The Extra Mile: Glee Club

On Matriculation Day in 2020, Joyce Ellis ’24 wore a shirt that said, “I was in chorus in high school.” It caught the attention of Col. John Brodie, Virginia Military Institute’s music director. 

“He was like, ‘Oh my gosh, you sing!’ she said. “He just had this crazy personality and he told me that I was coming to glee club, wrote my name down, then emailed me later.” 

She’s been in the VMI Glee Club since she was a rat — it’s one of the only clubs that rats can join. Glee club is also one of the oldest clubs on post. The club was first listed in the VMI yearbook, The Bomb, back in 1885, where the club performed with vocals, guitars, mandolins, and violins. 

According to Brodie, in the early days of glee, cadets would sing on the stoops around post and perform for the other cadets.  

The more-than-a-century-old club has been in high demand since its inception, performing around the country and the globe. Members like Ellis, who is the club’s vice president, say that their spring trip is often the highlight of the year, performing in places like Florida and even Puerto Rico. 

Club president Rommel Meza ’24 has an extensive background in vocal experience. The tenor was part of a professional acapella group at his high school in Petersburg, Virginia. It was something he wanted to continue, no matter what school he ended up at for his degree.  

Ben Lovingood ’25, the glee club secretary, has been in choir since elementary school. But, prior singing experience isn’t a prerequisite for joining the glee club. 

Overall, the club has a welcoming vibe. Meza said they encourage incoming rats and cadets who are showing up for the first time to step out of their comfort zone. The range of experience varies — some people have spent much of their life singing or being involved in music while others have never touched sheet music or even sung before. 

“You have kids like us who are willing to step in, help, encourage them, and teach them the ropes,” Meza said. “We’re just trying to keep an open and welcome vibe, ensuring that they step out of their comfort zone a little bit and try something new.” 

The club rehearses twice a week and includes two smaller ensembles — the “Men In Grey,” a male acapella group, and the “Sentinels,” a mixed voice specialty septet. 

“One of our main points is that you don’t have to have any singing experience,” Lovingood, a baritone, said. “Obviously it helps. But if you’ve literally never sung a song in your entire life, and you’re like, ‘I want to try this,’ then we’re very welcome to that.” 

Ellis, an alto, said the club really drives inclusivity, especially with the acceptance of rats into the club. 

“It makes it feel like more of a family for them, like stress relief from their day-to-day. So that’s kind of a big pull,” she said.  

For Ellis, the glee club was something she could look forward to every week. 

“I would know Mondays and Thursdays, I could be with some of my closest friends. And I would be able to just sing, which is what I really enjoy doing,” she said. “I just really love the environment, like how nice everyone was and how inclusive everyone was.” 

Members of the glee club also act as ambassadors for the Institute. 

“For the glee club, it’s not just performance-based. We’re also interacting with a lot of people, civilian speaking and alumni, too,” Lovingood said.  

“Every time we go out, we are acting as representatives for the Institute at all times,” Meza added.

Two years ago, the club went to Puerto Rico and performed at the governor’s mansion and for Congress. Last year, they performed in Florida. This spring, the club is headed back to Puerto Rico.

Brodie said the glee club allows cadets to have a musical outlet. With more than 60 other clubs on post, glee has to compete with a lot of variety. Brodie said there are only a few fine arts club cadets can choose from, glee being one of them. With the busy schedules, he said it can be tough for some cadets to fit it in, especially with the later practices twice a week.

“Singing kind of lets off steam,” he said.  

Brodie gets to put his hat in the ring for the music selection, picking more patriotic tunes and old standard acapella music. But, the members also get a say. In the past, they’ve done Disney songs, Beach Boys, and even Backstreet Boys. This year, Brodie said they’re working on “Killer Queen” by Queen and potentially some songs from the musical Hamilton.  

Overall, Brodie likes the musicality of the glee club and how it not only provides the members solace, but it gives those who are listening to it an experience they won’t forget.  

“I’ve had much more meaningful musical experiences, conducting concert music with the glee club than I ever get with the band or the jazz band or stuff like that,” he said. “It’s kind of cool. I’ve had times when the glee club could bring you to tears, like emotionally and you know, playing ‘Hey, baby’ doesn’t bring you to tears.”