Cornell University Glee Club

Cornell University Glee Club
Seal of the Cornell University Glee Club
Background information
Origin	Cornell University in Ithaca, New York
Genres	Choral, classical, etc.
Years active	1868–present
Associated acts	Cornell University Chorus, The Hangovers
Website	www.gleeclub.com
Members	Director Robert Isaacs

The Cornell University Glee Club (CUGC) is the oldest student organization at Cornell University, having been organized shortly after the first students arrived on campus in 1868. The CUGC is a sixty-member chorus for male voices, with repertoire including classical, folk, 20th-century music, and traditional Cornell songs. The Glee Club also performs major works with the Cornell University Chorus such as Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Handel's Messiah, and Bach's Mass in B Minor.

The CUGC has performed as an ensemble in twenty-five different countries.

The Glee Club has given the world and American premieres of many works for male chorus, written by a variety of notable composers.

World premieres include works by:

American premieres include works by:

In 2005, the Glee Club established the Thomas A. Sokol Commissioning Endowment in recognition of the 75th birthday of Director Emeritus Thomas Sokol. The proceeds help fund an annual commission from a well-known composer of a new work (or works), typically premiered by the Glee Club during the fall Homecoming weekend concert. Sokol Commission recipients to date include:

Adopted as the official emblem of the Glee Club by Thomas A. Sokol shortly after he became director, the CUGC seal features the head of Apollo, the Greek god of music and poetry. It also recalls the well-known glee Glorious Apollo by Samuel Webbe.^:261–262

"The excellent impression made by the 60 young men was of a finely finished vocalism from beginning to end of their a cappella program."

"Throw out all stereotypes. The Cornell University Glee Club has developed a virtuosic choral sound that has far more in common with the King's Singers than 40 guys with a keg."