Barbershop meets the Big Apple

Chordsmen present a song-filled salute to New York City

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The Capital City Chordsmenwill bring the sights and sounds of New York City to Wharton Center withtheir annual barbershop show on Saturday, March 13. “New York, NY – Thanks forthe Memories” highlights some of the most important moments and significantattractions of the city.

From Broadway to baseballand New Year’s Eve to 9/11, the 45-man chorus aims to bring together theclassic American style of song with one of the most famous cities in the world.

“Barbershopping is a specialand unique form of music,” said ticket co-chairman James Hall. “It’s the music,the fellowship, the joy of singing for people and keeping this form of musicalive. It’s a special part of American history.”

Show chairman Larry Parker,who has been with the Capital City Chordsmen for about 25 years, said he haslong wanted to do a show about New York.

“Everybody wants to go toNew York, everybody’s been in New York, so many people live in New York,” hesaid. Parker’s only been to New York once, over 30 years ago, and he said hefelt there is a rich history to New York that could be well-told through thebarbershop chorus performance.

The show features manyfamiliar songs. “New York, New York” is featured, as well as songs fromBroadway and Billy Joel. The Chordsmen will perform “Auld Lane Syne” as arepresentation of spending New Year’s Eve in Times Square, and there is aspecial tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in the 9/11 tragedy.

Parker said the tributeportion of the show includes original music, as well as audience participationin singing “America the Beautiful.”

Many members of the chorusare also members of various barbershop quartets in the chorus. Parker is amember of the Patch Chords, who will perform. Also on the program is the Hot Air Buffoons, a comedy quartet from Ohio that Hall said iswell-known in barbershop circles.

Hall said that the Chordsmenwork to provide a variety of types of entertainment to satisfy all differentaudiences.

“What we really enjoy is notonly the joy of singing ourselves, but the fun that it brings out and theenjoyment we see from people that we sing for,” he said. “It’s a really special thing to be ableto bring music to people and sing for them.”

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