A Guide to Getting Started
Everything You Need to Know About Joining
The Eugene Gleemen Choir
| Topic | Becoming a Gleeman |
| Who can join? | We only have two simple requirements: you must enjoy singing and, since we're an all-male chorus, you must be a gentleman! We welcome all men, from high school age and up. |
| Do I need to audition? | Nope! Auditions aren't required. We love welcoming new members, especially during the first month of our fall and winter "semesters," but you're welcome to join any time during the season. Just come to a few rehearsals and sing with us—you'll quickly know if you're a Gleeman! |
| What musical background do I need? | If you can hear your part and carry a tune, you're all set! It helps if you can read music, but it's absolutely not necessary. We have all kinds of singers—some haven't sung since high school, many have sung in church choirs, and others are simply excellent "shower singers"! |
| What if I don't know my voice part? | That's no problem at all! We seat everyone in sections by voice part, so you'll be surrounded by others singing the same thing. It's common for newcomers to try a section and then switch to a higher or lower part after a rehearsal or two until they find the best fit. |
| Topic | Performing and Music |
| What kind of music do you sing? | We sing a fun and interesting mix! While we still enjoy some older pieces in the classic "glee-club" style, our director, Dr. John Jantzi, has us performing many newer, popular songs. Expect a little bit of everything: Broadway hits, Western tunes, rock 'n' roll, folk songs, The Beatles, and more—a great variety that's fun to sing! |
| How hard is the music? | We choose pieces that are challenging enough to be interesting, but not so difficult that they're frustrating. Plus, to help you learn new programs, we post online practice tracks! Once you get your new login email, you'll find them under the "Song Library" section. |
| What's the performance schedule like? | We keep busy! Our usual schedule includes two fall concerts (late Nov/early Dec), several holiday presentations at senior centers, a Valentine's performance, two spring concerts (late May/early June), and a couple of appearances to sing the National Anthem at local sports games (Em's baseball, U of O events) and the Lane County Fair. Don't worry about singing in every concert. We ask that members commit to as many rehearsals and performances as possible, since the quality of our sound depends on having a full chorus! |
| Topic | Rehearsals and Commitment |
| How much time do rehearsals take? | Our regular weekly rehearsals are two hours long in the evening, running from early September through early June. We will have a longer (2-3 hour) final rehearsal right before each of our three major performances. Occasionally, we'll call a special rehearsal if needed. We encourage you to practice at home with a piano or our online tracks! |
| What else might I do as a Gleeman? | There are lots of fun opportunities! We sometimes travel for out-of-town programs (like Florence, Newport, or Portland). If you're interested in performing a solo, just let the director know! We also welcome members who have special musical talents, like playing an instrument, yodeling, or dancing. Finally, we always have volunteer roles and committee spots open—new members are encouraged to step up and help out! |
| Topic | Performance Attire and Funding |
| What do youwear for performances? | Our primary FORMAL wear is a black tuxedo, white shirt, black or red bow- tie/cummerbund (we tell you which color to wear), and black shoes/socks. Don't stress about having a brand-new, fancy tux! Street shoes, plain white shirts, and clip-on ties are common. Check with our President or Costumer—we often have used tuxes available from retired members. You can also find inexpensive options at places like Penny's or used apparel shops. |
| What about other outfits? | For NOT-SO-FORMAL events, we wear medium gray slacks, a white shirt, a burgundy-red tie, and a blue blazer. Our CASUAL (summer) wear is khaki slacks, brown socks/shoes/sandals, and a Green "Eugene Gleeman" golf shirt (our Costumer can help you get one)or click on the photo and pay and order online.  |
| How is the chorus funded? | Our income comes from membership dues and ticket sales, but we rely on donations and sponsorships to round out our budget. As a registered non-profit, all donations are tax-deductible! |
| What are the funds used for? | We cover salaries for our director and accompanist, buy new music, rent rehearsal/performance spaces, and pay for equipment maintenance. Best of all: every year we provide $1,000 to $1,500 in grants to local school music programs! |
| Who should I ask if I have more questions? | Ask ANY Gleeman! We truly love to talk about the chorus almost as much as we love to sing. Take some time to explore the rest of this website, too. |
Who's Who
These are the people you should familiarize yourself with as soon as possible, once you've joined The Eugene Gleemen...Board of Directors | |
 | President: Steve Somnitz President of the Board |
        | Board Members: Jonathan Brandt & Hernando Convers & Dennis Glover & David Herbert & Mark Hunter & Ron Muresan & Jared Musgrove & Jim Savage & Steve Somnitz 3 year terms of office as Board Members starting in the summer |
Staff | |
 | Administrator: Janis Breedlove Administration |
Music Team | |
 | Music Director: Dr. John Jantzi Director |
Section Lead | |
 | Section Lead Tenor 1 : Trey Imfeld Section lead for Tenor 1 |
 | Section Lead Tenor 2: Ken Kensler Tenor 2 section lead |
| Section Lead Baritone: Mark Hunter Baritone Section Lead |
 | Section Lead Bass: Michael Page Bass Section Lead |
Choir Administration | |
 | Historian: George McCully Administrator.s physical, historical materials and records |
| Membership: Jonathan Brandt & Dennis Glover The membership committee is responsible for recruitment of new members. |
Grants work | |
| Grant Coordinator: Mark Hunter issues around and records for grant writing. |
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST, AND WELCOME
