In 1932 College of Puget Sound’s John Paul Bennett founded the Adelphian Choral Society, named from the Greek adelphos, meaning “brother.” As early as 1895 the college had sponsored choral ensembles, but the Adelphians were different. Bennett instilled in choir members a belief in community through singing, and under his direction, the Adelphians flourished and quickly developed a reputation for excellence. At Bennett’s insistence the choir began to tour the Northwest, and the tradition of the Adelphian Concert Tour was born. In 11 seasons under John Paul Bennett, Adelphians performed more than 500 concerts around the region. By 1942 the Adelphian Choral Society was established as one of the leading collegiate choirs in the Northwest.