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VA Volunteer Recognition Ceremony

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On June 1, 2007, the VA Pittsburgh Health- Care System held a Volunteer Recognition Ceremony at Syria Shrine in Cheswick.

Several members of the Pittsburgh, North Hills Chapter and the GreaterPittsburgh Chapter of BHS, were recognized for their volunteer efforts at the Highland Drive, VA Facility. These volunteers are the "Harmonizers" who go to Highland Drive each Wednesday and apply a Barbershop style of music therapy to veteran patients.

The following members of the "Harmonizers" were recognized at this year's ceremony:

[NH = North Hills; GP = Greater Pittsburgh)

Bill Amos, GP/NH (2354 hrs); Dick Boch, NH (>500 hrs); Walt Brown, NH (>500 hrs); Uri Carpenter, NH (1750 hrs); Matt Coppola, NH (>500 hrs); Fred Dean, GP (>100 hrs); Ed Dietz, NH (>100 hrs); Jim Hughes, GP (2118 hrs); Leonard (Babe) Lellimo, NH (1750 hrs); Tom Koch, GP/NH (>300 hrs); Bill Martin, GP (2006 hrs); Jim McCarthy, GP (1336 hrs); John Power, GP (1672 hrs); Stan Schultz, NH (2171 hrs); Bernie Sippel, NH (2500 hrs); Lou Vlahos, GP (2023 hrs).

Through these members, the Barbershop Harmony Society joins 92 other Community and Veterans Service Organizations participating in the VA Volunteer Services Program, of VA Pittsburgh Health- care System.

A buffet luncheon and entertainment (5 Guys Named Moe) was provided at the Recognition Ceremony.

Pictured at the right are some of the Harmonizers attending the Recognition Ceremony:

(from lt. to rt.) - Jim McCarthy, Dick Boch, Lou Vlahos, Jim Hughes (behind Viahos), Bernie Sippel; Matt Coppola, Walt Brown, Art Blumer, Fred Dean, Tom Koch, Bill Amos.

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Page 6

63rd Annual Show - Girl Of My Dreams - A Success

The 63rd annual show by the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter was presented April 14, 2007 at the Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Pittsburgh. This year's show, titled Girl Of My Dreams was dedicated jointly to the late Pittsburgh Mayor, Bob O'Connor, a long time friend of Barbershopping, and to the late John Hassett, who sang bass with the Three Rivers Chorus for thirty years.

Credit must be given to show chairman, Bob Parker, and to all the members of the show committee who put in so much work to assure the success of the show. Special tribute must also be paid to others from outside the chapter who helped so much. Our long time backstage manager, Cheryl Campbell, always does a great job making sure everyone gets to where they belong at the proper time and takes care of the myriad of other problems that can occur backstage. Previous member, John Powers, did a great job with the over head video projections. Bill Martin arranged for a friend of his to video tape the show. Thanks to the Usherettes brought in by Joe DeFilippo, for handling programs and getting everyone seated. The list goes on and on... please see the show committee listing in your copy of the show program.

 

Gary Corpora		Bill Cardille

Following opening remarks by President Gary Corpora, M.C. Bill Chilly Billy Cardille got things underway.

A hit of this year's show was the Three Rivers Chorus presentation of a special show skit called Sing - No Sing, which as MC Bill Cardille put it, was "very loosely" based on the TV game show, Deal or No Deal.

Skit "game show host," Howie Dumbrell (Tom Koch) was introduced by Bill Cardille. Howie explained the game show rules, introduced the Sing - No Sing Studio Singers under the directions of Joe Veltre, and proceeded to call up the game show contestant, Suzie Simpleton (Beth Ann Faulkner). Suzie brought on stage her entourage consisting of her plastic surgeon (Linda DeFilippo), her psychotherapist (Radonna Bunk) and her personal fitness trainer(Chris Scherer).

Also appearing throughout the skit were; Deano Martino, (Tony Sangermano), Buffalo Bill (Bill Amos), and the Odd Couple, (Nathan Gura & Ange Glorioso).

Deano Martino		Buffalo Bill		Howie Dumbrell		The Odd Couple

Eventually, Susie found the winning song case with the song, "If You Knew Suzie" (what else?) and was officially designated as the "Girl Of Our Dreams."

The first half of the show was completed with a performance by the Sweet Adeline quartet, B.LA.K. Velvet, which is made up of Bonnie McKibben, bass; Lisa Beckett, baritone; Amy Ringley, lead and Kathy Fazekas, tenor.

Continued on page 7

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Page 7

Annual Show - continued from page 6

The second half of the show saw the Alliance Chorus take to the stage under the leadership of their director, David Calland. Their Civil War" package was especially moving. We wish them luck at the 2007 International Convention in Denver in July. Next up, the Allies Quartet, from the Alliance Chorus made a Cameo Appearance" starting from the rear of the auditorium.

While the choruses were switching places on the risers, Bob Parker and Bill Cardille took care of business, drawing names for free tickets to next year's show.

The song selection by the Three Rivers Chorus during the second half included the ever popular 'Lida Rose" featuring soloist Nancy Egan. The show closed out with the Alliance Chorus and the Three Rivers Chorus combining on the risers to sing" America the Beautiful" and "Keep the Whole World Singing."

It was a great show enjoyed by all. At the right are additional photos of various performers and segments of the show:

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Page 8

Since the last issue of this column, the Random Choice quartet has continued in their random" ways.

Back on May 11, 2007, "RC" with Bill Amos, Jay Garber, Gordon Knapp and Tom Koch, performed for the Mellwood AARP, Chapter 2854, at the Keam's Spirituality Center. That's on the LaRoche College campus, and if that sounds familiar, it's because the chorus sang there in December of 2006 at a Christmas luncheon for the Sister's Of Divine Providence.

On May 19, "RC," using Bill Amos, Jay Garber, Tom Koch and Mark Pascarella, sang at Tambellini's Restaurant, on Rt 51, for the Women's Club of Baldwin Borough.

During the evening of May 19, the same four RC members, sang at a benefit show conducted by the South Hills Chapter at First Bethel United Methodist Church on Library Road, Pittsburgh South Hills. The show was sponsored by the church to benefit the "Appalachian Service Project." Also appearing on the show was the Keystone Chorus, of Pittsburgh South Hills Chapter, a quartet from South Hills Chapter names "Three Men and A Baby" (don't ask me to explain that one) and two Peters Township High School quartets (one all male and one all female). The two high school quartets were the "The Overtones" (boys) and "Curtain Call" (girls). If you refer back to your March-April 2007 issue of Pitchburgh Press, you'll find photos of both quartets on page 6 as they both participated in the Fourth Annual Harmony Festival at CAPA High School in Pittsburgh.

May 30, "RC" using Bill Amos, Dick Hammer, Gordon Knapp and Tom Koch, went to Asbury Heights Assisted Living Center to sing to Dick Hammer's, 90 year old, aunt Florence. Our original intent was to just go to her room and sing for Florence in private. However, the people running the home found out that a quartet was in the building and the next thing we knew we were doing a regular performance in an activity room for twenty-some residents. But that just made the trip all the more fun and we had a great time. Pictured at the rightare the guys with aunt Florence.

On May 31, RC with Bill Amos, Jay Garber, Bill Hamilton and Mark Pascarella, plus Bill Martin visited former member Jack Owens at the Beverly Manor Nursing Home in Murrysville, PA. They visited with Jack and sang a few songs to cheer him up. I'm sure Jack would appreciate visits by any of you barbershoppers.

June 7, "RC" with Bill Amos, Bill Hamilton, Tom Koch and Jim McCarthy performed for the Penn Hebron Garden Club at a luncheon/meeting at Churchill Valley Country Club. Fred Dean's wife, Pat is a member of that club and was in the audience.

On June 13, RC consisted of Bill Amos, Jay Garber, Tom Koch and Jim McCarthy and performed at Manor Care in Monroeville at their "Old Fashioned Picnic Day." The entertainment this day was a combination of a "stand up" performance before a roomful of residents plus some "walk-about" singing in the halls of Manor Care.

Next up for RC was a trip on June 17 to Arden Court nursing home in Monroeville by Bill Amos, Ken Ernst, Jay Garber and Mark Pascarella. Some of this performance included singing for Alzheimer's patients. The staff at the home felt that there would be no reaction by the patients but the quartet reported that many of the patients in this ward reacted to the music and "mouthed along" the words to the songs. I have personally seen this effect of music before on people who supposedly have no memory. "Hey Society leaders; keep your gold medals... there is no greater reward than this."

On June 23, RC returned to New Kensington Memorial Park for their annual two-hour walk about performance at "New Kensington Days." We've been doing this for 18 or 19 years (we've lost count). It's been long enough that we remember many of the people from one year to the next, and they remember us. The quartet on that day consisted of Bill Amos, Jay Garber, Tom Koch and Mark Pascarella.

Does the above entertaining by RC sound like a busy schedule? You bet! Just goes to show that there are still a lot of people out there who enjoy hearing barbershop singing. More than enough people to go around, so why not get in a quartet and join the fun!

Chorus performances have been a bit sparse. On June 9, the Three Rivers Chorus performed at the Masonic Lodge in Pittsburgh, North Hills. We have done this performance on an annual basis for some time, as our member, Lou Vlahos is a member of the lodge (helps to have someone on the inside). On this evening, Lou took over as director of the chorus.

Looking at the calendar on page two, you'll see we have some more chorus performances scheduled throughout the year. One worthy of note is the scheduled July 14 performance at the "Relay For Life," sponsored by the American Cancer Society, at the Penn Hills H.S. Stadium. Corey O'Connor, son of late mayor Bob O'Connor is honorary chairperson and will speak at the event.

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Page 9

[editor's note - Rich Weiss authored the article below on Aprit 24, 2007 and submitted it to me, but it was too late to get it in the March-April bulletin issue]

What is it about a song that is able to bring joy to the human heart? Can science explain it? We have instruments to measure decibels of the sounds; and the harmony of the voices - like a beautiful sunrise - can give pleasure to the mind. Few will ever doubt this to be true. But the heart suffers much - often "slings and arrows of misfortune." How can a simple sound of the human voice in song ever touch the human heart?

In one of his famous sermons, Saint Augustine offered this: "We are urged to sing a new song to the Lord, as new men who have learned a new song. A song is a thing of joy; more profoundly, it is a thing of love."

Augustine's biography is well known; his desperate search for love drove him into great anguish of heart, until he heard a child's voice in the garden saying, Take and read, take and read..." and he began to read the new covenant and to learn a new song.

Centuries after Augustine, the Italian poet Dante sang of the love that moves the universe. Expressing the classic belief that the very turning of the heavens was a "music of the spheres," he gave us a very Christian understanding of the kind of love that is creative and divine.

As we celebrate the Spring this Easter time, we see the signs of new life all around us. New life is beautiful. The vision of new life makes us want to sing. In our churches we hear again the story that does not compute. It provokes our wonder. For some, perhaps, it stretches faith beyond our mere capacity.

But as love requires faith, so faith requires love. Psalm 95 calls the reader to "shout with joy," and to approach the One who gives life with praise and thanksgiving and songs of joy. This kind of praying must surely hold the secret.

The Midas Touch?

Bari: My poor uncle Bob, he was such an unlucky man!
Tenor: How unlucky was he?
Bari: Once when he was fishing around in the attic, he uncovered what looked like a magic lamp. He picked it up and rubbed it, and lo and behold, a genie came out of the lamp, and bestowed on Uncle Bob the Midas Touch!
Tenor: How was that unlucky?
Bari: For the rest of his life, everything my uncle touched turned into a muffler.

(editor's note - You may have noted that on page 15 of the Summer 2007 Cider Press, Rome Division Manager, Ken Williams had a column titled "The Rome Division in Motion." Ken gave credit to Rome Division Chapter Counselors (Trenton Ferro, Glenn Schilberg, Bob Parker and Bill Amos) and the Council Of Rome (chapter Presidents and Directors) for getting things moving in the Rome Division. Please make sure you read Ken's column. Here is some info. gleaned from Ken's reports and information submitted to me by Bill Amos.)

The first meeting/practice of the Rome Division chorus was held on June 3, 2007 at Hamilton Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, South Hills. There were 33 attendees from eight chapters. Attending from Greater Pittsburgh were; Bill Amos, Vaughn Eggert, Fred Dean, Fred Donotno, George Mayer, Bill Mcveagh, Bob Parker, Don Redshaw, Rich Weiss, Mark Pascarella and Tom Palomone Jr. The choruses first selection of music common to all members included; Star Spangled Banner, Irish Blessing & Whispering.

Here are a few photos (thanks to Fred Donotno) from that first chorus practice:

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Page 10

Rome Division Activities - cont. from page 9:

Rome Newsletter - Nathan Guru from Pittsburgh North Hills Chapter has agreed to produce a Rome Division Newsletter. Any bulletin articles, news items, stories or chapter information that you want to share with the Rome Division should be forwarded to Nathan. His e-mail address is; chefquru@yahoo.com

A Roaming Apple Award will be initiated at the Rome Chorus practice. Ken Williams reports that he doesn't know what ever happened to the District Sour Apple Award, so he decided to create a special award for the Rome Division. The initial handoff of the award will go to the chapter with the most attendees at the chorus practice and after that will go to the chapter making the most visits to other chapters.

The first Rome Division picnic will be held August 25, 2007 at Monroeville Park. This initially was to be a Greater Pittsburgh Chapter picnic. A feature at this picnic will be a Novice Quartet Contest.

Well, we're off to the start of a new year preparing for our next show. A new show means new music. I believe we are in dire need of fresh, new music that we enjoy singing and the audience will appreciate. While we strive to keep variety in our show in terms of the kinds of entertainment, we also need variety in our repertoire.

To get that variety, we need to learn music a little faster than we have in the past. While I know some of you can't read music, you can read words! There is no excuse for not knowing the words to a song. I have already asked that you take the time to learn the words to "Try to Remember," because the music is repetitive. I've found that the best way to memorize words is to write them. One verse at a time. Write the same verse over and over until you can recite it, and then move on to the next one [verse], and so on.

I'm also working on a learning plan, something we've never really tried with any consistency. I'd like to come up with a plan to learn one part of a song completely until we can sing it without music, so you can watch me instead of your music! This will involve homework on your part.

I'd like to get you guys more involved in planning our meetings. It's not just Joe D's job. I'd like some input on what activities you think would be fun. Maybe a quick joke contest. Ugly T-shirt award. How about "Worst Performance Singing a Different Part???" Come on. You have more imagination than I do. Collectively, for sure. Help us make meetings fun for all.