ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan’s Men’s Glee Club will present their final concert May 7 before departing a few days later for a month-long concert tour of South America. This “South American Send-Off Concert” will begin at 8 p.m. in Hill Auditorium. General admission seating tickets will be available at the door at $8 for the public and $4 for students.

The program for this concert and the South American tour will include selections by both American and South American composers including Leonard Bernstein and Carlos Guastavino.

Founded in 1859, the Men’s Glee Club is the second oldest collegiate chorus in the United States and the oldest student organization on the Michigan campus. In its 136- year history, the Glee Club has gained recognition for its wide repertoire of music that incorporates selections from different musical styles and periods including Renaissance motets, Romantic anthems, opera choruses, spirituals, contemporary works and Michigan songs.

With a membership of graduate and undergraduate members chosen by audition and representing 15 of the 19 schools and colleges of the University, the organization has made many concert tours throughout the country, Eastern and Central Europe and the Far East, but this will be the first tour in South America where they will be appearing in some of the most prestigious venues in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru.

Members of the Glee Club have been working individually and collectively to raise the funds necessary for the trip and while touring will be staying with host families in the various cities and countries in which they will be performing.

The U-M Men’s Glee Club is under the direction of Jerry Blackstone who teaches conducting at the graduate and undergraduate levels and jointly administers a choral program for the University’s nine choirs.