Voices In Harmony
Encyclopedia
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...
known for its mastery of technically demanding close harmony. Their repertoire is diverse and encompasses music from the classics to jazz, contemporary to patriotic, pop and traditional choral selections. Voices in Harmony was founded in 2006, based in San Jose
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
, California and under the masterful musical direction of Dr. Greg Lyne. Under his leadership, VIH has rapidly become one of the finest a cappella choruses in the world.
All members of Voices in Harmony are non-paid volunteers. A 501 (C)(3) organization, the chorus is self-sustaining through gifts, performance fees, admissions to shows, and sales of recordings and merchandise. Members of the chorus work in a myriad of professions, with backgrounds in high school music programs, church choirs, contemporary and collegiate a cappella groups.
History
In late 2005, the idea of merging the San Jose Garden City Chorus and the Bay Area Metro Pot O' Gold Chorus from Pleasanton, CA, began to take shape. The abundance of experienced singers and musical leadership from both choruses provided a strong foundation from which to grow quickly. With the merger in hand, VIH was able to secure four-time International Chorus Champion director, Dr. Lyne as musical director and move him to California.The newly combined chorus began meeting in January 2006 and competed in their first qualifying competition in April 2006, with 87 men on stage. VIH won the contest handily, and went on to place second in the Far Western District contest in October 2006. This earned the chorus a wild card invitation to the International contest, held in July 2007 in Denver, CO. VIH placed sixth in their first-ever International contest appearance, with 103 men on stage.
Voices in Harmony again placed second in the Fall 2007 contest of the Far Western District, behind the Masters of Harmony
Masters of Harmony
The Masters of Harmony are a 135-member men's barbershop chorus, based in Santa Fe Springs, California. They are the current SPEBSQSA International Chorus Champions. Founded in 1986 with a few dozen men, they rose to stardom under the tutelage of director Dr. Greg Lyne...
- (7-time International Chorus Champion). At their second International appearance in Nashville, TN in July 2008, VIH won their first medal, a 3rd place bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
with an average score of 89.7%.
The chorus won their first Far Western District chorus championship in October 2008, with an average score of 88.4%. They represented the Far Western District at the 2009 International Chorus Contest in Anaheim, CA in July of 2009, placing 8th with an average of 89.0%.
In addition to annual competitions at regional and international levels, the chorus produces a few concerts each year and also performs publicly throughout the Bay Area. Performance engagements include commercial bookings, community concerts, corporate meetings, charity events and other special events. Voices in Harmony also supports and promotes Youth in Harmony activities in bay area schools and colleges.
Voices in Harmony’s first recording, Now & Then – Popular American Music from Six Decades of Classics, was released
in 2008. The recording was nominated for Best Barbershop Album for the 2009 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA’s).
In August 2009, Voices in Harmony represented the United States at the 10th Annual Russian Barbershop Festival in St Petersburg, Russia, where they taught master classes and performed multiple concerts at many different venues throughout the historical city.
Voices in Harmony again placed second in the Far Western District contest in October 2009 with an average score of 88.3% - which qualifies them to compete at the international competition to be held in July 2010 in Philadelphia, PA.
On June 12, 2010, Voices in Harmony will perform with the GRAMMY-winning super group, The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
. The concert will take place at 8 p.m. at the historic California Theatre in downtown San Jose. Voices in Harmony will open the concert - which includes a performance by Masterpiece, an a cappella quartet from Southern California.