West Point tradition calls for a cadet’s day to be orderly and structured. From the 6:30 a.m. wakeup to the 6 p.m. dinner bell, from early morning formation to six hours of classroom time, cadets follow roughly the same daily routine that their forebears have throughout the over 200-year history of West Point. We honor this tradition not simply to cling to history, but because we believe in its transformative power to develop character and foster leadership. Tradition, however, has also always found a place for fun. Since 1903, the West Point Glee Club has been giving cadets a chance to take a break from the rigors of training and studies and show off their vocal skills—often to great acclaim. Over the years, the Glee Club has been invited to perform at sporting events and USO concerts, at Carnegie Hall and the White House. The club has been featured on soundtracks for major motion pictures and in concert with numerous professional musicians. When formally recognized as a co-curricular activity in 1933, the club was composed of 25 singers; now the club is made up of male and female cadets from all four classes who must audition with the director for one of 75 spots. With more than 20 concerts each year both on and off post, and with 11 recordings available, the Glee Club is one of the most visible and well-known organizations at West Point, and one of the most prestigious college choirs in the United States. We are seeking to establish an endowment, to grow with future gifts, that will promote longterm planning for the club and expand the potential of this very special ensemble.

For over one hundred years, Glee Club cadets have touched audiences around the world with a model depiction of the Corps of Cadets through live performance in the nation’s finest concert halls, national network and feature film appearances, and recordings, developing cadets to become leaders of character in the process.