Voices of America holds annual spring concert this Saturday
CORRECTION: A story on the Voices of America spring concert on Page D16 of Friday’s paper contained incorrect information. For more information on the concert, call 233-5678 or go to www.vchorus.com.
When people think of barbershop music, they may conjure up images old-timey and classic. The Voices of America would like you to go ahead and get that image out of your head.
“There’s certainly misconceptions about barbershop, thinking it’s four guys in straw hats singing songs,” says Scott Johnson, vice president of marketing and P.R. and a Voices of America bass singer.
With their annual spring concert this weekend at the Missouri Theater, the 40-member male a cappella group will be ready to perform a variety of styles to celebrate the St. Joseph Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 50-year anniversary. The group plans on singing a 1950s rock ‘n’ roll medley, patriotic songs, spirituals, show tunes, jazz and even a number from the Disney animated classic “Toy Story.”
The group will be joined on stage by “3 Men and a Melody,” a returning quartet of former Voices members and Northwest Missouri State University graduates who have gone on to compete in international singing competitions. Johnson thinks the quartet will win audiences over with their a cappella arrangements of recognizable songs and fun stage banter.
“In some ways, they’re just crazy. They just do funny things,” he says.
Another quartet joining Voices on stage will be The Noise Boys, a more grown-up group comprised of Voices members and led by musical director Byron Myers.
For Myers, the idea of a cappella singing — music simply stated through voice and melody — will never seem dated.
“There is something uniquely pure about music without the clutter of a bunch of instruments,” Myers says. “You don’t have to roll out your amplifiers... you can just walk in and sing.”
Find your voice
What: Voices of America’s annual spring concert with 3 Men and a Melody and The Noise Boys
When: 7:30 p.m. May 3
Where: Missouri Theater, 717 Edmond St.
Cost: $20 and $15 reserved seats, $10 general admission, half price for students
Info: Call 279-7419 or go to www.americanbarberboys.com
Lifestyles reporter Blake Hannon can be reached at blakehannon@npgco.com
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