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The Highland Barbershoppers

A "reprise" of the Wednesday V.A. program

Bill Amos recently came to your editor and gave me a copy of an old letter he had come upon in his dusty files. I know I have periodically run articles about the Wednesday V.A. program, which I myself just joined a few short years ago, but this old letter from Judy Good Christ is worth a repeat. I titled this column the Highland Barbershoppers as that is what Judy called the program. It originally started at the Highland Drive V.A. hospital and then spread to Aspinwall, Oakland and now the PA Southwest facility off Highland Drive. Here is Judy's letter:

"Dear Volunteer Barbershoppers...

Just wanted to share a few thoughts with you regarding the incredibly successful program of the Highland Barbershoppers.

In all endeavors, there has to be an original idea... a thought... a willingness to try something new. Most of you know the origins of this particular group: the late Joe Knittel had a brainstorm about starting a barbershop group in a veterans hospital and I, as a Music Therapist, was approached about this and was thrilled at the prospect- There was absolutely no way that I could possibly teach a group of men how to sing in barbershop harmony. Music school taught me a lot... but I'm quite aware of my limitations and was excited at the prospect of such a group being formed. Little did I know the impact this undertaking would have on so many lives.

The older one gets, the more difficult to remember dates... but it was 1989 or 1990 when the first hardy group of barbershoppers from the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter came to Highland Drive V.A. Medical Center. The Daytimers Quartet came in... not knowing what to expect... but trusting in the universal language of music. Some of the members of our Veterans Chorus showed up for the first rehearsal... a chord was sounded... and the rest is history!

We entered and won the 1990 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival and were the First Place National Winners and invited to San Diego, California to participate in the final showcase of veteran talent from around the country. Four guys from the Greater Pgh. Chapter; Bill Amos, Joe Knittel, George Charlton and our infamous director, Lou Vlahos , were the brave souls who joined our merry entourage on a journey none of us will ever forget! These guys were the core quartet... surrounded by 23 veterans... forming the Highland Barbershoppers.

Time passed... the program grew...and volunteers from the North Hills Chapter began attending sessions each Wednesday morning. Many stories could be told and pages written about what has transpired week after week in the Music Therapy Clinic... on wards throughout the Medical Center and on performance outings into the community. In 1995 the group again won the National Vets Creative Arts Festival and 14 vets and volunteers piled into the VA bus (ask Bill Amos about the shocks and his bad back!) and we went trucking off to Coatesville V.A where the group did a stellar performance. Ange Spampinato, Bernie Sippel and 'famous' Amos were the volunteers who were the glue holding the group together.

So whats this all about? What difference has it made? I can tell you it's made a lot of difference... a lot of lives have been touched and much caring has been done. The very fact that volunteers have shown up, pushed wheelchairs, sat next to someone singing an unknown key... and have worked to get the sounds that were harmonious and have listened to stories that were difficult to understand... and shook hands... and patted backs... and smiled... and joked and laughed. Yes, this has had such a significant impact... even if another song was never sung, you guys have REALLY made a difference!

You have cared enough to keep on keeping on... to crawl out of bed on some Wednesday mornings when you could have curled up on the couch with the remote!

For the V.A., I thank you... for the Vets, I thank you. For myself... well, each Wednesday, this Music Therapist has been "therapatized" by your music. This is more powerful than medicine... and your beautiful harmonies have been very healing. For all the times you' ve jumped in and bailed me out when I've been out of commission, I am truly appreciative. I could go on and on (I learned this from some of you guys... no names of course) But the bottom line is... God Bless you all for caring enough to share the songs in your hearts!!

Sincerely... Judy Good Christ 9/18/96"

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