They might not have made the Showcase Showdown, but members of the Kansas University Men’s Glee Club did showcase their talents during a recent taping of “The Price is Right.”

The chorus is scheduled to be featured singing “I’m a Jayhawk” — a KU fight song — during an episode that airs 10 a.m. today on Sunflower Broadband Channels 5 and 13.

“I’d been wanting to go on ‘The Price is Right’ since I could remember,” said Nathan Dame, a sophomore from Denton, Texas. “To sing on there was just awesome.”

The appearance came during the Glee Club’s tour of Southern California Jan. 6 through Jan. 16. The 42-member group split to attend two taping sessions of host Bob Barker’s game show Jan. 10.

During the first taping — for the show that is scheduled to air today — John Paul Johnson, KU’s director of choirs, was called down to Contestant’s Row but never made it up on stage as an actual contestant.

Show rules say contestants have to use the name that appears on their tax statements, so he heard, “John Johnson! Come on down!”

While Johnson was on Contestant’s Row, Barker learned the Glee Club was in the audience and invited them to pack in behind the contestants after a commercial break.

“We were a little nervous,” Dame said. “But our adrenaline got us through.”

Johnson said he didn’t think there was much of a chance the 45-second excerpt of “I’m a Jayhawk” would be edited out. His excitement about the group’s performance — along with his reluctance to want to pay taxes on anything he won — made him not mind missing out on a chance on stage.

“That was what I wanted more than anything else, for the guys to get featured,” Johnson said. “I wanted KU to get national airtime.”

KU Glee Club performs on ‘Price is Right’ “I’m a Jayhawk” fight song (performed by the KU Marching Band) Lyrics to “I’m a Jayhawk” KU Men’s Glee Club CBS.com: The Price is Right

Another student, Brian Ervin, a freshman from Overland Park, made it to Contestant’s Row during the show that airs Friday. He also did not make it on stage as an actual contestant.

“There’s a lot of buzz going around,” said Hugo Vera, a doctoral student and Men’s Glee Club director. “I know at least half the guys’ parents are videotaping it. It’s a really neat experience for the guys to get that kind of experience, with millions of people watching them.”

— Staff writer Terry Rombeck can be reached at 832-7145.