Posted on April 18, 2013
Of all the rewarding things the Glee Club does, Brothers in Song has certainly been for me one of the most exciting and rewarding. Being only a freshman myself, this is the first year I have been both honored and excited to be able to participate. In the fall, we partnered with a strong male chorus from Detroit School of the Arts, and expanded this winter semester all the way to Washington D.C. The boys from Duke Ellington School of the Arts were more than a pleasure to work with. Mentoring and singing with the students and seeing how we came together with such ease due to our shared passion for music resulted in me feeling empowered to give the students a glimpse into the collegiate experience.
Coming out of high school, music was something I knew was essential in my life and the Men’s Glee Club here at Michigan has been far more than just another musical outlet. Being a clubber has blessed me with growing friendships and a chance to push myself musically, but certainly the outreach is what drives me. If I am able to touch one high school student’s life, whether that be encouraging them to pursue college, a musical career, or just putting a smile on their face, then I feel as if I have made a difference. UMMGC is about more than just performing and tradition. It is about using song and camaraderie to inspire. When we walked into the Duke Ellington School to share a meal and begin to form relationships with the students, I instantly knew it was going to be something special. I was paired with three sophomores who were all extremely friendly and talented. All three were members of their show choir, and hearing about their experiences brought back memories of my own theatre days. After singing Varsity and the Victors for them, they sang one of their pieces for us and I was blown away by their talent. It will truly be an honor to have them join us on stage on our upcoming spring tour and for the club at large to be impressed by our combined pieces. They were more than prepared, and Dr. Rogers genuinely related to them how amazed he was by their talent as an ensemble. I cannot wait for our tour stop in D.C. to catch up with the young men I met. Going forward, I will strive to take part in every future Brothers in Song experience. The city itself was absolutely stunning and the fellow clubbers alongside me only enhanced the trip. I can honestly express that taking part in this outreach program was the most valuable and fulfilling experience of my entire freshman year at this outstanding University.
Kyle Walenta | LSA 2016 | Community Outreach Manager
Posted on April 18, 2013
As my tenure with the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club comes to a close, reflection has become inevitable. From the minute I walked off stage after our Spring Hill Concert, nostalgia has accompanied every second of every day. More importantly, though, I find myself feeling an overwhelming sense gratitude for my brothers in song and the loyal patrons who support us.
When I joined the Men’s Glee Club in the fall of 2009, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had never sung in choir before and my definition of a Glee Club had been biased by the show “Glee” which just so happened to premier the week before I auditioned. I would have never predicted the impact that this organization, its musical directors, and its members were going to have on my life.
Whenever I am asked to share my most memorable Glee Club experience, I always mention my very first walk-on in Hill Auditorium. As I walked on stage and looked out into the audience, I could see the alumni scattered around the auditorium, the high school students participating in our High School Tickets Program seated in the mezzanine, members of Dance Marathon seated in the back of the main floor, and our own Michigan classmates cheering from the balcony. Before we hadsung the first note of Laudes Atque Carmina, I had the revelation that changed the rest of my Glee Club experience: I was a part of something much larger than all the individuals on the stage. I was a part of a group whose history and community impact could truly alter the course of my undergraduate career at Michigan.
The University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club provided me with the opportunity to grow in ways that the academic rigor of the University did not provide. This is because the Michigan Men’s Glee Club brings together men with a common passion—singing—and provides them with the experiences and opportunities necessary to grow as musicians, as professionals, as leaders, and—most importantly—as people. From celebrating the Club’s 150th anniversary, to singing on the Great Wall of China, to visiting Washington D.C. and working with the men of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, each experience I lived as a member of the Men’s Glee Club reminded me of that specific walk-on from my freshman year. I was a part of an organization that cannot be defined merely by its musical prowess. Its commitment to the individual Clubbers and its commitment the community is what makes the Men’s Glee Club at Michigan more than a talented singing group.
For all these reasons, I am forever grateful. I am grateful for all my brothers—past, present, and future. As I continue to look back on the last four years of my life, I know they would look very different without the Men’s Glee Club; the last four years would look very different had I not become involved with such an eminent part of Michigan Tradition. I look back with nostalgia, but look ahead with excitement. While I am sad to close this chapter of my life, I am thrilled to become an alumnus of a group that never ceases to produce gentlemen of great character, intellect, and integrity. I look ahead with excitement because I know that the Michigan Men’s Glee Club will continue to help shape Michigan Men for another 153 plus years.
Raul Jimenez '14 | UMMGC Vice President
Posted on April 18, 2013
For Tour Itinerary and general ticketing information, click here to visit our Tour Page!
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Greetings!
The University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club is beyond excited for the upcoming East Coast Tour, from May 7th to May 23rd. We are in the last stages of planning for what is expected to be a fantastic Tour, which will take us to locations including Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Cambridge, MA, where we will conclude our Tour in a joint-concert with Harvard and Yale Glee Clubs.
On the Tour, the Men’s Glee Club will present Music of the Americas to audiences across the East Coast. Music performed will feature songs from North, South, and Central America with genres ranging from Mexican Baroque to Brazilian to American folksong, including several contemporary premieres. The repertoire will also include North American classics composed by Copland, Billings, Thompson, and Dett. New compositions by East Coast composers will showcase works by Jonathan Kolm and Rollo Dilworth, and works by Michigan composers will include those by Jed Scott, Stacey Gibbs, and Michigan School of Music faculty Kristin Kuster. The Glee Club will be joined by Michigan School of Music Professor Emeritus, George Shirley, for the New York premier of Kuster’s “given a body”.
Gifts to the Men's Glee Club are greatly appreciated. With the ever-increasing costs of performing and touring, any gift regardless of size makes a difference to the Club. Not only do your contributions help defray costs that enable Clubbers to go on Tour, but they also ensure our ability continue to commission new pieces for the Club and uphold our status as a leading men’s ensemble in the country.
Additionally, we are still in the process of securing host-stays for three of our Tour stops: Richmond, VA (11th – 13th, May), Washington, D.C. (13th – 16th, May), and the Cambridge/Greater Boston Area, MA (19th – 22nd, May). If you know someone in these areas who will be able to host Glee Clubbers during the dates listed, please get in touch!
For venue and ticketing information regarding the upcoming Tour in May, please visit us at ummgc.org/events/tour. For general inquiries, or if you would like to make a gift to the Glee Club or host us during Tour, please contact me at lujustin@umich.edu.
We thank you for your continued patronage, and hope to see you at one of our concerts in May!
In 153 years of Tradition, Camaraderie, and Musical Excellence,
Justin Lu
2013 East Coast Tour Manager
Posted on March 23, 2013
Dear All,
I am pleased to announce the locations for this year's Spring Tour in May! The locations are as follows:
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- South Boston, VA
- Richmond, VA
- Washington, DC
- Philadelphia, PA
- New York, NY
- Boston, MA
Feel free to click here for a more comprehensive itinerary and to view ticketing information. Please do not hesitate to contact me at lujustin@umich.edu should you require more information about the Tour.
In 153 years of Tradition, Camaraderie, and Musical Excellence,
Justin Lu
2013 Tour Manager
Posted on March 20, 2013
The Brother’s in Song Program was an initiative started by the Glee Club to diversify the audience exposed not only to the Glee Club, but also the University of Michigan as a whole. Throughout this program the Glee Club has traveled to schools in Detroit and Chicago, and this year, we will be traveling to Washington D.C.
The Glee Club sends a small group of clubbers to travel to a participating high school, in order to rehearse with the younger students. It certainly provides a great opportunity for mentorship and mutual learning! In the fall 2012, members of the Glee Club traveled twice to the Detroit School of Arts (DSA) to rehearse with Vision, their all-male vocal group. Not only do the participants sing at the rehearsals, but each high school student is also paired with a Glee Club member. The one-on-one interactions provide a more comfortable environment for the high school students. Many ask questions about the Glee Club, the University of Michigan and/or other higher educational opportunities available after graduation. Additionally, students from DSA also asked questions directly to an admissions officer from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.
As ambassadors of the University, it is the duty to spread the University’s goals of informing regional and national communities about higher educational opportunities. Through the Brother’s in Song Program the Men’s Glee Club has interacted with diverse high school students and encouraged them to think about life after high school graduation. Finally, we are excited to audience the program's next iteration: Los Angeles, California!
Stay tuned for details!
Jordan Bell | College of Engineering 2015 | Assistant Publicity Manager
Posted on March 20, 2013
The Men's Glee Club was founded and continues to grow on our three pillars: tradition, camaraderie, and musical excellence. These pillars manifest themselves in many ways each year. Often times our experiences of these pillars spill beyond Glee Club rehearsals and concerts. Clubbers bond and socialize over mutual interests, study for tests together, hold sectionals to prepare for extra concerts, and observe traditions (like snapping instead of clapping) even outside of the MLB. It should come as no surprise that a group with such strong bonds in friendship and history would stick together for more than just singing.
This semester though, this sense of community has permutated into a surprising form: a political party.
When Chris Osborn, (current UMMGC parliamentarian and Central Student Government Treasurer now seeing the student-body presidency), set out to create the new forUM party, he sought to bring students from diverse backgrounds together to create a strong student government. With a slate of 44 students from 17 colleges on campus, he did a very good job of that. Inadvertently though, his party had brought together many Glee Clubbers with strong opinions on how to improve life on campus. Six members of the Glee Club are now running in the March 27-28 Central Student Government elections. Among them, is Osborn running for President, and 5 others running to represent forUM in the Student Assembly, with candidates representing the Rackham Graduate College, LSA, Taubman Architectural College, the Ross School of Business, and the School of Education. Many more clubbers have spent their time volunteering for these campaigns as well. While 5 of 44 seats may seem like a small percentage (about 11%), Clubber culture has permeated into forUM, as observed by the choruses of snapping at its weekly meetings. Clubbers have always spent time outside of rehearsals representing the ideals like those that the Men's Glee Club strives to perpetuate, and now they have the chance to represent their entire university in doing so.
Domenic Rizzolo | LSA 2015 | UMMGC Social Chair | forUM Representative Candidate for LSA
Posted on February 6, 2013
Reposted from [art]seen:
Last night I went to the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club 153rd Annual Fall Concert. I brought my friend along, and we had great seats on the main floor front and center. Hill Auditorium is a great place for concerts, with a big, open, well-lit stage and comfy cushioned red seats. As I walked into the auditorium, my first impression was overjoyed at the sound of such harmonious singing. I was impressed at how the men sang in such perfect harmony and with such poise. They exhibited great stature and confidence throughout the entire concert ... Continue Reading
Posted on January 26, 2013
To bring in the new semester, the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club is proud to offer UMMGC shot glasses, UMMGC pint glasses, and UMMGC bottle openers available for sale from our online store or from our merchandise tables at our next concert. Descriptions of our products can be found on the product’s link. Thank you for your continuing support of the UMMGC and Go Blue!
UPDATE: Unfortunately, we have had to remove the pint and shot glasses from the store due to high shipping and handling costs. These items will still be available to buy at UMMGC concerts. We're sorry for the inconvenience!
Posted on December 11, 2012
On December 1st, members of the Glee Club sang outside of Hill Auditorium for attendees of the performance of Handel's Messiah. Check out the video embedded below!