by Dr. Les Hale, The UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club is one of the most active and cherished organizations at the University of Northern Iowa, and traditionally has drawn its membership from students with widely varying academic interests.

For half a century, Northern Iowa men have given their best in music to audiences at the University, throughout Iowa, the Midwest and across Europe. Today, and throughout its illustrious history, the Glee Club brings honor and acclaim to the University of Northern Iowa.

The Glee Club was created primarily for non-music majors. In it's early years, the Glee Club was truly a varsity group - many early glee clubbers also were athletes, representing every sport, and every academic major at Iowa State Teacher's College. The Glee Club's first Spring Concert was performed in Lang Hall Auditorium in 1961.

The Glee Club began producing and performing in the annual Christmas Variety Shows in 1978, in Russell Hall Auditorium. With the 11th production of the shows in 1988, all performances have been sold out.

The Glee Club moved to the 1,680-seat Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in 2000. To date, the Glee Club can claim more sold out performances in the Great Hall than any other group, student or professional.

The group also has performed in the Midwest and across the state of Iowa on annual tours. Members of the Glee Club have traveled to Europe every other year since 1980. During past tours, concerts were performed in Austria, the Czech Republic, England, Holland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and Wales, including performances at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in 1996, 1998, 2004, and 2010.

During the fall semester of 2007, there were 143 men in the Glee Club, representing nearly 3 percent of all male students enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa.

In May of 2008, the Glee Club performed in Poland for the first time.

The Glee Club has visited many of the great cities in Europe - from Amsterdam to Zurich - and countless places in between. The powerful strains of "Brothers, Sing On!" have been sung from such amazing places as the summit of Mount Vesuvius in Italy, a glacier in the Tyrolean Alps, an ancient castle in Wales, the deck of a ship over the tossing Irish Sea, and the Coliseum in Rome.

For each member fortunate enough to have joined this brotherhood of song, the Varsity Men's Glee Club has created unforgettable memories. Over 1,000 UNI alumni share a bond forged by music, in a true spirit of camaraderie as brothers in song.