University of Pennsylvania Glee Club

The Glee Club's history began modestly in 1862 when eight undergraduate men formed what is now the oldest performing arts group at the University of Pennsylvania; subsequently, another eight men were added to the group. The Glee Club's premiere performance was in the chapel of Collegiate Hall at Ninth & Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia for "an audience that was unusually select and large, the Hall filled to its utmost capacity". At this concert, each man wore red and blue ribbons in his buttonhole, thus becoming the first known Penn group to wear the university colors as part of its uniform. The Glee Club quickly became a part of campus life, singing at football rallies, basketball games, alumni events, and chapel services. Soon, much of the university's musical demands depended upon the Glee Club. As a result, the reliance on such traditional collegiate songs such as Gaudeamus Igitur and Integer Vitae gave way to original pieces composed especially for the university and the Glee Club which themselves became traditions: "The Red and Blue," "Afterglow," and "Fight On, Pennsylvania." The Glee Club began to have more of a regional and national presence in the early decades of the Twentieth Century. In 1910, it embarked on a brief tour of the New England states. In 1915, the club sang at the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1926, the Glee Club performed for President Calvin Coolidge in the White House. Since its first performance at the White House for President Calvin Coolidge in 1926, the club has sung for numerous heads of state and world leaders, including for Polish President Lech Wałęsa in 1989. In 1999, several prominent Japanese executives sponsored a tour to Guam and Japan, the club's first tour of the Asian Pacific. In 2004, the Club returned to Asia, this time touring China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. The 2006–2007 season saw the group traveling to Ireland and Northern Ireland for the first time. ==Directors==

• Sam Scheibe, 2024–Present • Daniel Carsello, 2018–2024 • Joshua Glassman, 2015–2018 • C. Erik Nordgren, 2000–2015 • Bruce Montgomery, 1956–2000 • Robert Godsall, early 1950s • Harl McDonald, 1940s. • Burton True Scales, 1930s • H. Alexander Matthews, 1920s • Frederick Brooke Neilson, 1890–92 • Joseph Spencer Brock, mid-1880s • Hugh Alexander Clarke, c. 1880–mid-1880s • Robert Neilson, c. 1869–c. 1871 • Francis Ashhurst, c. 1865–c.1868 • T.B. Bishop, c. 1862–c.1864 ==International tours==

For over five decades, the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club has toured in over 45 countries and territories on 5 continents. The following is a complete list of the countries to which the Glee Club has traveled: • 2024: Italy • 2025: Japan, Hong Kong, China • 2026: Peru ==Award of Merit recipients==

Established in 1964 "to bring a declaration of appreciation to an individual each year that has made a significant contribution to the world of music and helped to create a climate in which our talents may find valid expression." • Randall Thompson – May 2, 1964 • Robert Shaw – February 26, 1965 • Marshall Bartholomew – February 26, 1967 • William L. Dawson – February 25, 1968 • Leopold Stokowski – February 24, 1969 • Elaine Brown – February 24, 1969 • Gaylord P. Harnwell – May 15, 1970 • Aaron Copland – December 5, 1970 • Sol Hurok – December 4, 1971 • Eugene Ormandy – December 15, 1972 • Marian Anderson – October 20, 1973 • Samuel Barber – October 19, 1974 • Burl Ives – October 25, 1975 • Arthur Fiedler – October 23, 1976 • Risë Stevens – October 22, 1977 • Leonard De Paur – October 28, 1978 • Paul Hume – October 20, 1979 • Robert Merrill – February 16, 1981 • Bruce Montgomery – February 21, 1981 • Vincent Persichetti – May 19, 1984 • Sheldon Harnick – May 16, 1992 ==Honorary members==

Over the years, certain individuals have shown particular devotion to and support of the Glee Club well beyond the norm. When such exceptional fealty is repeatedly demonstrated, the Club occasionally recognizes such support with honorary membership. • 1968 – E. Brooks Lilly • 1968 – Charles H. Cox III • 1969 – Santiago Friele • 1976 – Edward F. Lane • 1978 – Stepen Goff • 1983 – Michael T. Huber • 1987 – William Kelley • 1987 – Steven Aurand • 1990 – Nicholas Constan • 1990 – E. Craig Sweeten • 1990 – Claude White • 1991 – Ray Evans • 1991 – Jay Livingston • 1995 – Rev. Stanley Johnson • 1995 – Timothy J. Alston • 2004 – Paul Liou • 2012 – Elizabeth Thomas and Nick Thomas • 2023 – The Rev. Charles (Chaz) Lattimore Howard, Laurie McCall ==The Penn Pipers==

The Penn Pipers, a subset of the Glee Club, formed in 1950, making it the oldest existing a cappella group at the University of Pennsylvania. Its founding student leaders created arrangements emulating the close, contemporary harmonies of a popular, jazz-oriented quartet called The Hi-Los. The Pipers' most popular tune of the time—a lush setting of Brahm's Lullaby arranged by member Bill Tost—became its standard closing number for many years. The group has always been a subset of the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club and serves as an opportunity for some of the Glee Club's singers to perform music of a lighter and more popular style. The group performs barbershop music and doo-wop. Its current repertoire encompasses popular music from the 1890s through to the present day. == The Penn Glee Club Band ==

The Penn Glee Club Band is the Glee Club's pit band. As its own ensemble, the band performs on its own as well. The band was formed in 2012 as an integral part of the larger Club's annual fall and spring shows. In addition to performing in the fall and spring shows, the Penn Glee Club Band also performs its own gigs, both on campus and around the city. ==References==