Just like many organizations during COVID-19, the Clipper City Chordsmen haven’t been able to congregate in larger groups the past month and a half.
Don Lewellen says even the barbershop quartets are frustrated they too can’t get together in smaller groups to sing like they normally would.
Lewellen explains they can sing independently to recorded learning tracks but admitted his dear wife has been “listening to him singing the baritone part for several weeks now and is eager to hear what the melody sounds like again.”
The Chordsmen are celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2020 but had to cancel their Spring show due to the coronavirus. As one of over 800 worldwide chapters of the Barbershop Harmony Society their chorus has been division champion 10-times and selected most improved 6-times since 1989 in the competition in Minnesota.
Also, since forming in 1945 their history includes the 1951 international champion Schmitt Brothers quartet, which sang together for 34-years, traveled 2-million miles and performed about 3,000 shows!
Lewellen tells us a 75-year video of the Chordsmen has been produced with music of course along with pictures assembled by Rita Steffen. It is available on their Facebook page.
He told us the Chordsmen “miss singing together, but are finding ways to stay in touch through zoom technology” while the pandemic continues.
