Boston College. University Chorale

The earliest student musical ensemble at Boston College was the St. Cecilia Society, formed in 1869 by James A. McHugh, SJ to provide liturgical music and dedicated to the patron saint of music. The first Glee Club was founded in 1887 as a secular counterpart to the St. Cecilia Society, and performed a variety of concerts and operettas. The director, Charles E. McLaughlin, formed an orchestra to accompany the 1892 operetta, and the ensemble continued after that performance. The Musical Clubs lapsed somewhat during the period of 1895-1913, with some years having no musical ensembles, others only an orchestra, and others only a choir. The Glee Club was revitalized in 1913 by Joseph Gildea (class of 1913) as a student-run club coached by Thomas J. Hurley (class of 1885), who also composed music for the ensemble. The Musical Clubs underwent a brief hiatus during both World Wars, from 1917-1918 and 1942-1946. Musical Clubs concerts, both on- and off-campus, regularly featured the Glee Club and Orchestra, as well as vocal soloists and instrumental quartets or octets. Though largely student-run, the Musical Clubs were guided by conductors, including Walter Mayo (class of 1923) and Theodore Marier, and by faculty moderators, including Henry Callahan, SJ, Daniel J. Foley, SJ, and Thomas P. O’Malley, SJ. In 1962, the Glee Club welcomed women into its ranks and became the University Chorale, directed by C. Alexander Peloquin. The Orchestra continued as the Boston College Symphony Orchestra, open to any member of the university community.