Glee Club to Reorganize, Creates All-Class Chorus

The Harvard Glee Club Organization is diversifying its singing groups to widen the focus of musical opportunities at Harvard, Elliot Forbes '40, Fanny Peabody Professor of Music and conductor of the Glee Club announced yesterday.

Under the new constitution, the Glee Club, which previously accepted all qualified singers, will be limited to 50 men. The Radcliffe Choral Society, the Glee Club's feminine counterpart, will be similarly limited.

College-wide Choruses

At the same time, two larger choruses open to singers from all classes, including graduate students, will supercede the Harvard Freshman Glee Club and the Radcliffe Freshman Chorus.

The aim of the reorganization is twofold. "It will divide the present rather numerous commitments of the Glee Club, performing both alone and with the Choral Society, between the various choruses," Forbes said. "The smaller group will also be more manageable for the presentation of difficult, little-known works, while the larger choruses will create the opportunity for singers who want traditional classics," he said.

Robert C. Lower '69, manager of the Glee Club, explained, "We hope the changes will allow us to better meet the demands of both the community and singers for a more various musical program."

The Glee Club and Choral Society will have different rehearsal times than the Harvard and Radcliffe choruses, so those who wish to can sing in both groups, Forbes said.

In addition, each of the groups will be having only two rather than three rehearsals each week.

"The purpose is to attract those who want to sing great music well by having each chorus do fewer concerts in less rehearsal time," Forbes said.

"Next year, the Glee Club will give its own concerts both in the fall and spring, and sing with the Choral Society in a December weekend tour, as well as collaborating with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in February," Forbes said. "The Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus is hoping to start its season with a Christmas concert with the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra," he added.

Tryouts for both choruses are being held in Holden Chapel this spring and during the first week of classes next fall.