A Capella Syndicate
Jerry Gustafson
The SaddleBrooke Barbershop Chorus is presenting its fifteenth annual concert on December 8, 2017 in the DesertView Theater at 7:00 p.m. Our featured guest chorus this year is the A Cappella Syndicate shown above. This chorus is from Phoenix and formed in 2015. We are really pleased to be bringing them to SaddleBrooke for your enjoyment. Both choruses are affiliated with the Barbershop Harmony Society, the national organization that includes over 700 choruses and 20,000 barbershop singers. Purchase your reserved seats at the HOA2 Administration Building – 825-2818 – or online at www.dvpac.com.
In the spring of 2015 eleven friends got together and decided to form a new men’s a cappella harmony organization. Most of them had many years of experience singing. Each member was assigned the title of founder, given a nickname and each was to be considered an owner. Their mission: They believe that music is a universal language that brings people together from all walks of life, to promote a cappella harmony in our community and beyond through performance, education and outreach, with special emphasis on youth.
Their leaders include Brent Graham, long-time member of the Barbershop Harmony Society and a Master Director in the Sweet Adelines organization (women barbershoppers). He has directed choruses in Santa Barbara, California and Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has been on the Harmony University faculty, been a certified judge for barbershop contests and has arranged some 200 barbershop songs.
Gary Steinkamp is also a long-time member of the Barbershop Harmony Society and directed the Spirit of Phoenix, Pride of Phoenix and Phoenicians choruses. He is also on the Harmony University faculty, is a certified judge and coaches choruses and quartets all over the world.
A Cappella members have formed six quartets. You will hear some of these quartets perform at the concert. They are very entertaining. Their unique names are Scoop em Up, Heatwave, Audacity, Whoop em Up, Renaissance and Suit Up. Each quartet has won numerous awards in society contests. Audacity won the gold medal at a Society international convention. They also appeared in the SaddleBrooke concerts in 2014 and 2015 and were very well received – they are good!
A Cappella performed a concert in Phoenix in May 2017. Many members of our SaddleBrooke chorus attended this concert. All agreed it was a masterful, very entertaining presentation, so we are certain you will enjoy their appearance in SaddleBrooke. Do not miss it! Again, purchase your tickets at the HOA2 Administration Office, 825-2818, or online at www.dvpac.net.