RIT Choral Group records

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RITArc-0006

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The RIT Choral Group records combines the RIT Choraliers programs and flyer, RIT Eight Beat Measure tickets, and RIT Chorus materials (accession). Choraliers material consists of 8 concert programs and 1 holiday assembly flyer from the student group. The collection contains Christmas Concert programs from 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1962, and Annual Spring Concert programs from 1957 and 1962. The flyer advertises a holiday assembly featuring the RIT Choraliers to be held on December 11, 1963 in the Ritter-Clark Gymnasium. Eight Beat Measure materials includes 2 tickets to a 2008 concert. RIT Chorus materials include early glee club records, Chorus records from 1971-1973, Jazz Ensemble flyers, clippings, and programs from the 1980s, and several compact disks recorded by RIT groups.

Dates

Creation: 1952-2008

Creator

Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT Choraliers (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Historical information on RIT Choraliers

The RIT Choraliers was the primary singing group at the Rochester Institute of Technology during the 1950s. Started in 1952, the organization was made up of members from varied musical backgrounds and was open to both male and female students. The group was directed by Dr. Phillip Kaufman and accompanied by his wife, Olivia, on the piano. By 1957, the organization was performing not only at concerts, but also during other campus events and in the greater Rochester community. The group performed a range of musical selections, from popular titles to more classical works. As the official singing group of the university, the RIT Choraliers began each concert with the opening verse:

Alma Mater day by day,
We strive to hold thine honor bright.

After a brief hiatus starting in 1959, the group was reorganized during the 1961-1962 academic year, under the direction of Kenneth Donmoyer. The organization expanded rapidly, having more than 50 members by 1963. The club lasted several more years, but was superseded by the Glee Club by the 1965-1966 academic year.

Historical information on Eight Beat Measure

The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Eight Beat Measure a capella group started as the RIT Men's Octet in 1987. Originally the group had eight members and began as an offshoot of the RIT Singers. As of 2011, the organization was the oldest all-male a capella group on RIT's campus.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (one half-document box)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Paper records and compact disks related to choral student groups at RIT.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged topically and by material type.

Processing Information

Finding aid created by Lara Nicosia in October 2010. Updated by Ella von Holtum in August 2019. ArchivesSpace record updated by Julia Novakovic in October 2023.