United States Military Academy Cadet Glee Club

The United States Military Academy Glee Club was founded in 1903. The choir is a glee club made up of cadet students from the United States Military Academy, known as "West Point."[1] Originally all male, the Glee Club, became a mixed-voice ensemble after the introduction of coeducation at the military academy. It has been described as "one of the most well-known collegiate singing groups in the world."[2]

The Glee Club, then 125-voices strong, performed at Carnegie Hall in 1952 with the West Point Band to mark the military academy's 150th anniversary.[3]

Astronaut Al Worden joined the Glee Club during his second year at the academy.[4]

Lieut. Col. Francis E. Resta directed the choir until his retirement in 1957.[5] Colonel William Schempf, the last holder of the academy title "Teacher of Music," conducted the Glee Club from 1957 to 1974. He was honored as "Conductor Emeritus" in 1990.[6]

The Glee Club has recorded a number of albums, including 1959's The Cadet Glee Club, West Point, which received three stars from Billboard, signifying "Good Sales Potential."[7]

The choir has appeared on television on the Ed Sullivan Show and, in 1973, on the Mike Douglas Show.[8][9]

The Glee Club performed Mansions of the Lord in the closing credits of the 2002 movie We Were Soldiers.[10]

References

  1. ^ DuRant, Maureen Oehler; Carroll, Peter E. (2007). West Point. Arcadia Publishing. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-7385-5497-6. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  2. ^ Princeton Review (2009). Complete Book of Colleges. Random House Information Group. p. 1443. ISBN 978-0-375-42940-8. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  3. ^ "West Point Band, Glee Club Heard; First Concert in Carnegie Hall Helps Mark Sesquicentennial of U. S. Military Academy". New York Times. 7 January 1952. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  4. ^ Worden, Al; French, Francis (2012). Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey to the Moon. Smithsonian Institution. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-58834-333-8. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  5. ^ "West Point Selects New Music Director". New York Times. 24 April 1957. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  6. ^ Storey, Richard (November 1990). "William Schempf Conductor Emeritus". Assembly. XLIX (2). West Point Association of Graduates: 28. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Reviews and Ratings of New Albums". Billboard: 34. 31 August 1959. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  8. ^ Bandler, Michael J. (22 March 1964). "In the Wings at the Ed Sullivan Show ; Sullivan's Showmanship: Singers to Simians". New York Times. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Television". New York Times. 26 July 1973. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  10. ^ Wallace, Cory, ed. (2015). The Strong Gray Line: War-time Reflections from the West Point Class of 2004. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-4422-4976-9. Retrieved 2 June 2025.

See also

The Corps (song)

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