such ease of execution" A reviewer for Voices, Journal of the Federation of Choral Music, Chile, further remarked on this distinctive sound:
- "They performed with a rich, expressive sound that never lost its warmth, even in the most extreme ranges. A distinctive trait of the group is its spontaneity, maintaining a fluency and uninhibited manner...and a controlled dose of humor that earned the affection of the audience."
American Choral Directors Association
The American Choral Directors Association , headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music...
, including the 1997 National Convention in San Diego. The Club also released six compact discs during this time and was featured on two tracks of Mannheim Steamroller
Mannheim Steamroller
Mannheim Steamroller is an American music group founded by Chip Davis and Jackson Berkey, known primarily for its modern recordings of Christmas music. The group has sold 28 million albums in the U.S. alone.-Beginnings:...
’s 2001 album Christmas Extraordinaire
Christmas Extraordinaire
Christmas Extraordinaire was the sixth Christmas album released by New Age musical group Mannheim Steamroller. The album was originally released in 2001...
.
In 1989 a new constitution was adopted and in 1991 the first annual Male Vocal Arts Day, a workshop for high school men, was held. In the spring of 2001 the combined Men’s Glee Club and Smith College Glee Club and Chorale gave a performance of Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem
Ein deutsches Requiem
A German Requiem, To Words of the Holy Scriptures, Op. 45 by Johannes Brahms, is a large-scale work for chorus, orchestra, and a soprano and a baritone soloist, composed between 1865 and 1868. It comprises seven movements, which together last 65 to 80 minutes, making this work Brahms's longest...
in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, MA. The following fall the endeavor was repeated in Hill Auditorium
Hill Auditorium
Hill Auditorium is the largest performance venue on the University of Michigan campus, in Ann Arbor, USA. The auditorium was named in honor of Arthur Hill , who served as a regent of the university from 1901 to 1909. He bequeathed $200,000 to the university for the construction of a venue for...
with the Smith and Michigan Women’s Glee Clubs.
Stephen Lusmann led the Club from 2002–2005; highlights of his tenure include an appearance at the IMC National Convention at Harvard University, a sixteen day tour of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 2004 and the club's premiere performance 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....
with the Smith College Glee Club in 2005.
From 2005 to 2011, the Club was under the direction of Paul Rardin. Notable achievements during this time include international tours to Spain (2008) and Cuba (2011), as well as the celebration of The Club's sesquicentennial during the 2009-2010 academic year. Rardin left the University of Michigan to accept the position of Director of Choirs at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
in 2011. He is succeeded by Eugene Rogers.
Directors and Terms
- Rossetter G. Cole, 1886–1889
- Albert A. Stanley, 1889–1892
- Silas R. Mills, 1892–1893
- Student Lead, 1893–1908
- Earle Killeen, 1908–1911
- William A. HowlandWilliam Howland (musician)William A. Howland was an American operatic bass, voice teacher, composer, conductor and university administrator. He was the head of the music department at the University of Michigan from 1900-1914...
, 1911–1914 - Russell Carter, 1919–1920
- Frank L. Thomas, 1920–1922
- George O. Bowen, 1922–1924
- Theodore Harrison, 1914–1919, 1924–1930
- Arthur Hackett, 1930–1931
- David Mattern, 1931–1947
- Philip Duey, 1947–1969
- Willis Patterson, 1969–1975
- Leonard Johnson, 1975–1981
- Patrick Gardner, 1981–1987
- Bradley Bloom, 1987–1988
- Jerry BlackstoneJerry BlackstoneJerry Blackstone is a Grammy Award winning American choral conductor. He is the Director of Choirs and Chair of the Conducting Department at the University of Michigan and the Music Director of the University Musical Society Choral Union....
, 1988–2002 - Stephen Lusmann, 2002–2005
- Paul Rardin, 2005–2011
- Eugene Rogers, 2011–Present
More
Subsets and A Cappella Groups
- Varsity Quartette: 1910’s and 1920’s
- Midnight Sons Quartet : ?
- Key Changers : ?
- Novelaires: 1948-1958
- The Friars: 1955–Present - all-male a cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group formed by Glee Club director Dr. Walter Collins, named after a former prestigious drinking club at the University
Notable alumni
- Bob McGrathBob McGrathRobert Emmet "Bob" McGrath is an American singer and actor best known for playing the human character Bob on Sesame Street. He was born in Ottawa, Illinois. McGrath was named for Irish patriot Robert Emmet....
, singer and actor who plays "Bob" on Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
. - Ara BerberianAra BerberianAra Berberian was an American operatic bass singer.Berberian made his debut in 1958 with the Turnau Opera in Woodstock, New York, as Don Magnifico in Rossini's La Cenerentola. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1979 as Zacharie in Giacomo Meyerbeer's Le prophète...
, Metropolitan OperaMetropolitan OperaThe Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
Basso - Jeff MarxJeff MarxJeff Marx is a composer and lyricist of musicals. He is best known for creating the Broadway musical Avenue Q with collaborator Robert Lopez.- Early life :...
, co-composer of Avenue QAvenue QAvenue Q is a musical in two acts, conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty and the show was directed by Jason Moore and produced by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, and Jeffrey Seller...
. - Thomas DeweyThomas DeweyThomas Edmund Dewey was the 47th Governor of New York . In 1944 and 1948, he was the Republican candidate for President, but lost both times. He led the liberal faction of the Republican Party, in which he fought conservative Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft...
, three-time governor of New York and two-time Republican Presidential candidate - Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Neurosurgeon, and CNN senior medical correspondent.
- John J. H. "Joe" Schwarz, M.D.Joe SchwarzJohn J. H. "Joe" Schwarz, M.D. , an independent politician from Michigan, was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004 as a moderate Republican...
, elected to the House of Representatives in 2004 and represented Michigan's 7th Congressional district. - Russell ChristopherRussell ChristopherRussell Christopher is an American operatic baritone who specializes in comprimario roles. He studied at the University of Michigan where he was a member of the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club. His voice teachers included Philip Duey and Raymond McDermot...
, Metropolitan Opera, Baritone.
International Tours
- 1955: Europe
- 1959: Europe
- 1963: Europe
- 1967: World Tour
- 1971: Europe
- 1978: Europe
- 1985: Europe
- 1989: Southeast Asia
- 1992: Eastern & Central Europe
- 1996: South America
- 2000: Australia
- 2004: Great Britain & Ireland
- 2008: Spain
- 2011: Cuba
- 2012: China
Discography
- Michigan Remember (2010)
- Songs of Michigan 2009 Edition (2009)
- Under The Pyrenees (2009)
- Tails, Tux, and Holly (2007)
- Songs of Michigan 2005 Edition (2005)
- Echoes from the Cliffs (2005)
- I Have Had Singing (2004)
- Songs of Youth (2000)
- South America (1996)
- Dance (1995)
- Songs of Michigan (1994)
- Great Halls of Europe (1992)
- The Spirit of Michigan
External links
See also
- List of collegiate glee clubs
- Snap (fingers)Snap (fingers)Snapping one's fingers is the act of creating a cracking/clicking sound with one's fingers. Primarily this is done by building tension between the thumb and another finger and then moving the other finger forcefully downward so it hits the palm of the same hand at a high speed...
- Yale Glee ClubYale Glee ClubThe Yale Glee Club is a mixed chorus of men and women, consisting of students of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1861, it is the third oldest collegiate chorus in the United States after the Harvard Glee Club, founded in 1858, and the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club,...