At the peak of its success in the 1940s, the University of Rochester's Men's Glee Club was the winner of the national men's glee club championship and performed for President Franklin Roosevelt. After a short absence in the 1990s, the Men's Glee Club is back and celebrating 130 years of musical traditions. The ensemble will present a concert in celebration of more than a century of performance at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, in Strong Auditorium on the University's River Campus.
The Men's Glee Club was formed in 1876 and continued for more than 100 years before it combined with the Women's Glee Club to form the University Choir. Since its return last year, the group has performed during the University's annual Meliora Weekend and presented a Christmas concert in December 2005. The group also has a concert scheduled for April 2006, which will feature the University of Rochester Symphony Orchestra and a guest choir from Houghton College.
The concert on March 4 will feature a variety of music, ranging from Cole Porter tunes to folk song and sea chantey arrangements. Twenty returning alumni are scheduled to join the group for a special segment at the end of the program.
The Men's Glee Club is made up of 22 members, two of whom are residents of Rochester. They rehearse on Thursdays from 8 to 10 p.m. and are directed by Brett Scott, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities in the music department. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Department of Music at (585) 275-2828.