Page 8

Quartet Beat~ by Tom Koch

By now most of you are aware that the chapter has activated the Society Barberpole Cat program and Joe DeFilippo has volunteered to administer it. I have already heard comments and questions pertaining to "why" and "what will that accomplish?" I have always advocated, as have others, that learning to sing in a quartet will make you a better chorus singer. By being able to hold your own in a quartet you will get away from being a "leaner" in the chorus. When you cannot listen to the guy next to you, because both guys next to you are singing a different part, you are forced to know your part and stand on your own. Learning the "polecats" is an excellent way to break into quartet singing, if you haven't already done so. Plus you get a universal repertoire that enables you to sing with other barbershoppers when you visit other chapters, attend conventions, etc. If you are one of the longer time members who learned all the "polecats" many years ago, why not consider branching out and learning them in the other voice parts from what you usually sing? So let's all back Joe DeFilippo, and participate in the program. You'll help yourself and the chapter and maybe you'll just have some fun along the way.

WIth respect to quartet activity, I am pleased to be able to report on another quartet in the chapter that is becoming more active. "The Melodaires" with Gary Corpora, Frank Pagliarulo, Bob Parker and Ralph Rock have been out and about doing some quartet singing. If you are one of those people who have still not gotten involved in quartet singing, do me a favor. Go ask one of these guys if they are having a good time.

On September 16th, The Melodaires sang at a 40th birthday party for Ralph Rock's daughter at the club house in the community where Ralph lives. There were approximately thirty friends and relatives there to wish her well and listen to the quartet sing. This was one of the first performances with the quartet's new Baritone, Bob Parker. Bob freely admits to cheating (using the sheet music to the Chicken Song... shameful isn't it), but all went well, and the party guests seemed to enjoy the entire performance

On October 3rd, The Melodaires sang at the club house in Clover Commons in Apollo for the ladies who wear the red hats and purple dresses. They are the "Red Hat Society" and not the "Purple Dress Society." Why? Who knows... what difference does it make? For any member not familiar with the organization, check with Angela Pagliarulo who is one of their members. Or, check with Donna Knapp who is the "Queen Mother" in one of their chapters. The ladies enjoyed all of the singing and most of the stories.

The Melodaires third performance was at the Plum Senior High School on October 13th. The quartet sang in a show called "Put on a Happy Face," which was the annual show sponsored by the Plum Senior Center. Profits from the show are used to help support the senior center. This was the third annual show featuring "Generations of Talent" with performers ranging from seven to... just say older. The quartet sang Hi Neighbor, the Chicken Song and Zip-a-dee-do-dah. They then combined with a Sweet Adeline quartet in "Let Me Call You Sweetheart." At the end of the show there was a final number (Put on a Happy Face) with all the cast members and they had the audacity to ask the quartet to participate in the "stage presence." The quartet tried unsuccessfully to talk their way out of this, but the show directors insisted [I heard some dancing was involved]. Anyway, the quartet reports that it was a fun night for them, the audience and all the other performers.

The Random Choice quartet worked in five performances this report period. The quartet included Bill Amos, Bill Hamilton, Tom Koch and Mark Pascarella (at the first performance) and Jim McCarthy (at all the other performances). On August 21st they sang at the Rustic Lodge in Indiana, PA at a Wedding Anniversary party for Len and Ann Poliziani. Sept 23rd , the quartet performed at the 29 Annual Fund Raising Dinner of the North Suburban Adult Services at the Shannopin Country Club in Ben Avon Heights. Then on October 4th , it was back to Nemacolin to sing for another cocktail party in Joe Hardy's Auto "Toy" Shop.

Returning from the Nemacolin gig, the quartet stopped into the VFW in Irwin for a "relaxing" drink and snack. Of course, if you walk into any establishment dressed alike wearing red suspenders, arm garters, etc., it's a dead give away that you are a barbershop quartet. Before we got out of there, we had sung for all the patrons at the bar, the woman in the kitchen, her mother and a whole group of ladies in a quilting club meeting in the banquet room. Did we have a good time? You bet!

October 4th, Random Choice sang for a seniors group luncheon at the Rankin Christian Center.

On Friday October 15th, Random Choice did a benefit, "walk about" performance at the 2nd Annual Senior Wellness & Safety Expo held at the Boyce Campus of Community College of Allegheny County. The Expo was hosted by State Senator Sean Logan and State Representative Joe Markosek. You'll recall that Senator Logan was instrumental in getting the chapter a state grant, so this was just one small way that the chapter, via Random Choice, could pay him back.

Back to top

Back to page 5

Forward to page 9