Preserving A Unique American Art Form

It all started in 1965 when five men from Charlottesville began to sing barbershop music. By 1967, the Charlottesville, Virginia, Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America was chartered. Ever since, the Jeffersonland Barbershop Chorus and Quartets have continued to successfully preserve and encourage barbershop singing in Charlottesville and surrounding counties. This group of gentlemen songsters enjoys enthusiastic and joyful responses from audiences wherever they perform (as a chorus, or as one of the four registered quartets).

Singing Valentines are a clear example. Every year chapter quartets deliver  melodious, romantic messages, raising money for chapter programs, while helping  friends and lovers communicate their affections in a most impressive and memorable way.

David Rogers is our new chorus director. David is an engineer working for Northrop/ Grumman/Sperry in Charlottesville. He was recently transferred here from Melbourne, Florida. He brings with him over 25 years of Barbershop experience as a singer and director.

The Jeffersonland Chorus has won the Small Chorus Championship of the Southern Division of the Mid-Atlantic District for the years 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Membership today stands at over 20. A gradual infusion of new talent and leadership has helped position the chapter for significant growth. Chapter meetings are lively; fun with a happy mixture of music business and monkey business.

The chapter meets every Monday night at 7:30 pm at St. Mark Lutheran Church at Ivy and Alderman Roads in Charlottesville. Membership is open to all congenial men (young and old) of good repute who can sing. Anyone is invited to come and listen if that is their pleasure.

This site was updated on: Wednesday, 13-Aug-2008 13:54:05 EDT