a friends and family perspective

0

Mason Gross School of the ArtsMason Gross School of the Arts

DirectorDr. Patrick Gardner

[email protected]

AdvisorDr. Peter R. Gillett

[email protected]

2015–2016Senior Officers

President

Ifeanyi Ezeanya

[email protected]

Treasurer

Justin Luckenbaugh

[email protected]

Vice-President for Alumni Relations

and Development

Edwin Trent

[email protected]

Vice-President for Special

Organizational Affairs

Joe Ciampi

[email protected]

Business Manager

Pratik Shah

[email protected]

Glee GabThe

The Rutgers University Glee Club is a performance ensemble of the Mason Gross School of the Arts


It was mid-2002 and Dr. Gardnertold me that Concept Tours worked with several choirs who toured with multiple busloads of family, alumni, and friends who would follow along enjoying a tour of their own and applaudingenthusiastically at each of the con-certs. I resolved then and there that Rutgers University deserved nothing less and so I began plans for families and friends to follow the Glee Club to Germany and France in May 2003. Dr. Gardner was supportive from the start. What a time it was: a busload of alumni, parents, and friends heard the RUGC sing in Cologne and Strasbourg at multi-ple fine venues. The performances in Chartres and Notre Dame Ca-thedral in Paris were particularly memorable. I will never forget the rolling applause of what seemed like thousands of people in the venue as the men of the RUGC processed down the center aisle. The presiding priest announced the identity of the guest choir that evening, “Root-jers Univer-sité from New Jersey, U.S.A.” In between concerts, we visited Ver-sailles and the Council of Europe meeting rooms in Strasbourg. We enjoyed a cruise on the Rhine Riv-er and, of course, imbibed some very fine beer and wine in every city. The reviews of the trip were so

positive that we were emboldened to announce that a new tradition had been born. May 2007 saw a larger group of family, alumni, and friends enjoy-ing outstanding RUGC concerts in Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, Nijme-gen, and Utrecht. Touring Berlin and Amsterdam, and hearing our

men’s voices resonate throughout the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, were unforgettable experiences. The Tour of Italy in 2011 saw the largest contingent on our tour. Perhaps the word had spread that the Rutgers University Glee Club’s Family and Friends Tour was a memorable experience, especially with such a promising itinerary:

Milan, Lucca, Arezzo, Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Montecatini, Rome, and Salerno. Memories of the 2015 Family and Friends Tour of the UK and the Netherlands are now fresh in my mind. We heard extraordinary concerts in Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, and the Royal Naval Col-lege Chapel at Greenwich, and enjoyed hosted concerts in Beek, Nijmegen, and Utrecht. What connects these four, still growing companion tours is the high quality of the vocal perfor-mances by the dedicated and focused RUGC members, Dr. Pat-rick Gardner’s passion for the music, Mr. Bob Mortensen’s love for his Alma Mater and Dr. Peter Gillett’s careful attention to the de-tails. It is an honor to be in such hard working company. A highlight of every tour for me is the shared meal times, when ensemble members of-ten feel compelled to break into song during the meal. I recall a crowded meeting in a restaurant alongside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2003 and an even more vibrant impromptu performance at Auerbachs Keller in Leipzig in 2007, the 15th centu-ry eating and drinking establish-ment featured in Goethe’s Faust. I recall a beautiful multiple-course meal prepared by the Coro Monte Peralba ensemble in San Dona Di Piave, a province near Venice, after a joint concert in 2011. And then again most recently, in the downstairs room at the Vander-bilt Hotel in London. The food,

The Official Newsletter of the Rutgers University Glee Club

A Friends and Family PerspectivePages 1–2

A First Rate TAPage 2

The First Co-Ed Mike’s Hunt Page 3

Glee Club 2015 European TourPages 4–9

Glee Club Heads North in November Pages 10–11

Upcoming Events 1

Inside This Issue

Volume 34, Issue 1, Fall 2015

Captain Joseph Ryan, Rutgers ’41

A FRIENDS AND FAMILY PERSPECTIVEBy: DR. MARIE T. LOGUE, HONORARY MEMBER

GleeGab_sept2015_v8.indd 1 8/25/15 2:07 PM

Glee Club TA Colin Britt

2015–2016Junior

Officers

Executive Secretary

Joseph Dodrv SAS ’18

Technology CoordinatorDanny Ayoub

SAS ’16

Public Relations Manager

Ben Mather SAS ’16

Tour ManagerRyan Elie MGSA ’17

Music Manager

Alex Minter MGSA ’17

Uniform Manager

Stephan Dodrv MGSA ’19

HistorianLeo Weismantel

MGSA ’19

Ever ChangingYet Eternally

the Same

wine, music, and fellowship connect-ed these events throughout the years. This most recent tour was unlike any other because it introduced all of us to Captain Joseph A. Ryan, RC ’41, an alumnus of the Glee Club. Joseph Ryan was a soldier in the 744th Tank Battalion that helped liberate the South East region of the Netherlands in the fall of 1944. Ryan suffered in-juries during a surveillance mission and passed in March 1945 at age 25. He is buried along with 8,300 other American soldiers at the Netherlands

American Cemetery at Margraten. The Dutch family that has adopted Joseph Ryan’s grave saw the announcement of our concert in Beek and then invited all 100 of us for coffee and a tour of their chateau. The people of Holland have never forgotten the sacrifices so many American soldiers made for their freedom during WWII. Mem-bers of the audience told us of their memories of the American soldiers who lived among them decades ago. There were people who remembered Joseph Ryan’s singing and piano-play-ing in private residences in town during times of calm. The RUGC’s per-formance of The Star Spangled Banner, the Rutgers Prayer, and Loyal Sons at Captain Ryan’s grave touched us all very deeply. Our visit and musical tribute was filmed and will be featured in a forthcoming PBS documentary about the life of Captain Joseph Ryan. I have been forever changed by these experiences. I know that the families, friends, and alumni I have traveled with feel the same. This is no ordinary vacation. I hope someone who loves the RUGC as much as I do will step up to organize a companion tour in 2019. This is a proud tradition worth continuing. Just ask anyone who has ever toured.

There is something simultaneously calming and frustrating about Mike’s Hunt. Imagine driving around New Brunswick at 3 a.m., staring intermit-tently for over two exhausting hours at a piece of paper that simply says, “NECK MET WRECK – Where shall I go?” In that particular moment, nothing in the world matters more than this clue; essays, exams, grades, food, sleep, even singing are all put on hold until these few words can be deciphered. You and your teammates have had some ideas but every option thus far has led to a lonely, dead end. Finally, a wave of relief hits you at the sudden realization of the significance of the words in all CAPS. You unscramble these words and finally discover that the next clue is waiting for you at the WM Keck Cen-ter for Collaborative Neuroscience on Busch Campus. That moment of pay-off, when hours of careful thought suddenly lead to tangible results, might be why Mike’s Hunt has been such a time-honored Senior Week tradition. Mike’s Hunt was created to help occupy time during the Senior cele-bration days. This event previously lasted over a full week, with many singing events to attend and a lot of downtime in between. Over the years, there have been many changes to the Senior Days, most notably shortening the on-campus stay and condensing the same number of performanc-es into fewer days. Despite this, the Glee Club has kept Mike’s Hunt the focus of Senior Week extra-curricular activities. A few years ago, a decision was made to include female singers from various other Rutgers choirs in the University-wide Commencement Cere-mony; thus, women are now sharing Senior Week housing, meals, and Glee Club activities, including Mike’s Hunt. The schedule that the female singers work to is currently far less busy than the Glee Club’s, and in order to keep them involved, we began to include the women into many of Glee Club’s Se-nior Week activities, such as the annual BBQ at Dr. Gardner’s house, the group Softball game, and the card game/way of life, Mao. It seemed only fair to be as inclusive as possible during Senior Week, and this led to a unanimous de-cision from the members of the Glee Club to include everyone who was staying during Senior Week in the long standing tradition of Mike’s Hunt. Not knowing what reaction to expect, the Hunt Team visited the different choirs and spoke about the nearly 16-hour

Rutgers University Glee Club The Glee Gab2


Former Vice President Marie Logue and Kason Jackson ’15

A FIRST RATE TABy: CHRIS WOLF

As a Wednesday rehearsal winds on, Dr. Gardner steps off the podium, leaving for a Rutgers faculty meeting. Immediately, a man from the tenor sec-tion stands up and takes charge for the hours remaining. With a rarely found passion and a trained musical elegance, he conducts the 80-man choir with a skilled ear, meticulously molding the Glee Club’s sound into a memorable and inspiring musical experience. When he is not on the podium, his mastery of vocal technique is a great addition to the group. The work of a teaching as-sistant in the Rutgers University Glee Club is, like the club itself, ever changing. Colin Britt is happy to guide and learn with his brothers in song when creating masterwork performances, all while pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting. When Dr. Gardner is auditioning for the next teaching assistants to work with him for the year, he looks for skilled musicians who are committed to steering Rutgers choirs in a progressive and productive direction. When it comes to the Glee Club, a special, patient soul is required to instruct a group of often rowdy but talented men. Colin is an exemplary model of the ideal Glee Club teaching assistant, marrying professionalism, musicality, and a fun-loving humor. Colin Britt is a man of many achievements and his experience with music is highly valued by the group. Originally from Maine, Colin has dedicated his life and study to vocal performance, music composition, and choral direction. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from The Hartt School, the performing arts conservatory at the University of Hartford, and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting degree from Yale School of Music/Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Since graduating, Colin has conducted and directed a number of choirs, including the Hartford Chorale Chamber Singers. He has served as the musical director for the Summer Place Players and Playhouse on Park. His musicality has brought him into the limelight, when he performed on America’s Got Talent with his musical group 3Penny Chorus and Orchestra in spring of 2013. His composi-tions have been performed by groups across the United States and abroad includ-ing, China, Austria, Hungary, Georgia, Armenia, and the Czech Republic. Last year Colin sang with both the Kirkpatrick Choir and the Glee Club.That year, Britt conducted There Is No Rose and arranged a Welsh piece Dacw ’Nghariad. Dr. Gardner praises: “The guys in club have a great time when he is conducting, but they also work incredibly hard for Colin when I turn the group over to him. They respect him as a teacher and a conductor.” Working directly with Colin throughout the year, fellow teaching assistant and brother in song John Wilson agrees with Dr. Gardner’s sentiment, telling us: “Colin is a dynamic conductor and a top-notch musician. I feel very fortunate to be his colleague and friend.” Colin’s bright personality and respect for Glee Club traditions are what makes his work so valuable. We appreciate and thank Colin for his energy thus far while working for our ensemble and as he continues to lead us forward to the fray!

THE FIRST CO-ED MIKE’S HUNTBy: JOE CIAMPI




the Same

There is something simultaneously calming and frustrating about Mike’s Hunt. Imagine driving around New Brunswick at 3 a.m., staring intermit-tently for over two exhausting hours at a piece of paper that simply says, “NECK MET WRECK – Where shall I go?” In that particular moment, nothing in the world matters more than this clue; essays, exams, grades, food, sleep, even singing are all put on hold until these few words can be deciphered. You and your teammates have had some ideas but every option thus far has led to a lonely, dead end. Finally, a wave of relief hits you at the sudden realization of the significance of the words in all CAPS. You unscramble these words and finally discover that the next clue is waiting for you at the WM Keck Cen-ter for Collaborative Neuroscience on Busch Campus. That moment of pay-off, when hours of careful thought suddenly lead to tangible results, might be why Mike’s Hunt has been such a time-honored Senior Week tradition. Mike’s Hunt was created to help occupy time during the Senior cele-bration days. This event previously lasted over a full week, with many singing events to attend and a lot of downtime in between. Over the years, there have been many changes to the Senior Days, most notably shortening the on-campus stay and condensing the same number of performanc-es into fewer days. Despite this, the Glee Club has kept Mike’s Hunt the focus of Senior Week extra-curricular activities. A few years ago, a decision was made to include female singers from various other Rutgers choirs in the University-wide Commencement Cere-mony; thus, women are now sharing Senior Week housing, meals, and Glee Club activities, including Mike’s Hunt. The schedule that the female singers work to is currently far less busy than the Glee Club’s, and in order to keep them involved, we began to include the women into many of Glee Club’s Se-nior Week activities, such as the annual BBQ at Dr. Gardner’s house, the group Softball game, and the card game/way of life, Mao. It seemed only fair to be as inclusive as possible during Senior Week, and this led to a unanimous de-cision from the members of the Glee Club to include everyone who was staying during Senior Week in the long standing tradition of Mike’s Hunt. Not knowing what reaction to expect, the Hunt Team visited the different choirs and spoke about the nearly 16-hour

scavenger hunt to the members. Open-ing up the hunt to all our singers led to the largest number of hunt participants in recent history. Nearly 20 mixed gen-der teams of four participated in the event this year, which had a storyline crafted by Co-Huntmasters Will Kra-kower and Chris Glass in the style of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. The teams were whisked unknow-ingly into a barren McKinney Hall, completely devoid of any furniture except for two large INGSOC banners and a single speaker announcing the steps they must take to conform to Big Brother’s new regime. Over the course of nearly 16 hours, the teams worked both cooperatively and competitively to form a resistance against Big Brother and free Oceania from Big Brother’s control. In addition to the traditional clue rounds, the teams participated in activities ranging from a brainwash-ing quiz session on the book 1984, to “physical jerks”, a Simon Says–style military fitness routine for the fittest member of each team. It also fea-

tured guest appearances by both Glee Club teaching assistants Colin Britt (as Big Brother) and John Wilson (a leader of the resistance).The men and women fought tirelessly against Big Brother, and saved the world from the oppressive system. The guiding force behind the inclu-sion of women into Mike’s Hunt was Huntmaster Chris Glass. When asked why he chose to spear-head the inclu-sion of women into Mike’s Hunt, Chris responded, “I wanted to keep the spir-it of Mike’s Hunt alive as a way to give everyone something fun to do during the Senior Days. After two years of hav-ing the women from Kirkpatrick Choir,

University Choir, and Voorhees choir staying in senior week housing watch-ing us have fun playing Mike’s Hunt, it felt silly to exclude them from the activities.” Chris went on to include lo-gistics of the actual hunt itself into his reasoning: “It also gave us the oppor-tunity to nearly double the number of teams playing. It made it much easier for some members of Glee Club, who had very close friends in other choirs, to create teams and have fun.” Of course, what would the first mixed-gendered Mike’s Hunt be without its first female winner? The team Little Sister, consisting of Justin Luckenbaugh, Alex Minter, Christian Munoz, and Rachel Horner, bravely defeated not only every other partic-ipating team, but also the oppression of Big Brother, to be crowned victors of the 2015 Mike’s Hunt. Rachel, a member of the Kirkpatrick Choir, was excited to be a part of Mike’s Hunt, saying “I’ve never experienced any-thing like this! I can’t imagine any place other than Rutgers having such an extensive and detailed event such as this. Great job by the Hunt Team putting this on each year, and I can’t wait to play again next year!”

I myself, along with my Co-Hunt-master Tom Young, am taking the reins of Mike’s Hunt into our hands next year, and I could not be more ex-cited about the possibilities that hav-ing a mixed-gender Hunt brings. The added number and variety of players creates a real organizational challenge for us. Many events that might work for a smaller number of teams may not be appropriate for the larger num-ber of people, and the events need to be suitable for every player, so we will plan and coordinate appropriate-ly to accommodate everyone. We are honored to continue the tradition of Mike’s Hunt.

Rutgers University Glee Club The Glee Gab The Glee Gab Rutgers University Glee Club 3

Have aquestion?

Feel free to contact

Edwin Trent edwint0210 @gmail.com

A FIRST RATE TABy: CHRIS WOLF

As a Wednesday rehearsal winds on, Dr. Gardner steps off the podium, leaving for a Rutgers faculty meeting. Immediately, a man from the tenor sec-tion stands up and takes charge for the hours remaining. With a rarely found passion and a trained musical elegance, he conducts the 80-man choir with a skilled ear, meticulously molding the Glee Club’s sound into a memorable and inspiring musical experience. When he is not on the podium, his mastery of vocal technique is a great addition to the group. The work of a teaching as-sistant in the Rutgers University Glee Club is, like the club itself, ever changing. Colin Britt is happy to guide and learn with his brothers in song when creating masterwork performances, all while pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting. When Dr. Gardner is auditioning for the next teaching assistants to work with him for the year, he looks for skilled musicians who are committed to steering Rutgers choirs in a progressive and productive direction. When it comes to the Glee Club, a special, patient soul is required to instruct a group of often rowdy but talented men. Colin is an exemplary model of the ideal Glee Club teaching assistant, marrying professionalism, musicality, and a fun-loving humor. Colin Britt is a man of many achievements and his experience with music is highly valued by the group. Originally from Maine, Colin has dedicated his life and study to vocal performance, music composition, and choral direction. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from The Hartt School, the performing arts conservatory at the University of Hartford, and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting degree from Yale School of Music/Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Since graduating, Colin has conducted and directed a number of choirs, including the Hartford Chorale Chamber Singers. He has served as the musical director for the Summer Place Players and Playhouse on Park. His musicality has brought him into the limelight, when he performed on America’s Got Talent with his musical group 3Penny Chorus and Orchestra in spring of 2013. His composi-tions have been performed by groups across the United States and abroad includ-ing, China, Austria, Hungary, Georgia, Armenia, and the Czech Republic. Last year Colin sang with both the Kirkpatrick Choir and the Glee Club.That year, Britt conducted There Is No Rose and arranged a Welsh piece Dacw ’Nghariad. Dr. Gardner praises: “The guys in club have a great time when he is conducting, but they also work incredibly hard for Colin when I turn the group over to him. They respect him as a teacher and a conductor.” Working directly with Colin throughout the year, fellow teaching assistant and brother in song John Wilson agrees with Dr. Gardner’s sentiment, telling us: “Colin is a dynamic conductor and a top-notch musician. I feel very fortunate to be his colleague and friend.” Colin’s bright personality and respect for Glee Club traditions are what makes his work so valuable. We appreciate and thank Colin for his energy thus far while working for our ensemble and as he continues to lead us forward to the fray!

THE FIRST CO-ED MIKE’S HUNTBy: JOE CIAMPI

2015 Mike’s Hunt Group Photo


“Chamber of Secrets” in Gloucester Cathedral, England



the Same


GLEE CLUB 2015 EUROPEAN TOURBy: EDWIN TRENT

This summer marked yet another international tour. The Rutgers University Glee Club traveled to England, Wales, and the Netherlands. With nine concerts scheduled over fifteen days, and a total travel distance of 7,950 miles (12,795 Km), there were a lot of memories made.

SWINDONAfter departing on May 19th from Newark International Airport, the Rutgers University Glee Club touched down at London Heathrow Airport and quickly headed west via bus to-wards Windsor. Some of us spent the afternoon combing the streets, scrounging for a place to transfer our currency, while others wandered through the 11th century Windsor Cas-tle, getting lost in its high posh ceil-ings adorned with archaic treasures. RUGC Alumnus Matt Weismantel’s

son Leo gave an improvised discus-sion of every weapon in the war room. The rest of the afternoon was spent calmly on a cruise trip down the River Thames, sipping tea (and yes a few of us grabbed a great English beer). Jet-lag inspired naptime was not an option, so we made our way to Brown’s Restaurant, where we were introduced to English cuisine at its heartiest. Heading further west to Swindon after dinner, the group was then able to rest and recuperate for a few days before our first concert.

BATHThe following day’s excursion to Bath showcased old architecture housing modern shops, creating a beautiful nuanced effect. Our tour of Bath be-gan comically, with an alarming inter-action with an older British woman with a heightened Received Pronunci-ation accent rebuking the Glee Club for loitering in a parking lot whilst receiving instruction for the day. Our tour guides then quickly led us to features such as the Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey, Vic-

Colin Britt, Dr. Patrick Gardner and John Wilson in King Henry VIII’s changing room

The Old Royal Naval Academy in Greenwich, England


5



the Same

The Glee Gab Rutgers University Glee Club

toria Royal Park, and Somerset Place, before we were set free to explore on our own. First edition book shops, a vintage guitar store, and the Jane Aus-ten Museum Center were some high-lights of extracurricular Bath. Dinner was enjoyed at Hall & Woodhouse, a quirky modern building laden with deer heads draped in bow ties and top hats. After a round of meat and pota-toes and an incredible raspberry tart, we did what we do best: we sang to the staff of the restaurant, an appropriate close to our stay in Bath.

GLOUCESTER CATHEDRALThis Cathedral is an important land-mark for many reasons, but to most of the club, it was the site featured in the movie version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Our advi-sor tells us it was a former Gloucester Cathedral organist who composed the drinking-song tune now used for The Star-Spangled Banner! It was soon performance time; our changing room was previously used by King Henry VIII! The towering gothic cathedral offered unrivaled acoustics, allowing

the crisp harmonies of Franz Biebl’s Ave Maria to linger within the arches of the ancient sanctuary. The perfor-mance was an incredible start to our tour. Following a brief photo with the Sheriff of Gloucester (the equiv-alent of a US town’s mayor) and the local Police Force Men’s Ensemble, we departed the concert space to the sound of a police march.

WALESSt. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Bridgend, Wales was our next stop.

“Chamber of Secrets” in Gloucester Cathedral, England

Rutgers University Glee Club The Glee Gab

GLEE CLUB 2015 EUROPEAN TOURBy: EDWIN TRENT

This summer marked yet another international tour. The Rutgers University Glee Club traveled to England, Wales, and the Netherlands. With nine concerts scheduled over fifteen days, and a total travel distance of 7,950 miles (12,795 Km), there were a lot of memories made.


Viljo Tormis’s Pikse Litaania in Gloucester Cathedral, England



the Same

There, we were greeted by the large Bridgend Male Voice Choir before rap-idly getting into stage formation to begin rehearsal. Later, we watched and listened to the seasoned male choir perform. The venue was a small, mod-ern church, in sharp contrast with our previous performance. At the start of the second half, the Bridgend men presented us with an audio recording of Paul Robeson. It was a serendipi-tous moment for us, highlighting the international reach of Rutgers mu-

sic past and present. The local Rugby Club housed our post-concert shindig, where RUGC sang select spirit songs into the night as a response to Brid-gend’s rambunctious drinking tunes.

OXFORDOn arrival, our “band of brothers” was subdivided into three groups. One particularly lucky bunch was fortu-nate to have our very own Dr. Peter Gillett, formerly an Oxford man him-self, as a guest tour guide. Exploring

“The Broad,” the Sheldonian Theatre appeared surrounded by the “Histo-ry of the Beard” statues. We walked past the Clarendon Building and the Bodleian Library, venturing onto “The High” where the University Church and the Tower of the Five Columns appeared. We roamed Merton College, founded in 1264, and painstakingly slipped through a “one person fence,” then headed to St. Hilda’s College for dinner. Our concert was held at the Church of St. John the Evangelist,


Members of the RUGC and Bob Mortenson at the Tower Bridge in London, England


RUGC “relaxing” in Maastricht, Netherlands

Lee Mamolen conducting in Saint John’s Church, Maastricht, Netherlands



the Same

where we joined the Wessex Male Voice Choir. This concert was part of a char-ity event benefitting research funding for Parkinson’s UK. We concluded the night with yet another music-filled af-terglow at the Carswell Golf Club.

HENLEY-ON-THAMESChequers pub was our lunch spot the next day; we were served a whole roasted pig—what a sight! Now fu-eled up, we headed to Henley-on-Thames to start our rehearsal in St.

Mary’s Church. While exploring the town, over 3,000 miles away from home, we found a Rutgers 200th anni-versary beer stein in an antique shop! Evening time meant performance time, and this night we sang to benefit the Footsteps program, which assists developmentally disabled children.

LONDONWe stopped for pictures in front of Westminster Abbey, the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the

Palace of Westminster (Big Ben), and later the Tower Bridge Bascule. A few brothers scattered after lunch to seek the Globe Theater, and for just three pounds we explored the famous Shakespearean performance space. The Old Royal Naval Academy in Greenwich on the outskirts of London is where we watched in awe while our hosts, Trinity Laban Musical Theatre Choir, rehearsed in a beautiful gallery space. Another concert was held that lunch-time, but this one was different.



Town before hearing Elizabeth Ryan speak further about her brother.

NIJMEGENSituated in Northeastern Nether-lands, this city is nearly 2,000 years old. We visited the Belvedere watch-tower overlooking the Waal River, the Chapel of St. Nicholas, and our next performance space, St. Ste-phen’s Church, a towering 16th cen-tury church with golden chandeliers inside. For the concert, it was com-pletely packed with an enthusiastic audience, but just before the start we crowd-mobbed Vice President Marie Logue to sing “Happy Birthday” to one of our greatest supporters and the leader of our 26-strong “com-panion tour” of family and friends. We were joined in the concert by Nijmegen student choir Alphons Diepenbrock and the Royal Dutch Nijmegen Men’s Choir. A riotous “afterglow” was held in the beautiful medieval style town hall.

UTRECHTIn Utrecht’s University Hall in the Academiegebouw, the historic building

Captain Joseph Ryan’s gravesite at Margraten Cemetery, Netherlands

8


the Same

The audience was so large that the ven-ue’s staff begrudgingly allowed stand-ing room; the energy and response we received was remarkable. We ended our visit with an ensemble photo fea-turing the scenic King & Queen Mary Court as our background. Dinner that night was our festive farewell to the UK where we took leave of our tour guides, “The Honorable” Ian McGre-gor and “The Resonant” Valeria Rispo. We sang to conclude dinner while sit-ting with our co-touring Family and Friends group.

MAASTRICHTAfter a few commuting obstacles (a 10 hour flight delay spent at Heath-row airport surviving on the three C’s—chips, chocolate, and coffee), we arrived eventually at Saint John’s Church and the Basilica of Saint Ser-vatius. While we all gathered in the square, our alumnus-turned-accompa-nist Paul Conrad entertained a passing grandfather and young granddaughter with his juggling skills. Our scheduled performance was at Saint John’s Church. The interior is dressed with gothic arches on the

ceilings and faded stone slabs on the floor. With some clever modern mi-crophone magic, the very dry sound produced in the church can be ampli-fied to provide an ethereal cathedral echo. During our rehearsal, several numbers were run by one of our ris-ing undergraduate in music education members, Lee Mamolen, who took the podium and led the choir with confidence. That night we captured a great performance of Veljo Tormis’s Pikse Litaania on video, with soloists Nick Petroski and Andrew Moore. After the performance we were greet-ed by Rutgers University Glee Club Alumnus Stefan Langerman ’98, who now lives in Belgium. He joined us as we attended our post-concert jambo-ree with the University of Maastricht’s choir, and told us of his years with the club which included the Balkan States tour in 1996.

VALKENBURGWith tour polo shirts and slacks as the dress code, we headed to Chateau St. Gerlach. There, we learnt of Captain Joseph Ryan, RC ’41 and meet hotelier Camille Oostwegel, who has adopted

Ryan’s grave site at Margraten. The mood was somber as we meet Ryan’s niece Elizabeth before being told of the staggering 8,301 soldiers buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, whose average age was 22. We passed an engraving: “Each for his own memorial earned praise that will never die and with it the grand-est of all sepulchers not that in which his mortal bones are laid but a home in the minds of men.” Trudging to the field became challenging as we struggled to hold back emotion. We reached the gravesite, stood in for-mation, and proceeded to sing The Star-Spangled Banner, Loyal Sons and our Alma Mater. We walked in hollow silence from the grave, holding fast to our heightened sense of our own mor-tality and our appreciation for those who came before us. Later that day, our concert proceed-ed through a number of performers including the Beek male choir Beeker Liedertafel, a trombone quartet, and an elementary school string performance. At the conclusion of the concert, the Rutgers University Glee Club and the Beeker Liedertafel jointly sing Swansea

Rutgers University Glee Club The Glee Gab



Town before hearing Elizabeth Ryan speak further about her brother.

NIJMEGENSituated in Northeastern Nether-lands, this city is nearly 2,000 years old. We visited the Belvedere watch-tower overlooking the Waal River, the Chapel of St. Nicholas, and our next performance space, St. Ste-phen’s Church, a towering 16th cen-tury church with golden chandeliers inside. For the concert, it was com-pletely packed with an enthusiastic audience, but just before the start we crowd-mobbed Vice President Marie Logue to sing “Happy Birthday” to one of our greatest supporters and the leader of our 26-strong “com-panion tour” of family and friends. We were joined in the concert by Nijmegen student choir Alphons Diepenbrock and the Royal Dutch Nijmegen Men’s Choir. A riotous “afterglow” was held in the beautiful medieval style town hall.

UTRECHTIn Utrecht’s University Hall in the Academiegebouw, the historic building

where major ceremonies and events have taken place for hundreds of years, we saw the familiar insignia of a golden sun with radiating beams and the motto: “Sol Iustitiae Illustra Nos” (Sun of Justice, shine upon us). This, of course, was the precursor of Rutgers’ own logo and motto. As 2016 is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Queen’s College charter, our performance at Utrecht felt monumental. We had a profes-sional film crew accompany us at this location for interviews, audio, and video recording to capture this performance. With the chants of the Alma Mater still fresh in the hall, Joanna Regulska (Rutgers Profes-sor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Vice President of Internation-al and Global Affairs), Barbara Lee (former Dean of Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations and incoming Senior Vice Presi-dent for Academic Affairs) joined Utrecht University’s President, Mar-jan J. Oudeman, and Dr. Gardner downstage for a few words. Dr. Gard-ner could see a surreptitious wiping of tears in the group as we realized

that this was the last concert for our seniors and our last concert together as the 2014–2015 Rutgers University Glee Club.

AMSTERDAMDinner after the concert in Utrecht was a raucous festival, filled with abrupt breaking into song, booming laughter, and much wine. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam occupied us early the next day, before we commenced the Senior Banquet, held at Het Tolhuis Restaurant on the bank of the Amstel River. As we heard the senior speeches of our comrades, we reflected on fond mem-ories, old and new, with our brothers in song. The group dispersed, some to pack and others to celebrate less formally. The next morning, we began our travels home or on to new adventures. Through adversity and celebra-tion, the Rutgers University Glee Club remains a stalwart in collegiate music. We follow a strong leader and work hard to adapt to changing environments, socially and academi-cally—because we are Ever Changing, Yet Eternally the Same.

The Auditorium in Utrecht University, Netherlands

9


the Same

Rutgers University Glee Club The Glee Gab The Glee Gab Rutgers University Glee Club





the Same


There is something special about revisiting old friends, especially from college. In the case of Dr. Pat-rick Gardner, he’ll be visiting the “ole family” when the Rutgers Uni-versity Glee Club heads to the Uni-versity of Michigan this November. On a three day trip, the Glee Club will be headed to both Pittsburg and Michigan for joint concerts with their powerhouse Glee Clubs. On November 6, the RUGC and the Uni-versity of Pittsburg Men’s Glee Club will give a concert at Shadyside Pres-byterian Church in Pittsburg, PA. The Pitt Men’s Glee Club was found-ed in 1890 and, like the RUGC, is the oldest student run organization on its campus. The group, currently led by director Richard Teaster, tours annually both domestically and in-ternationally, having performed in venues in Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, and Austria. Tenor section leader at Shadyside (and Rutgers University Glee Club Alumnus) Dr. Mark A. Boyle has co-ordinated the event. “Past concerts have included The Cornell University Glee Club, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, and Chanticleer. The people of Shadyside are excited,” Dr. Boyle speaks passionately. “Knowing you are headed to perform with Mich-

igan, I thought it might be fun to have the Pitt Men’s Glee Club and director Richard Teaster along for the ride. Both Prof. Teaster and Dr.

Gardner agreed it would be fun to join together in song! RUGC last per-formed with Pitt in 2010 on the way to IMC at Miami of Ohio.” Dr. Boyle was in the Rutgers Uni-versity Glee Club from 2007–2010, serving as a graduate teaching assis-tant. He remarks, “My time singing with and serving as an assistant di-rector for the club is central to my identity as a conductor. I learned much from Dr. Gardner and the men of the RUGC. Having taken part in two tours has extended my associa-tion with the club and I can truly say that the group lives its mantra—ever changing, yet eternally the same.” On Saturday, November 7, the Rutgers University Glee Club will be headed to Michigan to perform the National Anthem with the Michi-gan Men’s Glee Club, outside the

Stadium. In what is looking to be a spectacular concert, the Rutgers Uni-versity Glee Club and University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, two of the oldest Glee Clubs in the Unit-ed States, will join forces to sing in the massive Hill Center Auditorium in Ann Arbor. World-renowned di-rector Dr. Eugene Rogers has led the 194-year old men’s choir through some amazing concerts and venues. Dr. Gardner, current director of the Rutgers University Glee Club and for-mer director of Michigan University Glee Club, speaks highly of the many years that Michigan University Glee Club has performed in Hill Center and how it famously has sold out its enormous 3,500 seat auditorium. “It will be a real pleasure to vis-it Ann Arbor the weekend of the Wolverine/Scarlet Knight football game,” boasts Dr. Gardner. “I con-ducted the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club in the 1980s and I know the group sings with great spirit and with a commitment to the same ideals that the Rutgers Univer-sity Glee Club holds dear. Like us they have a long history and like us they sing concert music at the highest level while maintaining a connection to the history of college song. I heard the Michigan club sing

Hill Center Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan

GLEE CLUB HEADS NORTH IN NOVEMBERBy: EDWIN TRENT

“I know this will be a concert to remember—well worth making the trip to Ann Arbor even if you can’t get a ticket to the game!”





the Same

Event Date Time Location

HOMECOMING: Rutgers vs. Kansas

Join us for an early morning tailgate, Rutgers songs and the National Anthem

Saturday, September 26, 2015 Contact Edwin Trent at

[email protected] for timing and details.

Alumni must purchase football tickets this year – contact

Edwin for details!

9 a.m. Tailgate

12 Noon Kickoff

Highpoint Stadium

Music in a Great Space

RUGC and University of Pittsburg Men’s Glee Club Concert

Friday, November 6, 2015 8 p.m.

Shadyside Presbyterian

ChurchPittsburg, PA

RUGC concert with University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club

Saturday, November 7, 2015

8 p.m.For ticket information contact our VPALUM, Edwin Trent or

visit the website: http://tickets.music.umich.edu/

Hill Center Auditorium in Ann Arbor, MI

Christmas in Carol and Song

Mason Gross Box Office 848-932-7511

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Sunday, December 6, 2015

6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Kirkpatrick Chapel

Upcoming Events

at the last National Convention of the American Choral Directors As-sociation and they were a knock out! I know this will be a concert to remember—well worth making the

trip to Ann Arbor even if you can’t get a ticket to the game!” Many of Dr. Gardner’s former students at Michigan are elated to hear of his return and are organizing a reunion,

offering a truly unique and nostal-gic experience. It will be an unprec-edented concert that will reflect the high level performance both groups promise, so don’t miss out!

Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Featuring:Wedding Qawwali – A.R. Rahman

Dulcis Amor – Steven SametzTarantella – Elliot Carter

Das Berliner Requiem – Kurt WeillTravels – Lewis Spratlan

MLK – BonoRain, Rain, Beautiful Rain - Joseph Shabalala

Plus much more!! To order your copy today, detach the CD order form and mail to the address below, or order online at gleeclub.rutgers.edu

World-renowned piecesand a few crowd favorites!

The Rutgers University Glee ClubMarryott Music Building81 George StreetNew Brunswick, NJ 08901-1568

____ copies of Travels @ $15.00 each = ___________

and ____ copies of The Bells Must Ring! @ $15.00 each = ___________

and ____ copies of Let Thy Good Spirit @ $15.00 each = ___________

and ____ copies of the 1999 Eastern European Tour CD @ $15.00 each = ___________

and ____ copies of the 2003 European Tour CD @ $15.00 each = ___________

and ____copies of the 2007 Hear The Voice @ $15.00 each = ___________

Plus $2.50 each for postage + ___________

Amount Enclosed: ___________

Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery

Rutgers University Glee Club CD Order FormName:

Address:

City:

State:

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

___________ Zip: ______________

The Rutgers University Glee Club Presents:


a friends and family perspective

Documents