This month I decided to keep my column rather short and just report on chapter quartet activity. Next issue I'll probably get back to discussing the lack of quartet activity, and provide you with some info. from our past relating to what our quartet activity used to be, including some interesting pics. I delved from my files.

I am pleased to report that we do have a new registered quartet. Welcome the "Melodaires" which includes Gary Corpora @ tenor, Joe DeFilippo @ bari, Frank Pagliarulo @ lead and Ralph Rock @ bass. This quartet is already scheduled to participate in our show. Hopefully we'll be hearing much more about their singing in the future. If you will recall, we welcomed Ralph Rock as a new member to the barbershop Society on March 11th of this year. Here's hoping some of our other new, and old, members follow Ralph's example.

In quartet singing activity, the Backyard Boys, using Bill Amos, Jim McCarthy, Bill Hamilton and Bob Parker sang on Nov. 11th to residents at Seneca Manor.

A quartet affectionately called "C.R.S." performed for the Gateway School District Retirement Association at the Alcoma Country Club on Nov. 12th. I asked Bob Parker, who picked this quartet, what CRS stood for and he told me it meant "Can't Remember S_ _ _ _ " (fill in your own last word) Stuff?;  Songs?. The quartet consisted of the same four "backyard boys" named in the preceding paragraph. Bob Parker was the emcee due to his former employment status at Gateway and Bill Amos "thrilled" the audience with some of his witty anecdotes. A lot of positive comments were made by the audience and fliers for the 2004 annual show were distributed.

In other quartet action, Random Choice with Bill Amos, Bill Hamilton, Tom Koch & Mark Pasacarella sang on Dec. 7th at Holy Trinity Church in West Mifflin for the Christian Mother's Association. The next day, Random Choice, this time using Don Smith at lead and Bob Parker at ban sang at Suburban General Hospital in Bellevue for a volunteer ladies group. Incidentally, Dorothy Kosak, wife of lead George Kosak, was in the audience. On Dec 12th, Random Choice, back with their usual members, sang in Murrysville for MSL Inc.

One of our erudite baritones, Ken Ernst assembled a quartet he dubbed "The Wishful Four" consisting of Bill Amos, Bill Hamilton, Jim McCarthy and himself. This elite foursome traveled to Anthony's Hall in Baldwin on Dec. 16th and sang at the annual Christmas party for the Carrick Meals on Wheels volunteers. Maybe they can land a permanent job delivering meals with a song.

H.M.S. PINAFORE
Or-The Lass that Loved A Sailor

Presented by the Pittsburgb Savoyards in Oct., 2003.

Reported on here by Editor, Tom Koch...

So, you ask, who or what are the "Savoyards" and why are you writing about them in the Pitchburgh Press?

To answer the first part of that question, the Pittsburgh Savoyards is a semiprofessional, community-based, non-profit theater company founded in 1938. Their focus is the performance of the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, with occasional performance of other composers' comic operas. The name "Savoyards" comes from the Savoy Theater in London, where many of the operas premiered and were performed for many years, and is used throughout the world to indicate devotion to these works.

OK, so that's who they are, but why am I including this info. here? Well, for one reason, our music instructor, Guy Russo, is the Music Director/Conductor for the Savoyards performances. His association with the Savoyards goes back to his high school days. Just in case you're not familiar with Guy's background, he's performed with opera companies and orchestras throughout the Mid-Aflantic, has sung a number of roles for the Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Opera Theater, and has been tenor soloist at Shadyside Presbyterian church, Rodef Shalom, and Temple Sinai. Guy has been resident music director for CCAC South Campus Summer Theater for over 10 years, and is currently vocal director at Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon, choral director or CMU's Pre-College Summer Institute, and director of vocal music at Sewickley Academy.

Secondly, one of our chapter members (although not in current attendance), Bill Bluemle, played the role of boatswains mate, Bill Bobstay in H.M.S. Pinafore and was one of the "able seaman" in the operas' men's chorus. This was Bill's l0th Savoyards performance. Bill just completed a run with stage 62 as Joe in Working. Bill sings tenor and cantors at Ascension parish in Ingram, PA. Sure would be nice to get Bill back into our lead section here at Greater Pittsburgh.