VLQ Performs at Chillicothe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

On Monday night December 7, five of the members of the First Capital Barbershop Chorus sang for residents of the Chillicothe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The residents were very appreciative and seemed to enjoy our singing. We sang a few Barber Polecats before finishing with Carols from the Barbershop Yuletide Carols book.

Chorus Sings National Anthem in front of Courthouse

Picture: From left to right, Dan Lusher, Mark Hatfield, Chester Collins, Paul Hixon, Mark Poyet, Bob Cook, and Gene Hoyet (the lone Baritone) The Chorus sang the National Anthem in front of the Ross County Courthouse on Sunday night at 7 p.m., before the Concert by the Great Seal of Ohio Band and after VFW Post 108 Color Guard Presented the Colors. The band played 5 selections and then the Chorus sang: Down Our Way, Shenandoah, My Wild Irish Rose, and Keep the Whole World Singing. And on one song the event MC, Mr. Allen Richmond, joined in singing with the chorus. The chorus then listened to the remainder of the Band's program. For me the highlight of the Band Concert was the piccolo solo on John Phillip Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever. The young lady playing the piccolo did an outstanding job.

Un-Named Quartet Sings at "A Night of Music"

The Un-Named Quartet, composed of Paul, Bob, Dan and Gene performed at Chillicothe's Tabernacle Baptist Church this evening. We sang When There's Love at Home and I Believe. Then Dan's wife made us sing Oh, How I Miss Her. This audience laughed at it. We'll have to see if they ever invite us back!

Chorus Sings National Anthem at Paints Game

On Thursday evening, June 18, members of the chorus sang the National Anthem at the Paints Game. Before the game we sang a few songs (Polecats) for guests of Rathkamp Financial, who generously paid our way into the game and provided us a picnic dinner. Here we are, waiting to sing. Left to right. Mark Hatfield, Paul Hixon, Len Sabatini, Mark Poyet, Bob Cook, and Gene Hoyet.

VLQ Performance in Chillicothe, June 16, 2009

The chorus quartet with no name (Paul, Dan, Gene and Bob), along with Chester Collins, performed for the Chillicothe Evening Lions Club's installation banquet on Tuesday evening, June 16, 2009. The VLQ sang selected Polecats for about a half an hour, with the NONAME Quartet singing Shenandoah and Kentucky Babe. I think the general consensus of the VLQ was that we did OK! Along with the songs, we provided a little history/background on Barbershop singing and made a pitch for anyone who likes to sing to join the chorus. We left a few of the "You Can Sing Too" brochures for anyone who might be interested.

Our next performance will be at the Paints game on Thursday, June 18, 2009. The highlight of that performance will be singing the National Anthem for the start of the game!

What I Saw (and ate) at the Drexel Theater

I went to see American Harmony last night at the Drexel Theater in Bexley. I knew it would be a good night when I saw the Drexel Radio Cafe next door. When I discovered they served crème brûlée cheese cake..... Oh, What a Night! I had a piece and was ready to watch the movie. They even had a senior's price. What a deal! There weren't very many people in the theater; 30 at most. And most of us had gray hair. There was a row of young folks in front of me, however. So there may be hope for the Society yet.

The movie started with a little historical footage showing the origins of the Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). And as the promo for the movie says:

It follows the lives of some of the biggest names to emerge from international competition in the Society’s history, as well as interviews with rank-and-file members, called “Joe Barbershoppers.” The film features four prominent Society quartets – OC Times, Max Q, Vocal Spectrum, and Reveille – over a span of years, on stage and at home, in their personal quests for international recognition as they experience the thrill of victory, and the agony of not quite making it.

So, my assessment is that the quartet I'm part of has a bit of practicing to do if we even want to hold the water bottles for any of the top 50 Society quartets. It was a great movie. Go see it!

VLQ Performs at Bell Tower Mission in Bourneville

On Saturday, March 14, a VLQ (Very Large Quartet) performed at the Bell Tower Mission in Bourneville, OH. We provided the entertainment for the ladies of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, the professional honor society of women educators. We performed for about 20 minutes. I think the ladies enjoyed us. And the kitchen staff said we sounded good from their vantage point. Of course they had a closed door they were listening through. Chorus members performing were, from left to right, Dan Lusher, Len Sabatini, Paul Hixon, Bob Cook, Gene Hoyet, and Jeff Hadley. I think all the guys enjoyed themselves, too.