SKANEATELES — For the past 12 years, Cornell Glee Club has come to Skaneateles in early September for a 26 hour retreat, off campus, where they can focus on rehearsals, team building and setting goals for their upcoming year.

Skaneateles United Methodist Church has hosted their venue where 60 members of the glee club take over the building and have access to this unique village setting.

They church provides dinner and breakfast and a place to rehearse, meet and sleep over.

In return, the glee club has shared their gift of music at the Sunday Worship Service that has been standing room only in the past with alumni, parents and members of the community attending.

Last year COVID-19 prevented the retreat from happening, but then it would have been the 13th retreat.

This year will be their 14th annual retreat with a twist.

Cornell has a complimentary group of women that make up the Cornell Chorus.

This will be their 100th anniversary as an established group at Cornell. The Glee Cub now has 153 years under it’s belt.

Typically, the chorus has its own retreat on a different weekend in a different location, but the Cornell calendar has condensed their time frame and the chorus will be coming to Skaneateles for a split retreat with the glee club.

This year, both the chorus and glee club will share their director, Sarah R. Bowe and each group is a little smaller with 40 members.

The chorus will arrive Friday evening and conclude their retreat with a matinee performance on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the church that is open to the community.

The glee club will arrive Saturday afternoon for a shortened version of their past retreats that will carry them over to the worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday in the church.

After their traditional lunch at Doug’s Fish Fry, they will rehearse until dinner is served by the church.

In that the retreat falls on the 20th anniversary of the 911 terrorist attack, before many of the members were born, the glee club will join church members and members of the community in a candlelight memorial service at 7:45pm on the church’s north lawn.

The church is inviting members of the community and alumni will join in the worship service Sunday morning, 10 a.m. There will be a reception after the service.

If you go

Saturday, Sept. 11, Skaneateles United Methodist Church will host a matinee concert put on by the Cornell Chorus, 2 to 2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary at 26 Jordan St. Open to the public, free, HC accessible, request mask be worn by all inside.

Saturday, Sept. 11, 7:45 p.m., Skaneateles United Methodist Church will hold a 20th Anniversary 911 Memorial Candlelight Service on their north lawn at 26 Jordan St. Music by the Cornell Glee Club. All are welcomed.

Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, 10 a.m., 14th Annual Cornell Glee Club Retreat Worship Service at 26 Jordan St. All are welcomed to enjoy the Glee Club’s gift of music during the service. HC accessible with parking on site. Request masks be worn by all.  Reception to follow the service.