Our First Attempt at Video, Down Our Way

We had only 4 guys at "chorus" practice last night, luckily we had the right voices for a quartet, thanks to Mark's willingness (and ability) to sing Tenor. We had fun. This is our first attempt at video recording something. We used a little old used camera and it shows. We were not even sure we had sound, and we barely do. But it's a start!. The quartet: left to right, Mark Hatfield (Tenor), Paul Hixon (Lead), Bob Cook (Bass), Gene Hoyet (Baritone)

American Harmony, The Movie, Starts Fri, June 5

American Harmony starts Friday, June 5, at the Drexel Theater. 2254 E. Main St., Bexley, OH 43209 - (614) 231-1050 Here is a map to get to Bexlely from I 270 in Columbus.

Here are the show times from the Drexel web site. The Dierctor is Aengus James

Fri 06/05: 1:45, 5:20, 7:30, 9:35
Sat 06/06: 1:45, 4:15, 7:30, 9:35
Sun 06/07: 1:45, 4:15, 7:30, 9:35
Mon 06/08: 5:20, 7:30
Tue 06/09: 5:20, 7:30
Wed 06/10: 1:45, 5:20, 7:30
Thu 06/11: 5:20, 7:30, 9:35

From the Drexel web site, here is what they say about the movie:

Every year thousands compete in the world’s greatest singing competition… that you’ve never heard of. AMERICAN HARMONY journeys deep into the ultra-obsessive, zany, and heartfelt world of competitive barbershop singing, where passion is equaled only by raw talent, and the reward is not fame or fortune, but simply victory. The film focuses on 4 quartets vying to win the International Championships of Barbershop Singing, in what turns out to be the closest and most controversial victory in its 70 year history. Max Q is the heavy favorite – a superstar quartet comprised of former Champions. Looking to upset them is OC Times (The Heartthrobs), Vocal Spectrum (The Rookies) and Reveille, an aging foursome that has been singing together for 30 years. In total fifty quartets duke it out for the coveted gold medal, while facing the pressures of quartet life – from big egos to brain cancer and everything in between. To win, it’s not enough to have one “Idol,” a quartet must have perfect harmony.

Thursday Night, May 28 Practice

We were visited by a student from Ohio University in Athens. Unfortunately, I didn't get her name. (if she reads this, please send me your name). She was representing Southeast Ohio Magazine, the only student-run regional magazine (per the web site). She collected some information about the chorus and made a short video of both the chorus singing, and then a quartet singing. It will be interesting to see the results of her work. I'll post any information/feedback she provides on this blog.



Practice went well, with 8 guys in attendance.
Here's a couple of the guys getting ready to sing. Looks like Dan is ready. Gene is almost ready, and Mark Poyet (the guy in the middle) has, as usual, lost his music.


It was Mark Hatfield's Birthday(atually Friday, May 29). Since he is the youngster of the Chorus we thought we'd get an appropriately decorated cake! Happy 30th Birthday, Mark!

Practice Night Changed

Due to some scheduling conflicts, we moved our pratice night to Thursday. This will be effective with the next practice, scheduled for Thursday, May 28th. Time will remain the same, 7:30 to 9:30, with Tag singing to follow.

Monday Night, May 18, Practice

We had 7 guys at practice last night and I think we sounded pretty good. We spent some time on business and the rest preparing for upcoming performances. We're going to perform on Friday, May 22, around 2:30 to 3:30 at the Feast of the Flowering Moon, in Chillicothe.

We've managed to form a quartet (as yet un-named) from the chorus members. (Maybe that should be our name...."Un-Named"). Members are, from left to right, Dan Lusher (Tenor), Paul Hixon (Lead), Bob (just can't sing without the music) Cook (Bass), and Gene Hoyet (Baritone). The quartet plans to sing Shenandoah and Kentucky Babe at the Feast. It will be our first public performance as a quartet.

Happy Mother's Day

First I want to say Happy Mother's Day to all of the many women who have given themselves in so many ways to raise little ones to be who they are today.

At the same time I want to extend my sincerest apologies to our community for not being able to successfully prepare our chorus for the Mother's Day outing that we had planned on making to provide personalized Mother's Day songs and messages. If you anticipated ordering one of those, we hope that you will keep us in mind for next year.

I especially want to thank Lloyd's Sweet Shoppe for standing ready to assist us as they did for Valentine's Day. Please stop in and get some candy from Lloyd's for Mother's Day. They are on Water Street in Chillicothe and would appreciate your business.

To the guys in the chorus who worked hard to get their music learned, let me say that your work is not in vain, since what we have learned from this experience will benefit us in the future. We need more time to prepare, more efficient work on our music and more people involved in putting together such a large work.

For now, I hope the community will accept our greeting of, "Happy Mother's Day" even though it is not in song. I hope you will all visit Lloyd's Sweet Shoppe to get some chocolate for mom on Mother's Day and that all of our guys are ready to get back to work on Monday night.

We will begin work on the Star Spangled Banner and Take Me Out to the Ballgame extensively until we know both of those charts well. This will help us to be ready for other engagements. We need to look at our upcoming events and make sure that we have the personel and proper planning in place to meet those obligations.

Sounds of Aloha Show, May 2, 2009, Hawaii Theater

What a great show put on by the Sounds of Aloha Chorus. It began with John McCreary playing the theater organ. That's the organ in the center bottom of the picture. Quite a sound!

Next came the Sounds of Aloha Barbershop Chorus singing various Brodway Tunes.

Intermission was followed by Shari Lynn singing some more Broadway tunes. Next came the Honolulu Boy Choir. They were followed by The Perfect Gentlemen Quartet. The Perfect Gentlemen are an a-cappella group that sings a little barbershop, but a much wider repertoire of music. And they are very funny! Finally, the show was closed by the Sounds of Aloha Chorus singing The Impossible Dream from the "Man of LaMancha."