University of Michigan Men's Glee Club
| The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club | |
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The Key, the club's official logo
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Ann Arbor, Michigan, US |
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| Website | www |
The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club is an all-male glee club (or choir) at the University of Michigan. 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 club has won the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on four separate occasions. Since 2011, the Club's musical director has been Eugene Rogers who has continued to expand the Club's repertoire and arranged performances.
The origins of the club stem from a variety of groups that came together in 1876. After a number of years including banjo and mandolin players in the club, it reverted to simply a vocal group by the mid-1920s. It received a substantial rise in profile under the directory of Philip Duey in the 1950s, who organised national, then international tours, and numerous television appearances. Since then, the club has continued to tour internationally at high-profile venues.
The club is entirely managed by students, except for the musical director, taken from the university staff. It has a number of traditions, including the practice of snapping fingers instead of clapping.
The club is a student-managed organization, which undertakes all management facilities, including all finances and tour arrangements. Only the musical director is a member of the faculty. It accepts members from both undergraduates and graduates of the university, who are chosen by audition. Membership is made up of the majority of the university's 17 colleges.
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. Their official motto is "In Tradition, Camaraderie, and Musical Excellence".
A number of traditions are upheld and recognised by choristers. Club members snap their fingers instead of clapping at each other's achievements (i.e. a good performance on a solo) because it is more difficult to clap with one's music in the other hand. The club hosts a banquet every spring where awards are presented.
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