Rehearsal photos from June 16th and 23rd 2009. The June 16th rehearsal we worked in preperation for the Middleville concert for the 19th.


Gary Branch renewed his membershop for his 39th year.


Peter Westers drew a green marble losing the raffle but getting to direct the rehearsal's closer song.


June 23rd was the last rehearsal with our Director Curt Struyk for his retirment. Curt has been baritone for the quartet Wildcard who are also retiring but years ago had also sung in the quartet Prizm. 2 of his old quartet members Jay Smits and Tom Wheeler put together a video montage of Prizm's history, gave speaches, and presented Curt with a going away gift. The chorus provided cake and pop.


Guests Jim Grescowlo from Ionia, Richard Frye of Middleville (leanrned of us from our Middleville show) and Tom Ford of Battle Creek and Guardians of Haromony.


Jim Westveld won the raffle


Included are some favorite photos of Curt the last few years.


Prizm webpage is www.GreatLakesChorus.org/Retired/Prizm


Curt Struyk Bio webpage is www.GreatLakesChorus.org/about/curtstruyk


Wildcard webpage is www.GreatLakesChorus.org/Retired/Wildcard


If scrolling through the photo album be sure to check all pages for more photos.


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended or click here

June 19th, 2009 The Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter Great Lakes Chorus performed for the free Middleville River Bank Music Series outdoor concert in Middleville MI. Due to the chance of rain the concert was moved from the Stagecoach Park to the Middleville United Methodist Church just a couple of blocks down Main St. from the park. It didn't rain during the concert but the church provided dry seats and a break from the humidity. Not only did the church open it's doors to us but the concert was also made possible thanks to the fine area business sponsors Middleville Downtown Development Corporation, Middleville Marketplace, and Pharmacy Care! Many thanks to GLC Music Librarian and Middleville resident Derek Hatley and Middleville Council Member Catherine Beyer for working so hard to help organize the show.


This was an emotional concert for the chorus and in particular the Grand Rapids Chapter 2008 International Quartet Wildcard. Our Director Curt Struyk who is also Wildcard's baritone is retiring. Although at the May Great Lakes Invitational Grand Rapids Chapter spring show was Wildcard's official farewell performance they agreed to this one last hurrah in Middleville.


Middleville MI is a charming little town on the banks of the Thornapple River south of Grand Rapids. The audience filled the church's sanctuary including the balcony and seating in the wings. It was one of the most electric performances I've ever been too. After the chorus sang the first song the audience applauded enthusiastically and did so after every song. Director Curt Struyk was smirking at the chorus the whole time like the cat who caught the canary. There were many standing ovations for the quartets and for the big finale with all the quartets and chorus on stage singing America The Beautiful. Wildcard's performance was stirring and the guys hugged each other at the end to yet another standing ovation.


In order of appearance quartets that sang were...


Reverie- Ralph Mueller, Robert Ryan, Jeff Chesnut, and Patrick Ryan.


Reverie webpage is www.GreatLakesChorus.org/Reverie


Vocal Artisans- Doug Weaver, Robert Ryan, Michael Baribeau, and Patrick Ryan. No that's no typo, father and son Robert and Patrick Ryan sing in both quartets.


Vocal Artisans webpage is www.GreatLakesChorus.org/VA


Showtime- Wayne Hodgson, Tom Weidner, Al Smith, and Jim Johnson. International Seniors Quartet.


Showtime webpage is www.GreatLakesChorus.org/Showtime


Fountain Street Four- Phil Spencer, Andrew Magnussen, Owen Sharpe, and Dan Winer. Collegiate quartet.


Fountain Street Four webpage is www.FS4quartet.com


Wildcard- Peter Westers, Dave Miller, James Masalskis, and Curt Struyk. 2008 International Quartet.


Wildcard webpage is www.GreatLakesChorus.org/Retired/Wildcard


At the end, after loading the risers onto a small open box trailer, Curt generously treated the entire chorus and quartets out to pizza at Phil's Pizzeria in Middleville. Director Curt Struyk and Wildcard have admirably represented our chapter and our district not just in performing but in coaching, supporting other quartets, and encouraging formation of new quartets. They exemplify the ideals expressed in the once tongue in cheek old society acronym SPEBSQSA, Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America.


Director Curt Struyk Bio Webpage is www.GreatLakesChorus.org/About/CurtStruyk


Thank you to Lynn Weaver for providing many of the photos.


If scrolling through the photo album be sure to check all pages for more photos.


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended or click here

June 13th 2009, Michigan Community Blood Center Grand Valley office at 1036 Fuller Ave Grand Rapids. As part of the Barbershop Harmony Society's international 2nd Annual Singing For Life blood drive, the Grand Rapids chapter performed in the blood center lobby organized by our Blood Drive Chairman John Baker. The Great Lakes Chorus sang from 10am-noon.


Also performing was Grand Rapids Chapter quartet and 1999 District Seniors Quartet Champs Shades Of Grey.


Shades Of Grey Webpage GreatLakesChorus.org/SOG


Chapter President Doug Weaver was able to take a couple shots of the quartet.


The GLC joined efforts again this year with Oldies 98.7 WFGR radio, their live broadcast from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. and their classics car show Cruisin' For Life Car Show and Blood Drive which included Dash plaques and awards. Food for donors was courtesy of local area restaurants.


This report from Kristen M. Sisson Director of Special Events, "I thought you’d like to know how we did – 96 people attempted to donate, 66 pints were donated and 12 new people signed up! Great numbers for a show that should have been rained out."


Last year we were able to get 118 donors signed in, with six new donors and collected 92 pints of blood. So not as much blood as before but really good donor turn out plus doubling the number of new donors from last year!


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended or click here

Thursday June 4th 2009 Grand Rapids Great Lakes Chorus member Mike O'Donnell and Harmony Transfer lead


Harmony Transfer Webpage GreatLakesChorus.org/HT



is also director of the Muskegon Chapter Shoreline Chorus. Grand Rapids Chapter Assistant Director Aaron Bouwman agreed to coach the Muskegon Chapter on Vocal Production. Also a couple of GLC members attended. Rehearsals are at the Dr. Martin Luther Church 1860 E. Hile Road Muskegon, MI 49444.


Muskegon Chapter's George Doyle sent photos and reported; last week when Aaron Bouwman provided coaching to the Muskegon Chapter. Men's barbershop ensemble from Mona Shores High School sang a barbershop composition for us and made a plea for scholarship help for Rockin'Barbershop09 camp at Interlochen in August. The octet has been using the name Freshtet while 7 were freshmen (1 a sophmore). Now 7 will be sophomores. Dunno if they will keep Freshtet name or not.


Report from Muskegon Chapter's Jeffrey Pierson; Their coach Mike D'oyly is the pianist accompanist for the vocal music department at Mona Shores HS and also coaches/directs some of their smaller ensembles. He is not a member of BHS. The Muskegon Chapter has a long history of supporting the Mona Shores HS music programs and I'm sure we'll be helping some of them attend RB 09.


It turns out ONE of our members is paying $600 of their fee, and their school music boosters are providing the rest. Muskegon Chapter scholarships (10) will be spent on other students.

June 7th 2009 Grand Rapids Festival. After singing on stage with the Great Lakes Chorus my Grand Rapids Chapter quartet Vocal Artisans sang as a wandering quartet. I really enjoyed just singing to small groups in the street, it made for very little stage anxiety (stage fright:). We walked along the blockaded Ottawa St singing to crowds who were trying all the ethnic foods. Ottawa St blockade started near Michigan St at the Calder Stage and we worked from there, past Lyon St, close up to Pearl St. There were performance stages at each point including belly dancers near Lyon St with their sound system going. The trick was either singing between other acts or getting out of ear shot of them. Determining who to sing to was done simply by walking along till we saw someone we knew and while singing to them a few songs a crowd would gather. Funny thing about Festival is how often you run into friends.


Vocal Artisans Webpage GreatLakesChorus.org/VA


For high speed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended or click here