Virginians
Encyclopedia
The Virginians is a barbershop
chorus
located in Richmond
, Virginia. Mike Wallen is currently its musical director, and has been serving in this capacity since 1998. It recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is one of the oldest continuous singing groups in the Greater Richmond
Area. Originally chartered in 1952 as the Tobaccoland Chorus, the chapter was renamed to the Virginians, in 1990.
The Virginians competed at the 2000 Barbershop Harmony Society
International Competition, held at Kansas City
, Missouri, numbering 100 on stage. That same year, it sponsored a major benefit performance
(featuring the Richmond Symphony Orchestra
) for the WRVA "Alden Aaroe
Shoe Fund" at the Landmark Theater. The Virginians chorus was recently selected to participate at the seventh annual Russia
n Barbershop Music
Festival with Greg Lyne
, held in St. Petersburg, Russia
.
, Henrico
, Hanover
, Chesterfield
and eastern Goochland
counties. Some members come from as far away as Charlottesville
and the Northern Neck
, with a strong contingent from the Williamsburg
area.
The Virginians chorus participates in numerous community appearances with diverse shows that may include performances by its registered chapter quartets. One of its biggest fundraiser
s is an annual Singing Valentines
program.
Most of its repertoire is made up of barbershop arrangement
s, but the Virginians also sing in other a cappella
styles.
(based in Nashville
) a 501(c)(3) non-profit
charity
. It is partially supported by the Arts Council of Richmond.
In addition, the Virginians Ensemble is a daytime chorus (a subset of Richmond chapter members who can perform during the work day) that is very active in the community.
affiliate of SPEBSQSA received its official charter from the society on December 6, 1952 with "almost 40 members". Its Charter Party was attended by "approximately 150 persons". Dean Snyder from SPEBSQSA (and founding member of the Alexandria Harmonizers
), presided at the ceremony to hand the charter to then chapter president, Dr. Ralph M. Roberts.
The Richmond affiliate started proceedings to get an official SPEBSQSA charter in September 1952 and open up its membership to men who wanted to sing in an ensemble chorus. Previously, the group had been entirely made up of barbershop quartets.
was recorded live at the University of Richmond
's Modlin Center for the Performing Arts (Camp Theater).
Blue Skies was released in April 2008.
Barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
chorus
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
located in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia. Mike Wallen is currently its musical director, and has been serving in this capacity since 1998. It recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is one of the oldest continuous singing groups in the Greater Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
Area. Originally chartered in 1952 as the Tobaccoland Chorus, the chapter was renamed to the Virginians, in 1990.
The Virginians competed at the 2000 Barbershop Harmony Society
Barbershop Harmony Society
The Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. , is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form. Founded by Owen C...
International Competition, held at Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri, numbering 100 on stage. That same year, it sponsored a major benefit performance
Benefit performance
In a benefit performance the performers usually do not earn any money.Instead, the takings will go to raise money for some mutually agreed upon cause: e.g. the Actors Benevolent Fund; a hospital; a foundation...
(featuring the Richmond Symphony Orchestra
Richmond Symphony Orchestra
The Richmond Symphony is based in Richmond, Virginia. One of the nation's leading regional orchestras, it employs 72-85 musicians who give over 100 performances each season to over 125,000 audience members. Its music director is Steven Smith; its associate conductor is Dr. Erin Freeman...
) for the WRVA "Alden Aaroe
Alden Aaroe
Alden Peterson Aaroe was a popular longtime broadcast journalist and announcer for WRVA, a radio station in Richmond, Virginia.-Career:...
Shoe Fund" at the Landmark Theater. The Virginians chorus was recently selected to participate at the seventh annual Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Barbershop Music
Barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
Festival with Greg Lyne
Greg Lyne
Dr. Greg Lyne is a noted choral director, arranger, composer and vocal educator. Dr. Lyne works full-time as a coach for choruses and quartets throughout the world and as a clinician for musical ensembles of all types. His reputation in choral directing – of all genres of music – extends around...
, held in St. Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
.
Membership
The active members of the chorus draw primarily from the city of RichmondRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Henrico
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Hanover
Hanover County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
, Chesterfield
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
and eastern Goochland
Goochland County, Virginia
Goochland County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 21,717. Its county seat is Goochland. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area ....
counties. Some members come from as far away as Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
and the Northern Neck
Northern Neck
The Northern Neck is the northernmost of three peninsulas on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This peninsula is bounded by the Potomac River on the north and the Rappahannock River on the south. It encompasses the following Virginia counties: Lancaster,...
, with a strong contingent from the Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
area.
Activities
Annual performances typically include:- SpringSpring (season)Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
Show, which usually has a theme and a guest quartet or performing groupMusical ensembleA musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles... - Williamsburg CommunityWilliamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
Show - Dogwood Dell Show (outdoor performance)
- ChristmasChristmas musicChristmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
Show
The Virginians chorus participates in numerous community appearances with diverse shows that may include performances by its registered chapter quartets. One of its biggest fundraiser
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
s is an annual Singing Valentines
Singing Valentines
Singing Valentines is the name for a fundraising program that is popular with barbershop choruses in the U.S.The delivery of Singing Valentines is usually done by a barbershop quartet from a chapter affiliated with the three major U.S...
program.
Most of its repertoire is made up of barbershop arrangement
Barbershop arranging
Barbershop arranging is the art of creating arrangements of barbershop music. The Barbershop Harmony Society has prescribed rules that dictate what is an acceptable arrangement, particularly with regard to singing in competition...
s, but the Virginians also sing in other a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
styles.
Organization
The Virginians chorus is the principal performing group from the Richmond chapter of the Barbershop Harmony SocietyBarbershop Harmony Society
The Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. , is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form. Founded by Owen C...
(based in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
) a 501(c)(3) non-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
. It is partially supported by the Arts Council of Richmond.
In addition, the Virginians Ensemble is a daytime chorus (a subset of Richmond chapter members who can perform during the work day) that is very active in the community.
Early history
Originally "organized in the Fall of 1945" with 24 members of local quartets, the RichmondRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
affiliate of SPEBSQSA received its official charter from the society on December 6, 1952 with "almost 40 members". Its Charter Party was attended by "approximately 150 persons". Dean Snyder from SPEBSQSA (and founding member of the Alexandria Harmonizers
Alexandria Harmonizers
The Alexandria Harmonizers are an international champion barbershop chorus based in Alexandria, Virginia. Numbering 95 men in 2009, the chorus is the performing arm of the Alexandria Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, under the direction of Joseph Cerutti, Jr...
), presided at the ceremony to hand the charter to then chapter president, Dr. Ralph M. Roberts.
The Richmond affiliate started proceedings to get an official SPEBSQSA charter in September 1952 and open up its membership to men who wanted to sing in an ensemble chorus. Previously, the group had been entirely made up of barbershop quartets.
Album
Their Blue Skies albumAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
was recorded live at the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
's Modlin Center for the Performing Arts (Camp Theater).
Blue Skies was released in April 2008.
Leadership
Past musical directors include Brian Whitehead, Jim Garber, Hardman Jones, Buddy Johns, John Glass, Hardman Jones, John Hohl, Charlie Bechtler and Gary Parker. Currently the director is Mike Wallen.See also
- Barbershop Harmony SocietyBarbershop Harmony SocietyThe Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. , is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form. Founded by Owen C...
- Barbershop musicBarbershop musicBarbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
- A cappella musicA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
External links
- Official Web Site: http://www.virginians.org/
- Chorus Profile
- Arts Council of Richmond
- To Russia With Love A news article about the chorus plans to visit Saint PetersburgSaint PetersburgSaint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
in August 2006 and its singing valentinesSinging ValentinesSinging Valentines is the name for a fundraising program that is popular with barbershop choruses in the U.S.The delivery of Singing Valentines is usually done by a barbershop quartet from a chapter affiliated with the three major U.S...
fund-raiser. - Senate Joint Resolution No. 5024 offered May 12, 2006 before the Virginia General AssemblyVirginia General AssemblyThe Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
. - Chapter Entry in Mid-Atlantic District of the Barbershop Harmony SocietyBarbershop Harmony SocietyThe Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. , is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form. Founded by Owen C...
. - Down by the River, Richmond Times Dispatch, June 3, 1999, Riverfront Opening Celebration