Photos

Guest Night WA. & UK Ambassadors

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:33:19 -0400

June 17, 2008 a special guest night with visits not only from Robert Joskell of near by Greenville but also Chuck Kalkstine Past President Harmony Kings chorus and Country Squires Barbershop Quartet from Federal Way Washinton and Mike Beven of Ocean Harmony of New Forest Hampshire (Southampton) England. Mike presented the Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter Great Lakes Chorus, Michigan USA with a photo and greeting from across the pond.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended

Middleville Park Concert

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:32:28 -0400

June 20th, 2008 the Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter Great Lakes Chorus performed for the outdoor River Bank Music Series in Stage Coach Park Middleville MI. The weather was fantastic with beautiful clear blue skies and comfortable temperatures along the Thornapple River. The Chorus sang from a large raised pavilion lined with bushes of pink flowers to a grassy bowl shaped park filled with families of music lovers on blankets and in lawn chairs. It felt like a good old fashioned summer time concert with birds darting in and out of the pavilion, kids rolling down the hill and some young boys were even playing touch football in the back. Grand Rapids quartets Wildcard the 2008 Pioneer District International Quartet Representatives and Shades Of Grey were big hits with the crowd.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended

Blood Drive

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:53:51 -0400

June 14, 2008

Grand Rapids Arts Festival

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:13:07 -0400

The Great Lakes Chorus performed at the free 2008 Grand Rapids Arts Festival Saturday morning June 7th. Joining the chorus was Grand Rapids Chapter quartets Grand River Serenade and 2008 Pioneer District International Quartet Representatives Wildcard.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

2008 District Spring Convention

Sat, 17 May 2008 11:55:44 -0400

At Battle Creek Michigan's newly renovated W.K. Kellogg Auditorium Saturday morning and noon April 26th 11 choruses competed for District Chorus Champion. Our Great Lakes Chorus of Grand Rapids directed by Curt Struyk took 2nd place scoring 795 points. No photos of us on stage because I was too busy singing:) Guardians of Harmony of Macomb County won Pioneer District Chorus Champion scoring 887. In the evening was the quartet finals.

These are the Finals photos, more pictures in the next album from quartet preliminaries.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

2008 District International Quartet Rep- Wildcard

Sat, 17 May 2008 11:08:58 -0400

After another long Winter the weather warmed up just in time for the 2008 Pioneer District Spring Convention in Battle Creek Michigan. Hosted by the Battle Creek Barbershop Chapter the convention took place April 25th-27th in the McCamly Plaza Hotel while the quartet and chorus competitions themselves were at the newly renovated W.K. Kellogg Auditorium.

Temperatures on the 25th reached a record high for this time of year of 81�F / 27�C but it wasn't just the weather that was hot. It's here, in their bright red two piece suits, and saddle shoes that 2004 District Quartet Champs Wildcard had their day and won as the 2008 Pioneer District International Quartet Representatives with 1735 points. Grand Rapids Chapter members tenor Peter Westers, lead Dave Miller, bass James Masalskis, and bari Curt Struyk.

These are the Prelim photos, more pictures in the next album from chorus and quartet finals.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

HS Barbershop Competition & Salute To Mothers

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:01:44 -0400

The 2nd Annual High School Barbershop Competition Finals and the 65th Annual Great Lakes Invitational Show Salute To Mothers on Mother's Day Weekend. The show included our Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter Great Lake Chorus member quartet Wildcard who recently won as the 2008 Pioneer District International Quartet Representatives. Guest star was the comedy quartet Hot Air Buffoons. Also performing was Shades Of Grey, Harmony Transfer, Grand River Serenade, Barbershop Style, and debut performance by Post It Notes.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

64th Annual Great Lakes Invitational

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:07:46 -0400

May 19th 2007 this years GLI was "A Musical Tribute to Disney" at the Grand Rapids Christian HS Devos Center of Arts and Worship. Check out photos of the show and the Great Lakes Chorus dressed as the Mickey Mouse Club (now you know what happened to the original Mickey Mouse Club, they became barbershoppers:) There were performances from local quartets including 2004 District Champs Wildcard and special guest quartet The Four Man Fishin' Tackle Choir.

This GLI also had the special treat of hosting the finals for the area's 1st Annual High School Barbershop Competition! Congratulations to all the competing high schools and to South Christian High School Choir Directed by Doug Rosema as the 1st Place Winners! (MORE COMPETITION PHOTOS NEXT ALBUM DOWN)

For highspeed cable/DSL internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

Singing Valentines

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:51:15 -0400

Quartet Barbershop Style photos on album pages 1 and 2, all other quartets like Wildcard and Grand River Serenade are on page 2. To download your photos look for yours in the album, be sure to check both album pages, left click on yours for larger version, right click larger photo and to save select "Save As", select a folder to save to (ex. Desktop) or just to print select Print.

Singing Valentine Drills

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:50:46 -0400

January 15, 2008. It's getting closer to my favorite barbershop time of the year, Singing Valentine's! The Great Lakes Chorus is getting geard up this year. At rehearsals we lined up in 4 columns of pickup quartets as we do a round robin, singing halfway through Let Me Call You Sweet Heart or Song Of The Rose and then another quartet steps up and sings the other half. Several different group combinations get tried in quick succession this way and is a lot of fun.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

New Board & BOTY

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:50:22 -0400

2008 Great Lakes Chorus Board Members were installed Dec. 19, 2007. The Installation Ceremony and potluck dinner were held at the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church near Grand Rapids where we rehearse. Our honored guests were Pioneer District President, Raleigh Bloch, and his wife, Jean. Raleigh presided over the installation ceremony (pictured here) and offered some words of inspiration to our chapter members.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

Christmas Show

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:50:08 -0400

December 8th, 2007, we held our 11th annual Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter Great Lakes Chorus Christmas Show, Christmas Eve In My Home Town, directed by Dr. Curt Sturyk and guest Director Rev. Ralph Mueller at the St Cecilia Music Center (recently changed from Society to Center) on 54 Ransom St. NE. It was a nearly sold out show filling the ornate Royce Auditorium's 650 seat. Along with the chorus sang member quartets Barbershop Style, Grand River Serenade, Harmony Transfer, and Wildcard. Opening the second half of the show was the very impressive 30 men and women's member chorus Jenison High School ChamberSingers directed by Les Rowsey, Student Intern Corie Brown and accompanied on piano by Marti King. They sang Two Early Christmas Carols, Sing We Noel Once More-arr. Smith, Sing We Now of Christmas-arr. Prentice, and Winter Wonderland-arr. Lojeski. We closed the show with the GLC and JHSCS choirs together singing Do You Hear What I Hear to an enthusiastic standing ovation.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

Grand Rapids Home for Veterans

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:49:13 -0400

The Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter The Great Lakes Chorus and member quartets performed a Christmas show at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans December 5th, 2007. The chorus and quartets were decked out in a variety of red and green Christmas neckties with images of Santas and snowmen on them. The chorus sang several holiday songs including Jingle Bell Rock and Joy To The World. Member quartets Grand River Serenade, Barbershop Style, and Harmony Transfer each sang a couple songs of the season as well. At the end, walking off stage into the audience of wheelchairs filled with frail looking vets, we were greeted with warm hearty handshakes and merry Christmas well wishing.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

Fall District Quartet Competition

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:49:00 -0400

October 26-28, 2007 Pioneer District Fall Competition at Kalamazoo's Radison Plaza. There were 4 Grand Rapids area quartets including Harmony Transfer, Showtime, Barbershop Style, and Grand River Serenade. Harmony Transfer made Finals with 4th Place scoring 1577 as well as Showtime with 8th Place scoring 1524. District Quartet Champs was Chordiology winning with 1631 points. We had a great hospitality room and gobs of food and quartets visiting, a great time! There are 2 pages of photos so be sure to check out both.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

Fall District Chorus Competition

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:48:46 -0400

October 26-28, 2007 Pioneer District Fall Competition at Kalamazoo's Radison Plaza. In the barbershop competition between 14 cities from Michigan and Ontario Boarder the Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter the Great Lakes Chorus took 4th place with a score of 821. We were pretty excited about this score, a 69 point increase from our Spring's 752 point score, moving from 5th to 4th place. The sweet When You Wish Upon A Star got a great response from the audience and Bare Necessities with an appearance by Baloo from the Jungle Book and lots of choreography got the crowd really excited. Mt Pleasant's Mountaintown Singers won First Place with 887 and named Pioneer district's 2007 International Chorus Representatives. I've got photos of all but the first 2 choruses here. There are 2 pages of photos so be sure to check out both.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

Chorus Coaching Retreat

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:48:18 -0400

Sept. 7-8, 2007 Chorus Coaching Retreat for the GLC at Camp Geneva MI. Coach Jack Slamka from International Gold Medalsits barbershop quartet Power Play.

(Dad Jack Slamka sings bass with his sons Mike, the lead and Mark, the baritone, and his nephew Don Slamka, the tenor. The quartet represents the Hillsdale and Macomb County, Michigan Chapters and the Pioneer District.)

�Rule #6� (can't remember the other 5:) - always follow the Director! Sing as you would speak! Show involvement. Anticipate the emotion of the next phrase. Curtain-to-curtain. Sell the singable consonants. The �300% Rule� - 100% of the effort, from 100% of the Chorus, 100% of the time! The Director should give ownership of the song to the singers. Connect the sound flow. Reposition the Chorus so that there is a closer connection between the Baris and the Leads.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

Barbershop Family Picnic

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:47:45 -0400

September 9, 2007 Fallsburg Park Lowel MI, the Breakfast Club for the area's retired barbershop community and the Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter Great Lakes Chorus got their families together for a potluck picnic with food, area quartets and group sing. Performers included GLC member quartets the 1999 Seniors District Champs Shades Of Grey, 2004 District Quartet Champs Wildcard and in their first public performance after winning the Pioneer District's 2007 Bush League competition, Showtime!

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

33rd Annual Corn Roast

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:47:33 -0400

August 28, 2007 the annual summer old fasioned corn roast and pick up quartet picnic for area men barbershoppers, hosted by John/Herm Baker 2765 Bauer Rd, Jenison MI 49428. Great weather and fun! We had over 80 barbershoppers from Muskegon, Holland, K-Zoo, Bay City, Battle Creek, and of course Grand Rapids. After all the hotdogs, corn, and beer you could want we sang till late in the night.

For highspeed internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

Cascade Tassel Park

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:47:19 -0400

July 12th 2007 The Great Lakes Chorus performed for the free Cascade Riverbeat Concert Series at Tassell Park www.cascadetwp.org along the Thornapple River in front of a couple hundred in lawn chairs and on blankets. The picnickers snacked, played, and made paper Mickey Mouse ears while the chorus sang a Disney medley. There were also performances from local quartets including 2004 District Champs Wildcard and 2006 District Quartet Finalists Grand River Serenade.

For highspeed cable/DSL internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

1st Annual High School Barbershop Competition

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:44:35 -0400

May 19th 2007 1st Annual High School Barbershop Competition for area high school choirs performing barbershop arrangements, sponsored by the Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter, The Great Lakes Chorus and held at Grand Rapids Christian HS Devos Center of Arts and Worship. The competition was a big hit with the audience and students alike! The two finalist choirs then competed in the evening at the GLI show (MORE COMPETITION PHOTOS NEXT ALBUM UP). An exciting new beginning for the support of this wholesome original American music art form. Performances also by local barbershop quartets 2006 District Quartet Finalists Grand River Serenade and 2007 Medallist women's quartet Full FX

For highspeed cable/DSL internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

2007 Spring District Chorus Competition

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:43:39 -0400

April 13-15th 2007 Pioneer District Spring Competition Michigan and Ontario Boarder. Although both barbershop quartets and choruses compete, the Spring competition primary goal is to determine our district quartet representative to compete at Internationals while the Fall competition determines our district chorus rep. Our Grand Rapids Chapter Great Lakes Chorus took 5th place out of 12 with 752 points, beating out Kalamazoo by only 2 points. Lansing's Capitol City Chordsmen won 1st chorus with a total of 847 points and were named Pioneer's 2007 District Chorus Champions. Photos of the Lansing chorus and the competing quartets in previous album. Score details at

http://www.pioneerdistrict.org/contestsummary/contmenu.htm

For highspeed cable/DSL internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

2007 Spring District Quartet Finales

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:42:54 -0400

April 13-15th 2007 Spring District, Michigan Grosse Pointe quartet Fermata Nowhere wins with 1762 points and named Pioneer district's 2007 International Quartet Representatives. Our Grand Rapids Chapter quartet Wildcard came in 2nd and was phenominal on stage, really wowing the crowed! I'm proud to be in the same chapter as those guys! Lansing's Capital City Chordsmen took 1st chorus and named District Chorus Champions, photos of them here.

For highspeed cable/DSL internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

2007 Spring District Afterglow

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:42:37 -0400

Each chapter had a hospitality room with food and drink. After the competition quartets moved from room to room singing for their supper:)

For highspeed cable/DSL internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

Coach Carey

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:42:22 -0400

March 27th, 2007 with the spring comeptition coming up the chorus got the added insight from coach James Carey. James also happened to be a previous GLC director so it was a great treat to have him on the podium again. Also the 2007 Barbershopper Of The Year trophy was awarded to Ralph Mueller, baritone for Grand River Serenade.

For highspeed cable/DSL internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.

GLI 2006 Favs

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:42:01 -0400

Singing Valentines

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:41:39 -0400

February 12-14th 2007, Singing Valentines! I was able to shoot Barbershop Style paying a visit to a couple in Sparta. 2006 District Quartet Finalists Grand River Serenade made several visits to the Grand Rapids Crystal Manor Assisted Living which was really starting a buzz. Then they went to Coe Kevin A DDS practice performing to patients in 'the chair'. Plus the Orson E Coe Pontiac dealership was fun. Finally my quartet made several stops as well, we're rather proud of one delivery where we had all three ladies in the room crying (happy tears I'm sure:). Also we performed across the age spectrum with a room of centenarian retired nuns at the Dominican Center singing along with us to Let Me Call You Sweet Heart and the Spectrum Hospital maternity ward visit singing to a teary eyed couple and their 2 day old newborn. What a privilege!

For highspeed cable/DSL internet users the Slideshow function link in the upper right corner of the album is recommended.