Hi, Angela, and good for you!  But you need to be aware that the history of student-led choral groups has plenty of failures, and also that fashions and styles in music are constantly changing.

 

Specifically, the hey-day of men's choirs and men's glee clubs was a legacy of the many years when women were not easily admitted to college, and ALL ensembles were a combination of (a) all men, and (b) having a large social component, sometimes overshadowing the musical component.

 

In other words, have you done any ground work to determine whether there is an actual MARKET for a men's choir at your school?

 

Virginia Tech, despite being the state's land-grant university, was both all male and all military for years, until a young and progressive President came on the scene in the '60s and determined to change things.  There was a Men's Glee Club, but no women's ensembles or mixed ensembles.  That Glee Club remained in place as the university and the music program became co-ed, and lasted until the then-choral director cancelled the group because HE didn't think it was musically worthwhile and was a waste of his precious time.  Now, in just the last 3 years or so, we have a newly-formed Men's Chorus, which has attracted a number of men, but many of the most talented men are already committed to one of the several student-led a cappella groups and are not interested in a traditional Glee Club.

 

So what I'm saying is that you should go ahead and see what you can put together, but you need to have pretty firmly in mind exactly what kind of ensemble you want to create:  a traditional Glee Club (for which most of the repertoire is pretty dated); an a cappella do-wop group; or even a barbershop chorus (for which there's a ton of good music available through SPEBS, or whatever they're calling themselves these days.  But clearly you should go with what you're most familiar with and best perpared in.

 

All the best, and please let us know what success you have.

 

John

 

 

Angela:

Fortunately, I was in a Men's Glee club in College. While singing in the glee club I grew to realize how powerful a men's choral group would be with regards to my choral program.

I was able to recruite guys into Men's Glee when I could never get them into a mixed group. Working on voclal techniques with the guys alone was much more efficeint. Out of my 45 to 55 voices Men's Glee I was able to move about 20 to 30 into my other choirs.

Most Choir directors are a bit scarred that there will not be enough enrollment to start a group. The reverse is the case. You wil have guys come out of the woodwork.

Do it! You will have a blast.

Frank

Ciao