The Voice of Aggieland

Every living former president was on stage, hand over heart. On the far right stood Jimmy Carter, and to his left was the late George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Backstage, notable musicians Lady Gaga, Sam Moore, Yolanda Adams, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen and the band Alabama waited their turn to perform while the Texas A&M University Singing Cadets rang out the “National Anthem” to a sold-out One America Appeal Concert in Reed Arena in October 2017, which benefited hurricane relief efforts.  

The Singing Cadets are accustomed to performing in the presence of notable politicians and stars. Over the years, they have made appearances at the White House, Carnegie Hall, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, national news programs like Fox & Friends, and various other venues, domestic and foreign. They’ve dined with presidents and international heads of state like former British Prime Minister John Major. At both Barbara and George H.W. Bush’s funerals, they sang moving melodies in tribute of a family they had come to know well over the years. The Singing Cadets witnessed every one of Bush 41’s birthday skydiving spectacles and performed intimate concerts in the Bush’s sea-blue colored living room in Kennebunkport, Maine. In 2005, the late President Bush was even recognized by the group as an honorary Singing Cadet.

“The Bushes treated us like family,” said Aaron Daniel ’19, the organization’s current liaison to the Association of Former Singing Cadets, “and we could tell our concerts weren’t just another thing on their agenda.”

Songs of the Past

Thanks to their long history, famous harmonies and international recognition, the Singing Cadets are celebrating their 125th anniversary this spring. However, the group was not always so successful. Founded as the Texas A&M Glee Club in 1893, the organization struggled to formalize its mission. It wasn’t until 44 years later that 18 members came together under a written constitution declaring the purpose of the organization as ambassadors of goodwill for Texas A&M. Three years after that, in 1940, the Glee Club was officially renamed the Singing Cadets after a student body naming contest. Almost immediately, recognition for the group began to grow after they attracted national attention while performing in the 1940 Sugar Bowl. Two years later, they were asked by Universal Pictures to record music for the motion picture “We’ve Never Been Licked.”

By 1960, the Singing Cadets averaged 50 shows annually in more than 20 cities across Texas. While performing in the pouring rain at Six Flags Over Texas, an onlooker with connections to the Miss Teenage America Pageant overheard the group. The next fall, the Singing Cadets were the featured performers at the nationally televised pageant, where they headlined for eight consecutive years.

In 1971, the group was invited to perform a worship service at the White House for President and Mrs. Nixon, David and Julie Eisenhower, United Nations Ambassador George H.W. Bush and heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. President Nixon called the Singing Cadets one of the “finest choral groups in the land,” remarking that Mrs. Nixon could have listened all day. The White House performance projected the Singing Cadets into increasing national notability, and in 1974, for the first time, they were asked to embark on an international tour. Former Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe commissioned each member as an official ambassador of goodwill for the state before their three-week tour through Romania, in which they traveled to various towns and appeared on the country’s national television networks.

Since the Romanian tour, the Singing Cadets have performed in hundreds of cities across six continents. “Every third or fourth year, we take an international tour,” said David Kipp, Texas A&M director of choral activities since 1995. “We’ve been to Australia, South Africa, China, several countries across Eastern and Western Europe, and South America.”

125TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

In 2019, the Singing Cadets will travel to Greece and Bulgaria to perform, but perhaps their most important concert will take place in College Station on April 6.

“Our most notable performance this year will be the reunion concert,” said Kipp. “Our goal is to have 250 past and present Singing Cadets perform on stage, and at the rate registrations are going, I think we’ll surpass that number easily.”

At the 125th anniversary concert, Singing Cadets of all ages will perform songs that they sang during their time at Texas A&M, as the group maintains a consistent core repertoire of music. “This January, we sang ‘Who Are the Brave’ at Gov. Abbott’s inauguration. We sang the same song in Hawaii at the 52nd anniversary of Pearl Harbor in 1993,” said Kipp. “Similarly, at the reunion concert, men from all different eras will sing songs that serve as a personal reminder of their time in the Singing Cadets and as students at Texas A&M.”

These songs not only bond Singing Cadets to Texas A&M, but also to each other. “That connection over the ages is what I enjoy most about the Singing Cadets,” said Daniel. “No matter if you’re Class of 1955 or a current student, the songs tie you to each other and the organization.” To prepare for the event while living in different cities and states, former Singing Cadets will practice individually in advance with recordings of the concert music.

In addition to the event bringing together various classes of Singing Cadets, Kipp hopes it will encourage members and spectators to support the group financially. “We have been given so many opportunities to expand, but lack the resources to do so,” said Kipp. "We thought the 125th anniversary would be a great opportunity to raise funds that will help support our normal operating expenses.”

THE GIFT OF MUSIC

Hearing the needs of the Singing Cadets, Mike Hachtman ’86 and his wife Anne ’90 quickly stepped forward to help. “Some of my best friendships arose out of my four years in the Singing Cadets,” said Mike. “This organization is one of the special things that makes Texas A&M unique, and as the university continues to grow, supporting these traditions is important to maintaining the spirit of Aggieland.”

The Singing Cadets are hoping to raise $250,000, and the Hachtmans promised to match dollar for dollar up to $125,000 in hopes of reaching that goal. “The matching gift opportunity encourages others to get involved and support this vital organization,” said Mike. “Regardless of the size of the contribution, every gift helps.” In 2015, the Hachtmans also gave a $25,000 endowment to support the director of the Singing Cadets.

“My hope is that these gifts will allow the Singing Cadets to continue to travel across the state, nation and world spreading the Aggie Spirit wherever they go,” Mike said, and that is exactly what the Singing Cadets plan to do. “We want to be ambassadors for Texas A&M and introduce people all over the world to the Singing Cadets," said Daniel. “We want everyone to know about the school that has changed our lives.”

Throughout their time in the organization, members of the Singing Cadets are taught Texas A&M’s history and culture. “Something I will never forget learning is the inscription inside the clock tower,” said Corey Bowers ’18, president of the Singing Cadets. It reads: "I ring, I sing, I peal, with a mighty force, my love for God, family and country and for that part of my heart that has never left these hallowed halls.”

“So, we have God, family and country which are the three big priorities in life, but your school is your great love, and I think we all take that away from the Singing Cadets," explained Bowers. "I don’t know a single Aggie that doesn’t already love Texas A&M, but being a Singing Cadet reinforces that tenfold."

To support the Singing Cadets, contact Megan Pulliam ’09 at mpulliam@txamfoundation.com or (979) 862-1247.