Posted on November 10, 2011

I must admit that this was not in my worldview when I left Ann Arbortown in 2008. Now, after returning to lead, mentor and learn from the gentlemen of the Glee Club, I often find myself thinking of how lucky I am to be an integral part of such a long- standing pillar at the Uni- versity. I also find myself ob- serving that the club I knew in the late 90’s is somewhat different than the club I see today. Of course, there are many of the same traditions and a strong commitment to musical excellence. How- ever, the level of ownership and pride exhibited by these gentlemen, in tandem with equally committed alumni, is deeper and richer than ever before. As the new man in town, this has brought about many engaging and lively discussions that have made my interactions with the gentlemen more mean- ingful than I ever could have imagined.

This year holds many exciting opportunities for the Glee Club; perhaps most exciting, our trip to China next May. In addition, The Brothers In Song program with Detroit Public Schools continues this year, and we look forward to collaborat- ing with the young men of Renaissance High School. Moreover, we are happy to announce the expansion of this program to include working with young men from the esteemed Chicago Children’s Choir. Selected members of the Men’s Glee Club will work with the young men of the Chicago Children’s Choir, who to- gether, with the entire Glee Club will perform a joint con- cert in Chicago next March.

Equally exciting is our 152nd Fall Hill Concert, a program titled “Let all the world in every corner sing,” that will celebrate singing from a diverse array of tra- ditions. As I embark on my first official Hill Concert in November, I look forward to sharing this new beginning with you. The program will feature many new composi- tions and arrangements. Of special note is the Luceat eis composed by my friend and colleague Timothy Tackach of the group Cantus, which is a powerful work commis- sioned by a parent of a sing- er who lost her life on 9/11. The work will be jointly pre- miered by Cantus and other collegiate men’s choirs from across the United States this fall. Also noteworthy, the program will include an original Pan-African medley that includes Xhosa, Kihaya, Swahili and Zulu along with four other premieres.

Whether in China, Chicago, or at home in Ann Arbor, I hope that you will join us at a concert this year as we look forward while we also honor our rich history and unwavering commitment to musical excellence.

Eugene Rogers, UMMGC Director