MONROE - The Green County Harmony Chorus recently named its fourth director and is actively recruiting new members from throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
The chorus recently recruited Cindy Blanc, Monroe, to lead them through their weekly rehearsals and performances. The group meets from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's United Church of Christ, 1724 14th St., Monroe.
Men of all ages, ability and experience are needed to sing a cappella four-part harmonies in barbershop style. The group performs at area churches, social gatherings and festivals, and hosts an annual spring show in Monroe.
The chorus has members from Blanchardville, Brodhead, Browntown and Monroe in Wisconsin and Freeport, Lena, Pearl City, Ridott and Stockton in Illinois.
The next performance of the Green County Harmony Chorus will be in Monroe.
The chorus' Cheese Days performance is at 8 p.m. Sept. 17 on the Square.
The chorus was formed in 1962. Its repertoire consists of barbershop arrangements of standards, gospel, sacred, pop and novelty tunes.
Blanc, a professional musician and teacher in southern Wisconsin, has directed church, community and children's choruses throughout the area.
She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She teaches piano, voice and percussion, and is a member of the Beloit-Janesville Symphony.
In addition to teaching music at two elementary schools, Blanc directs and plays pit orchestras for local and regional theaters, but was intrigued by the prospect of assisting the Green County Harmony Chorus members hone their harmonies.
"It's a different musical genre for me," Blanc said. "But I very much enjoy working with this young-at-heart group of gentlemen."
Barbershop music generally features songs with understandable lyrics and easily singable melodies.
Barbershop's a cappella, or unaccompanied, vocal music is characterized by four-part chords. Each of the four parts has its own role: generally, the lead sings the melody, the tenor harmonizes above the melody, the bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completes the chord, usually below the lead.
The Green County Harmony Chorus seeks singers in each of these vocal ranges.
Members are not required to read music, but an ear for harmonies is helpful.
The goal of the chorus is to bring together men of all ages and backgrounds from throughout the area to find common ground through self expression in song.
Members have been with the local barbershop chorus for varying lengths of time, but some have been harmonizing together since the group's inception.
Gaylord Swenson and Emerson Wells, both of Browntown, have been with the chorus for 49 years. Assistant director Gary Partridge of Monroe leads the chorus at many community events and has been singing with the group for 35 years. Chorus president Ron Johnson of Monroe has sung with the group for more than 20 years.
"It's not just the harmonizing, but also the camaraderie with the guys," Johnson said.
Prospective members are encouraged to attend a rehearsal any Tuesday evening. Additional information is available by calling Johnson at (608) 325-5414.
The chorus recently recruited Cindy Blanc, Monroe, to lead them through their weekly rehearsals and performances. The group meets from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's United Church of Christ, 1724 14th St., Monroe.
Men of all ages, ability and experience are needed to sing a cappella four-part harmonies in barbershop style. The group performs at area churches, social gatherings and festivals, and hosts an annual spring show in Monroe.
The chorus has members from Blanchardville, Brodhead, Browntown and Monroe in Wisconsin and Freeport, Lena, Pearl City, Ridott and Stockton in Illinois.
The next performance of the Green County Harmony Chorus will be in Monroe.
The chorus' Cheese Days performance is at 8 p.m. Sept. 17 on the Square.
The chorus was formed in 1962. Its repertoire consists of barbershop arrangements of standards, gospel, sacred, pop and novelty tunes.
Blanc, a professional musician and teacher in southern Wisconsin, has directed church, community and children's choruses throughout the area.
She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She teaches piano, voice and percussion, and is a member of the Beloit-Janesville Symphony.
In addition to teaching music at two elementary schools, Blanc directs and plays pit orchestras for local and regional theaters, but was intrigued by the prospect of assisting the Green County Harmony Chorus members hone their harmonies.
"It's a different musical genre for me," Blanc said. "But I very much enjoy working with this young-at-heart group of gentlemen."
Barbershop music generally features songs with understandable lyrics and easily singable melodies.
Barbershop's a cappella, or unaccompanied, vocal music is characterized by four-part chords. Each of the four parts has its own role: generally, the lead sings the melody, the tenor harmonizes above the melody, the bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completes the chord, usually below the lead.
The Green County Harmony Chorus seeks singers in each of these vocal ranges.
Members are not required to read music, but an ear for harmonies is helpful.
The goal of the chorus is to bring together men of all ages and backgrounds from throughout the area to find common ground through self expression in song.
Members have been with the local barbershop chorus for varying lengths of time, but some have been harmonizing together since the group's inception.
Gaylord Swenson and Emerson Wells, both of Browntown, have been with the chorus for 49 years. Assistant director Gary Partridge of Monroe leads the chorus at many community events and has been singing with the group for 35 years. Chorus president Ron Johnson of Monroe has sung with the group for more than 20 years.
"It's not just the harmonizing, but also the camaraderie with the guys," Johnson said.
Prospective members are encouraged to attend a rehearsal any Tuesday evening. Additional information is available by calling Johnson at (608) 325-5414.
