Spelling L.O.V.E. during a love song. Photos provided by Mark Knecht, Chautauqua-Wawasee.

News Release

SYRACUSE — The Purdue Varsity Glee Club returned to Syracuse Friday night, March 1, bringing energy and excitement to entertain a loyal and exuberant Purdue following at the Wawasee High School auditorium.

The performance was introduced by Syracuse resident and Purdue alum Russell Anderson, followed by 70 club members running down the aisles to the stage and quickly filling the risers to begin the show. And what a show it was, with many genres and diversity of music as well as solos and “specialty groups” such as an Indian quintet dressed in traditional kurta attire.

The different kinds of music ranged from romantic songs to religious hymns to the Beatles’ “Obladi Oblada,” show tune “Ol’ Man River,” movie tune “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville,” a barbershop quartet singing “Kiss From a Rose” and Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild” sung by a 1950’s leather jacket trio. Solos were sung by Elkhart native Patrick Petersen and Goshen’s Nathan Gibson.

Barbara Armstrong of Wawasee and Westfield said, “Scott and I saw them in Westfield a week ago. Because this year’s performance was the best of the previous four we’ve seen, we were eager to drive up for an encore appearance.”

1950s Leather Jack Trio.

The Syracuse performance led by William Griffel, director, and Scott Hines, assistant director, was their last public show for the 2023-24 school year. The Glee Club arrived in Syracuse at 5 p.m., warmed up singing, then was served dinner by the Wawasee High School Culinary Arts class. They performed from 7:30-9 p.m., met with family and friends in the surge area until 9:30 p.m., sang one final song, then boarded the buses to return to West Lafayette.

What a difference from the Glee Club’s prior visit to Syracuse in 2022, when a much smaller ensemble sported masks due to the COVID pandemic. Chautauqua plans to invite them to perform in the spring of 2026. Mark your calendars now!

The Purdue Varsity Glee Club has an established reputation for musical excellence. Founded in 1893, the Purdue Varsity Glee Club’s core principles are education and growth, diversity and inclusion, student leadership and stewardship. Their performance clearly represented these principles.

The next event sponsored by Chautauqua-Wawasee will be at 7 p.m. May 7 at Wawasee High School. Shanna Zolman Mahaley returns to her hometown school to present a program about her faith and basketball career. This event is free to attend.

Dressed in Indian attire.