Wheaton College Men's Glee Club
Encyclopedia
The Wheaton College Men's Glee Club is an all-male glee club (or choir), at Wheaton College
in Wheaton, Illinois
currently conducted by Dr. Mary Hopper.
Founded in 1907, the Men's Glee Club is now entering its 105th year and has maintained a long tradition of traditions under its three founding pillars: veritas, integritas, and fraternitas. The group is composed of around 60 men who hail from many different areas of study and many different parts of the world. They perform repertoire ranging from the Romantic Requiems to the seminal works of the great romanesque composer Charles Flammer such as Cider Song. Dietrich Buxtehude is said to be the Club's patron saint.
Graham. The activity and size of this organization was seriously limited throughout the
First World War. The Club was reorganized in 1921 under Professor George Karzenborn,
who directed the group until 1927. In 1925 the Men's Glee Club made its first broadcast
over WLS, "the Sears Roebuck station in Chicago." Later, the Glee Club was heard on the
same station in 1961, when it sang on the College's "Chapel on the Campus" summer
programs on Sundays.
Professor Leroy Hamps served as Club director from 1927 to 1931. During this period the
Glee Club members sang with the Women's Glee Club (now Women's Chorale) for the
first time (1928) and took their first out-of-state tour (1929). The practice of extended
tours began in 1931 when Dr. William "Uncle Bill" Nordin accompanied the first tour to
the East Coast from Boston to Philadelphia. Both Men's and Women's Clubs toured the
East again in 1933. The first West Coast tour was in 1937.
in Zurich, and
before Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
; the Men's Glee Club also performed
in Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries while the Iron Curtain was still in existence.
In 1979 and again in 1983, the group won first prize in the male chorus division at the International
Choral Festival in The Hague
, the Netherlands. On its European tour in 1983, the Club
won two first prizes at the International Choirfest in Limberg, West Germany. From 1984
until recently, the Glee Club sang the national anthem at the Chicago Bears
' football
games, and in February 1988, the Glee Club performed at the National Prayer Breakfast
in Washington, D.C.
sixth conductor of the Club. Under Dr. Sundberg's direction the group completed tours to
Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Minnesota, California,
Colorado, the West Coast, and the Southeastern States. In 1991, Dr. Sundberg's First
European tour with the Glee Club highlighted performances in Bach's church in Leipzig,
the Kaiser Wilheim Memorial Cathedral in Berlin, and in the Filedelfia Church in
Stockholm. The Glee Club collaborated with the Women's Chorale in several pops
concerts, most recently in the spring of 2001, as well as in performances of West Side
Story in 1992 and The Pirates of Penzance in 1993.
In 2001, Dr. Mary Hopper, longtime director of Women's Chorale, became the seventh
director of the Men's Glee Club. The Club went abroad in the summer of 2003 with a trip
to Eastern Europe, where it last appeared with the Women's Chorale in 1994. John Nelson
conducted the Glee Club and other campus choirs in several large works during this time,
including Handel’s Messiah, Britton’s War Requiem, the Berlioz Requiem and most recently in 2010 with the performance of the Brahm's Requiem. Also in October of 2010, the Club took a trip to the wilds of the "Great White North", performing in churches and schools in the Twin Cities area.
In 2007
the Club commemorated 100 years of existence by inviting all Old Men to campus for the
Spring Concert and several other events.
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
in Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
currently conducted by Dr. Mary Hopper.
Founded in 1907, the Men's Glee Club is now entering its 105th year and has maintained a long tradition of traditions under its three founding pillars: veritas, integritas, and fraternitas. The group is composed of around 60 men who hail from many different areas of study and many different parts of the world. They perform repertoire ranging from the Romantic Requiems to the seminal works of the great romanesque composer Charles Flammer such as Cider Song. Dietrich Buxtehude is said to be the Club's patron saint.
Early years
The first Men's Glee Club was organized in 1907 under the leadership of Miss VirginiaGraham. The activity and size of this organization was seriously limited throughout the
First World War. The Club was reorganized in 1921 under Professor George Karzenborn,
who directed the group until 1927. In 1925 the Men's Glee Club made its first broadcast
over WLS, "the Sears Roebuck station in Chicago." Later, the Glee Club was heard on the
same station in 1961, when it sang on the College's "Chapel on the Campus" summer
programs on Sundays.
Professor Leroy Hamps served as Club director from 1927 to 1931. During this period the
Glee Club members sang with the Women's Glee Club (now Women's Chorale) for the
first time (1928) and took their first out-of-state tour (1929). The practice of extended
tours began in 1931 when Dr. William "Uncle Bill" Nordin accompanied the first tour to
the East Coast from Boston to Philadelphia. Both Men's and Women's Clubs toured the
East again in 1933. The first West Coast tour was in 1937.
Halvorsen years
In 1958, Professor Clayton E. Halvorsen became director of the Glee Club. During his tenure, the group continued to tour the United States; it also began touring Europe in 1963. During those foreign tours the club has sung in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, GrossmunsterGrossmünster
The Grossmünster is a Romanesque-style church in Zurich, Switzerland. It is one of the three major churches in the city . The core of the present building near the banks of the Limmat River was constructed on the site of a Carolingian church, which was, according to legend, originally commissioned...
in Zurich, and
before Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana was the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1948 and 1980. She was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry...
; the Men's Glee Club also performed
in Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries while the Iron Curtain was still in existence.
In 1979 and again in 1983, the group won first prize in the male chorus division at the International
Choral Festival in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, the Netherlands. On its European tour in 1983, the Club
won two first prizes at the International Choirfest in Limberg, West Germany. From 1984
until recently, the Glee Club sang the national anthem at the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
' football
games, and in February 1988, the Glee Club performed at the National Prayer Breakfast
National Prayer Breakfast
The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., on the first Thursday of February each year. The founder of this event was Abraham Vereide...
in Washington, D.C.
Recent history
In 1988, Dr. Gerard B. Sundberg came from Minnesota's Bethel College to become thesixth conductor of the Club. Under Dr. Sundberg's direction the group completed tours to
Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Minnesota, California,
Colorado, the West Coast, and the Southeastern States. In 1991, Dr. Sundberg's First
European tour with the Glee Club highlighted performances in Bach's church in Leipzig,
the Kaiser Wilheim Memorial Cathedral in Berlin, and in the Filedelfia Church in
Stockholm. The Glee Club collaborated with the Women's Chorale in several pops
concerts, most recently in the spring of 2001, as well as in performances of West Side
Story in 1992 and The Pirates of Penzance in 1993.
In 2001, Dr. Mary Hopper, longtime director of Women's Chorale, became the seventh
director of the Men's Glee Club. The Club went abroad in the summer of 2003 with a trip
to Eastern Europe, where it last appeared with the Women's Chorale in 1994. John Nelson
conducted the Glee Club and other campus choirs in several large works during this time,
including Handel’s Messiah, Britton’s War Requiem, the Berlioz Requiem and most recently in 2010 with the performance of the Brahm's Requiem. Also in October of 2010, the Club took a trip to the wilds of the "Great White North", performing in churches and schools in the Twin Cities area.
In 2007
the Club commemorated 100 years of existence by inviting all Old Men to campus for the
Spring Concert and several other events.
Motto
The motto of the Men's Glee Club, "Veritas. Integritas. Fraternitas." means "Truth. Intergrity. Brotherhood." Veritas refers to the Club's foremost and undying commitment to the truth of the Gospel of the Christ Jesus. This leads to their commitment to Integritas, living a life of integrity worthy of the calling which they have received. And finally this leads to Fraternitas, the love that binds brothers together through their love in Jesus. Veritas leads to Intergritas which in turn leads to Fraternitas.Directors and terms
- Virginia Graham, 1907–1921
- George Karzenborn, 1921–1927
- LeRoy Hamps, 1927–1931
- Dr. William “Uncle Bill” Nordin, 1931–1958
- Clayton E. Halvorsen, 1958–1988
- Dr. Gerard Sundberg, 1988–2000
- Dr. Mary Hopper, 2000–present
Notable "Old Men"
- Hudson T. ArmerdingHudson ArmerdingHudson Taylor Armerding was President of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, from 1965-1982. He was also President of the National Association of Evangelicals from 1970-1972.-Biography:...
'41, President - Wheaton College, President - National Association of Evangelicals - Richard C. HalversonRichard C. HalversonThe Reverend Richard Christian Halverson, D.D., , was born in Pingree, North Dakota. He attended Valley City State Teacher College in Valley City, North Dakota, before earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1939, participating in the Wheaton College Men's...
'39, ChaplainChaplain of the United States SenateThe Chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for Senators, their staffs, and their families. The Chaplain is appointed by a majority vote of the members of the Senate...
- United States SenateUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, Chairman - World VisionWorld Vision InternationalWorld Vision International, founded in the USA in 1977, is an evangelical relief and development umbrella organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good...
U.S. - Martin O'DonnellMartin O'DonnellMartin "Marty" O'Donnell is an American composer known for his work on video game developer Bungie's series, such as Myth, Oni, and Halo...
'77, Composer - best known for his work on the HaloHaloHalo may refer to:* Halo , a glow or ring of light around a head or person in art-Game franchise and spin-offs:*Halo , a video game franchise by Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios...
soundtrack. - Dr. James R. Appleton, President - University of Redlands
- Jonathan Lewis '72, President/CEO - Partners International
- Dr. Eugene Frost '75, Head of School - Wheaton AcademyWheaton AcademyWheaton Academy is a private, non-denominational Christian high school, that is known for being an educational institution committed to the evangelical Christian faith...
- Jerry BlackstoneJerry BlackstoneJerry Blackstone is a Grammy Award winning American choral conductor. He is the Director of Choirs and Chair of the Conducting Department at the University of Michigan and the Music Director of the University Musical Society Choral Union....
- Grammy Award Winning Choral Conductor