Great Lakes Chorus History    


The Great Lakes Chorus was established in 1947 as part of the international organization the Barbershop Harmony Society.  We are an all male barbershop chorus for the Grand Rapids, Michigan area community with members from all over Michigan.  We are a non-profit and do community, competition and contracted performances.  Below is the organization's history.  Also visit the GreatLakesChorus.org website's Join page for more information. 



GRAND RAPIDS CHAPTER HISTORY

The Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter is a not for profit singing organization dedicated to preserving and spreading barbershop harmony throughout Michigan and the Grand Rapids area.  The Chapter is chartered as a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, also known as S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. or the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America

Although Barbershop harmony, a native art form, was sung for many years, the Barbershop Society was not formed until April 11, 1938 when an informational meeting was held at a rooftop garden at the Muelenbach Hotel in Tulsa, OK . The National headquarters were established in Detroit, Michigan and remained there until 1957 when they were moved to a mansion on the shores of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin where they remain today. 

The Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter was formed about nineteen months later in November, 1939.  It was created as the result of a joint meeting held at the Pantlind Hotel (now the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel) between men that enjoyed singing barbershop and the members of the Schubert Club.   Meetings were held at the Pantlind for a number of years.  The Chapter became a part of the Pioneer District of the Society.  The Pioneer District now is comprised of all of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and the eastern half of its Upper Peninsula as well as parts of Ontario, Canada. 

Although there were National Quartet Champions crowned beginning in 1939, The Harmony Halls from Grand Rapids won the first truly “International” Quartet championship in 1944 as Canadian Chapters were added to the Society.  In 1950, the Harmony Halls were one of the first quartets to tour Europe and entertain servicemen at the request of the U.S. Government.

The Great Lakes Chorus was formed in 1947 as the official choral singing group of the Grand Rapids Chapter to offer men an opportunity to learn barbershop harmony in a large group so they could develop their skills to enable them to sing in quartets.  In 1952 the Chorus entered the first Pioneer District chorus competition and came away the winners.  This victory gave the Chorus the right to represent the Pioneer District in the first ever International Chorus Contest.  The Great Lakes Chorus won this contest and was crowned the very first International Chorus Champions in 1953. 

The Great Lakes Chorus has been crowned District Champions 10  times since 1953.*  The Chorus has represented the Pioneer District 15 times at the International Contest from 1981 through 2002, more times than any other Pioneer District Chapter in the history of the Society.  We last competed in the International Chorus Contest in Portland, Oregon in July, 2002. 

To put the Great Lakes Chorus’ achievements  in perspective, the Grand Rapids Chapter is one of some 32 barbershop chapters in Pioneer District and the Great Lakes Chorus placed 22nd at the Portland International Contest when the preliminary contests held to qualify for the International Contest included over 800 choruses in the United States alone.  When you think of our placement in the entire Barbershop Society, you realize that the Great Lakes Chorus is clearly one of Michigan’s and America’s best barbershop singing groups. 

The Chapter can also boast a number of District Championship quartets including Wildcard in 2004, Shades of Grey (Seniors) in 1999, Flipside (Seniors) in 1997, fermata in 1996, Genuine Blend in 1994, Opening Night in 1992, Legacy in 1988, Touch of Clash in 1986, The Ritz in 1984, The Galaxies in 1973, The Extension Chords in 1952 and The Harmony Halls in 1943. 

Both the Ritz and the Harmony Halls went on to become International Quartet Champions. 

Come join us any Tuesday night at 7:00 PM at the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 36th Street & Cascade Road in Cascade, Michigan – No experience is necessary.  Or call us at our Harmony Hotline (447-8338) for more information.

*Choruses winning the Pioneer District Chorus Championship have to sit out for two consecutive years before competing for the District Championship again.

Chapter Presidents 

           

1940-41   Rosco Bennett   
1942-43   Ray Hall
1944-47   Marv Brower
1948-50  Cecil Fisher
1951-52   Bud Konlke
1953-55   Ed Gaikema
1956-56   Frank Tiggleman
1957-58   Ray Hall
1959        Lou Mahacek
1960        BobWalker
1961-62  Tom Elderkin
1963        Jack Klaiber
1964        Ken Childs
1965        Jerry Verveer
1966-67  Bill Wild Jr.
1968       Jack Schneider
1969-70  Jim Horton
1971-72  Tom Hegle
1973-74  Paul Robinson 
1975-76  Fran Jones 
1977       Pat Warren / Fran Jones
1978-80  Don Lacy
1981       Terry Fenech
1982-84  Mike O'Donnell
1985       Jem Duffin
1986-87  Ron Thomet
1988       Lynn Sommerfeld
1989-90  Bob Goldschmeding
1991        Ron Thomet
1992-93   Bud Kraft
1994-95  John Bloomquist
1996        Dan Casanatta
1997        Jim Russell
1998        Dan Casamatta
1999-2000  Dale Mattis
2001-2002  Jack Schneider
2003-2004  Jeff Chesnut
2005-2006  Bud Kraft