Enduring many obstacles to its existence during its first quarter century, in 1894 the college administration elected to actively support the Musical Association, comprised at that time by the Mandolin, Banjo and Glee Clubs.
At the 1931 IMC festival at Carnegie Hall, the Union Men's Glee Club under the direction of Elmer A. Tidmarsh, attained an overall ranking that placed it within the top five in the United States.
It was heard regionally over WJZ (WABC (AM)) and WKBW and nationally over the NBC radio Blue Network.
1948 brought the Glee Club its first First Place finish in the annual Utica, New York Eisteddfod and broadened its touring schedule in the 1950s to include joint concerts with many New England and Mid-Atlantic colleges.
These traditional, joint concerts continued under the stewardship of Hugh A. Wilson who became the director of the Glee Club in 1963.