The Riverside Harmony Barbershop
Chorus will entertain the crowd as the 2010 Coffeehouse Concert
series, sponsored by ArtsLink, comes to a close on Thursday, August
26, on the lawn of the Francis Creative Arts Center at the corner
of Maple Avenue and Washington Street in New Martinsville. The
concert will begin at 7pm—rain or shine—and light refreshments will
be served.
This talented group, under the
direction of Pat Malone, includes local vocalists, Alan Kruger,
Clyde Gilmore, Larry Richie, Dick Bonyak, Brent Ash, Ed Marn, and
Sean Maxwell. They make up the New Martinsville Chapter of the
Barbershop Harmony Society. The local group was chartered in
2003 with the mission of perpetuating and celebrating harmony in
the barbershop style, providing the opportunity to experience the
joy of singing in the four part a cappella style, and introducing
and sustaining music in the lives of people everywhere. Over
the past ten years, the Chorus has performed in schools, nursing
centers, fairs, festivals, and celebrations throughout the Mid-Ohio
Valley. In addition, it has competed in district level
competitions. Chorus members agree that they enjoy
hearing their own voices in four-part harmony, the friendship and
fraternity of their fellow singers, and the personal, social,
musical, and leadership skills they attain through membership in
the Barbershop Harmony Society. The Barbershop Harmony Society was
founded in 1938 and today boasts nearly 30,000 members spanning the
entire globe. Their chapter meetings are well-planned, musically
satisfying, and just plain fun! Chapters are made up of
members ranging in age from the teens into the eighties. They
embrace and perform a cappella music, with the barbershop art form
as the root of their existence. The various chapters enrich
and energize each member through fellowship, fun, and the joy of
singing. They are leaders in the musical lives of their
communities, employing and enjoying the same educational
opportunities for improvement that are available to other groups
and individuals. This year’s Coffeehouse Series is
sponsored by McDonald’s Restaurant, owned and operated by Nelson
and Sandy Hachem. Financial support for ArtsLink’s activities
is provided by West Virginia Northern Community College, WETZ/WYMJ
Radio, Chesapeake Energy, and Ohio Valley Online. |
