| In this issue | |
|---|---|
| |
|
| Ron Brooks-Director (again) | |
| Calendar, Org., press block, BD's & Anniv. | |
| Editors Page | |
| New member, Tim Wilson | |
| Songs we sing + 5 steps, vocal technique | |
| Chorus photo montage | |
| We perform | |
| Harmony camp + Corpora wins trophy | |
| Board meeting highlights | |
| JABS needs you + Voices change with age | |
| The first chorus contest | |
Ron started entertaining early in his life. In 1975, at age eleven, he signed his first professional contract with the Civic Light Opera to appear in a Heinz Hall production of "Fiddler On The Roof." At the same time, he joined the Pennsylvania #1 Chapter (which became Greater Pittsburgh Chapter) of the Barbershop Harmony Society and was appointed as their music Director when he was a high school senior. While a teenager, Ron was not only featured on numerous talent shows and concerts; he also represented Avonworth High School in district and regional choral festivals for four consecutive years and was honored with the National School Choral Award.
Ron was selected as Barbershopper Of The Year for the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter when he was nineteen years old and inducted into the chapter Hall Of Fame five years later. In the fall of 1990, Ron went to the Butler, Pa chapter as their music Director.
Under Ron's leadership, the Butler Notables went from being a struggling chapter to a greatly improved chapter, winning four JAD Small Chorus Championships. Ron was chosen Barbershopper Of The Year for the Butler Chapter in 1992. More recenly, as coach and assistant director of the Zanesville, Ohio chapter, he helped their chorus climb from the bottom of division ranks to become a top ten, district contender.
Over the years, Ron has been in several quartets including the Pittsburgh Music Review, Harmony Partners, Hourglass, Wired For Sound (two time JAD finalist), and the Praetzel Brothers of Erie, Pa (Seneca Land District finalist).
Ron has served as the Young Men In Harmony
chairman for JAD and has taught classes on Beginning
Directing, Young Men In Harmony, and Bulletin Editing
(he was once bulletin editor of the Pitchburgh Press) at
Apple Corps School at Kenyon College.
During a stint working for a singing telegram company in Pittsburgh, Ron found himself rewriting many out of date lyrics and discovered he had a talent for writing original songs about people. Always the...
See Ron Brooks... continued on page 4