A long-running South Canterbury barbershop chorus has been tuning up the pipes ahead of a return to national competition.
The Height of Harmony chorus, originally the Rhythm & Green chorus, was formed in 1991 and last year welcomed veteran barbershop director Dean Roberts into the musical director role.
After a year full of performance and progress, chorus president Russell Hendry said members felt they had greatly improved and would be attending the national barbershop convention in Christchurch to compete.
‘‘It’s something we haven’t done for quite a few years. We just feel we’re up to a really good standard.
‘‘We’ve committed to going there on September 19 and the main aim for us will just be putting on the best possible performance.
‘‘They award medals for first, second and third in different categories. It’s something we’ve never achieved before, so that would also be an aim and to get something like that in the small chorus category would be a huge achievement for us.
‘‘There will be choruses there from all over New Zealand and some are very big ones. The Auckland and Wellington ones will probably have 60, 70 people in them and then there will be us with 16.’’
He said a lot of the recent improvement was down to having Mr Roberts as the new musical director.
‘‘Our chorus has improved beyond recognition.
‘‘[Dean] has a wealth of musical knowledge, teaching methods and is dedicated to building our singing capabilities.
‘‘What’s happened is we’ve got a new level of enthusiasm, really. We’ve seen what we can do and what we can achieve. In the last year we’ve taken part in several concerts with other singing groups.
‘‘We did a joint concert with Rhyth-Mix in both Timaru and Geraldine and just before Christmas we did one with the Timaru Jazz Band and sung in several other places like rest homes or wherever the public asked.’’
Mr Hendry said the chorus would also be holding an open night next Thursday as a way for members of the public to see them in action.
‘‘Hopefully we can attract some new members as well.
‘‘A lot of people like listening but don’t feel they can do it. We’re also encouraging people to come down, have a try and they might just feel like they can carry it on.
‘‘Most of us are older, just about everyone is retired. Sometimes it’s a wee bit hard to learn stuff but if I can do it, anyone can.’’
The open night will take place from 7pm-9pm at Trinity Church in College Rd.
