The LSU School of Music is looking for students help restart the Tiger Men’s Glee Club.
The club was previously the oldest choir group on campus, but this year, male enrollment rates were too low, so the choir went inactive.
The low enrollment rate was an effect of scholarship cuts for the School of Music, said John Petzet, the Assistant Choral Director at the School of Music.
“The music scholarship budget was cut from $1.5 million to $100,000,” Petzet said. “Talk about a huge cut. Our numbers are down because we don’t have the money to give the best students what we used to offer them. We are trying to get our numbers back up.”
Petzet, a new professor at the University, has taken a large role in trying to restart the Men’s Glee Club. He encourages students with a high school choir background and even beginners to enroll in Glee Club and other choir classes.
Participation in the club can count as a fine arts elective credit. Students can enroll through PAWS for the class, Music 4232, which will be held from 3:40 to 4:30 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Auditions are not required to join, and choir classes are not restricted to music majors.
Petzet said enrolling in a choral class can provide an escape from the regular school day.
“It’s very much a social outlet,” he said. “It’s a way to meet people. Music is made to be shared. It gives you a break. Students can get out of the classroom where it’s just paper and pencil and exams and come over where you’re standing up and performing and being artistic.”
Cadie Jordan, music freshman and member of the Women’s Chorus, said she enjoys the group and wishes men could have the same opportunity.
“It’s so easy to come sing and relieve stress from other classes,” Jordan said. “I really hope that Men’s Chorus will start up again. So many of the girls in class are coming out of high school choirs and glee clubs just wanting to keep music alive in their daily life. That, to me, is the most important thing, and I hope to see some guys in the near future with that same passion.”
 
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Contact Laura Furr at [email protected]