Do I have to be a music major to be in the Glee Club?
Of course not! Although some of our singers are pursuing a major in music and anticipate careers in the music industry, the large majority of our members are not music majors; in fact, we represent a wide array of majors at Yale.
Do I need choral singing experience to be in the Glee Club?
Not at all! Our membership represents a full spectrum of choral singing experience, from those who have been singing in choirs for their entire lives to others who are just trying it for the first time. We strongly encourage everyone to audition!
What is the time commitment like?
In a normal semester, the regular time commitments are our rehearsals, which take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. We perform about four to five concerts per semester, and travel domestically and internationally on two tours each year during breaks. Members are expected to attend every rehearsal, concert, and event–but the vast majority of our singers find this very manageable. Being a part of the Glee Club is not meant to take over your life!
Can I be in the Glee Club and also sing in an a cappella group or in other musical extracurriculars?
Yes! We have members every year who are also in a cappella groups. It might be a lot of singing, but if that’s what you want, it’s totally possible. Many of our singers also participate in lots of other music groups on campus, from orchestras, bands, and instrumental ensembles, to opera, to playing or singing in musical theatre productions, and much more!
How important is the sight reading portion of the audition?
If you are not a confident sight reader, please don’t panic! Strong sight reading can help your audition, but it is only one part of the overall audition, nor is it the only factor in determining membership. Our goal is to make the audition process as low-stress as possible.
Are there opportunities to conduct or to sing in a smaller group through Glee Club? How about voice lessons?
If you’re interested, there are lots of additional musical opportunities available through the Glee Club! We have two student conductors each year, as well as a program to fund voice lessons for all Glee Club members. The Glee Club Chamber Singers, a group of around 20 singers from within the Glee Club, rehearse and perform music designed for a smaller ensemble throughout the year.
Have other questions about the Glee Club?
Please write to us! We would love to hear from you.
Jeffrey Douma, Director: jeffrey.douma@yale.edu
Awuor Onguru ‘24, President: awuor.onguru@yale.edu
Maya Khurana ‘24, Manager: maya.khurana@yale.edu
Additionally, feel free to connect with us on social media:
https://facebook.com/yalegleeclub/
https://instagram.com/yalegleeclub/
