Summary: The 38th Annual Show of the Schoenbrunn Valley Barbershop Chorus is titled Celebrating 75 Years of Harmony and will feature old and new songs that feature strong harmonies, one of the characteristics of the singing style that makes the barbershop chorus such an endearing cultural mainstay.
The Schoenbrunn Valley Barbershop Chorus, the Tuscarawas County Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, Inc. will present their 38th Annual Show at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas at New Philadelphia on April 27 at 3 p.m.
Titled Celebrating 75 Years of Harmony in honor of the Societys 75th Anniversary as a cultural mainstay, the show is also being dedicated to charter member and longtime chorus director Marv Klingaman who passed away in July of 2012.
Special guests include The Franchise from Cincinnati and Chordiology from eastern Michigan. Elle Stokey, a junior at New Philadelphia High School will perform with the chorus as well as participate in sketches.
The VLQ or Very Large Quartet as well as a gospel quartet made up of members from the Schoenbrunn Valley Barbershop Chorus will also perform.
Made up of male singers from all over the region, the Schoenbrunn Valley Barbershop Chorus spans the generations with oldest member Earl Johnson at age 93 and youngest member Ben Lowe who will turn 13 in July. People are surprised how good we are because we are a group of old men, said George Telle, a chorus member. Big Ben, thats what we call him, is our youngest member and boy can he sing. Weve got at least five guys over 80. This is a great group of guys. There is a lot of loyalty and a lot of camaraderie with this group.
In addition to the concert the Schoenbrunn Valley Barbershop Chorus invites male singers of any age to join them at their guest night on May 13 at St. Johns United Church of Christ at Dover at 7:30 p.m. in the social hall for an evening of song and fellowship. We are always looking for new male singers to join us, said Telle. Even if you cant sing come on down and well teach you to sing.
The Schoenbrunn Valley Barbershop Chorus is a part of the Johnny Appleseed district, which includes all of Ohio, parts of West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania.
Tickets for the concert can be purchased at the Performing Art Center box office the day of the show or by visiting their web site at http://www.tusc.kent.edu/pac/event-listing.cfm or by calling 330-308-6400. Discounts are offered for senior citizens and students of any age.
