The classic image of the barbershop quartet is a uniquely American phenomenon, with the iconic straw hats, striped vests, and bowties. But the visual imagery is the easiest part of the equation—it’s the a capella harmony singing that is the real challenge.
The Central Coast Chordsmen is a local chapter of the Barbershop Society, and its goal is mastering the skill of harmony singing in the barbershop style. But if that wasn’t enough, the Chordsmen is also dedicated to teaching the next generation the art.
The group leads the local Youth in Harmony program, which includes an educational festival every year for boys and girls, Vice President of Membership Robert Maurer said. The Chordsmen will hold a fundraiser barbecue for the program on Oct. 28.
“We’re up to 19 schools that we’ve invited; we’re up to Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Atascadero, all the way down to Lompoc and Santa Barbara schools,” Maurer said. “And we invite the boys and girls to come and learn to sing some songs for the day.”
The barbecue fundraiser will include a chicken lunch with all the usual fixings for a donation of $10. There will also be local students on hand to help out as well, Maurer said.
High schools like Orcutt Academy have been involved with the Chordsmen for years. Orcutt Academy senior Justin Selken said that he’s sung at the Youth in Harmony festival every year since he was a freshman. The popularity of the style has grown at the school as well, he said.
“It’s been really cool to see barbershop grow in our school,” Selken said. “Once I got into it, I just kept doing it more.”
The Chordsmen also sponsor youth ensembles to perform at conferences or competitions hosted by the Barbershop Society. Last year, Orcutt Academy’s men’s quartet, the Soundsations, took home top honors from a regional competition.
Orcutt Academy Choral Director Dona Kintzi said that her students’ involvement with the Chordsmen has been a positive outlet for the young musicians.
“It gives that extracurricular challenge for those kids who are talented or want to do more in the vocal capacity,” Kintzi said. “And these kids volunteer their time before, after school, and during lunch to sing tighter, more difficult harmonies and rhythms.”
For seniors like Selken, who’ve been singing at school and with the Chordsmen or Youth in Harmony for years, the confidence they have in their vocal skill drives them to compete and learn.
“One of the big things that we’ve been taught, and it’s a quote from Deke Sharon, ‘Barbershop is the black belt of a capella,’” Selken said.
But getting those skills requires lots of practice, guidance from mentors like the Chordsmen, and then witnessing high-level performances and interacting with more advanced ensembles, he explained.
“Probably one of the biggest things I like about Youth in Harmony is the fact that we get to interact with so many generations,” Selken said. “Music is not a generational thing when we’re all singing the same thing, like an 80-year-old man and a 17-year-old guy can sing the same song and it’s cool, it’s just the same experience.”
And that shared experience is what will bring students and the Chordsmen together again for the barbecue fundraiser, where Maurer hinted there might be some impromptu performances.
“Our chapter sings at any inclination, at any drop of a hat or pen,” Maurer said. “There could be singing, it wouldn’t be anything formal, but we would just start singing.”
Selken didn’t know if he could make it to the barbecue, but he said he’s definitely going to be at the next Youth in Harmony. He also plans to keep performing in a quartet at Orcutt Academy, but he’s yet to buy the straw hat and barbershop-style clothes.
“Not yet,” he said. “I haven’t earned my stripes quite yet.”
Managing Editor Joe Payne sings the baritone part. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 26 – Nov 2, 2017.