The Fairfield University Glee Club is stepping into the new academic year with more energy, more voices, and a major new change: students will now receive academic credit for their participation. Beginning this semester, singers in the Glee Club, Fairfield University’s most active and historic organizations, will earn a repeatable course credit, similar to those offered for students in Jazz Ensemble, Band and Orchestra.
“We know that students in all of these ensembles work hard and learn a lot through making music in a group,” said Dr. Michael A. Ciavaglia, Advisor of the Glee Club. “So we are proud to recognize them.”
Founded in 1947 as the first student organization at Fairfield University, the Glee Club has grown into a mixed chorus of over 100 singers this year, the largest ensemble in its history. Students from every school at the university, including both undergraduates and graduates, now fill the rehearsal spaces with music twice a week.
“People love to sing!” said Dr. Ciavaglia. “It was very special to see them spread out around the Egan Chapel at our first rehearsal, already filling the room with their voices raised together.”
This year’s repertoire will span over 500 years of music, ranging from early to contemporary works. The Glee Club will also return to the Quick Center twice this semester, first for Alumni & Family Weekend (Sunday, Oct. 26 at 12:30 p.m.) and later for the second annual Feast of Carols Christmas Concert on Friday, Dec. 5. They’ll also perform in Stamford, Conn., and take a weekend tour to Boston, where they’ll sing at St. Paul’s Church in Harvard Square for the first time.
For many members, Glee Club is about more than just singing. Olivia Stolar ’28 shared, “The Glee Club is where I met some of my best friends here at Fairfield. It has also allowed me to grow my love of music and has added some more structure into my day-to-day routine.”
Margaret Nasry ’28 echoed that sentiment, “I’ve made some really good friends in Glee, [I] have gotten to go to some really cool places, and sing some really beautiful songs.”
The new credit option comes with responsibilities, particularly regarding attendance. “Missing a performance without a valid excuse is an automatic F in the course,” explained Olivia. “So it’s really important to show up and be present or else it might negatively affect your GPA!”
Still, members say the commitment is well worth it. “Practices are twice per week,” noted Alyssa Esposito ’28, “but it’s a great organization of talented students who work together to create beautiful songs.”
With leadership opportunities available through the student-run board and a cappella groups like the Bensonians and Sweet Harmony, the Glee Club continues to serve as both a musical and social home for its members.
As Dr. Ciavaglia put it, “Glee Club is still a club–a place where people with a shared interest gather for a common purpose, making connections and friendships along the way.”
And for those considering whether to attend an upcoming concert, Margaret offers a simple reason: “We sound pretty.”
Upcoming Glee Club Performances
Sunday, October 26 at 12:30 PM – Alumni & Family Weekend Concert at the Quick Center
Friday, December 5 – Feast of Carols Christmas Concert at the Quick Center
December (Date TBA) – Feast of Carols at St. Mary Church in Stamford
November Tour – St. Paul’s Church, Harvard Square, Boston
