
The 2020 Barbershopper of the Year goes to Clipper City Chordsmen President Jim Rasmus.
According to the Chordsmen Vice President of Marketing and Publicity, Don Lewellen, the special recognition is presented to a member who has gone above and beyond what is normally expected to benefit the entire chapter.
Lewellen explained, “Jim showed great leadership throughout 2020 when our chorus was unable to meet safely.” He added, “We lost our rehearsal space at the Generose Center on the campus of the now-closed Holy Family College and faced revenue losses due to the inability to produce shows for our fans.”
Rasmus led a task force that examined more than two dozen possible rehearsal spaces before developing a partnership with Grow it Forward at S. 15th and Marshall Streets in Manitowoc. In addition to singing in the chorus, Rasmus sings in the Lake Effect quartet and performs around northeastern Wisconsin. He also has promoted barbershop music for youth and music educators statewide as part of the Wisconsin Youth Harmony Festival.
The Sparkplug award went to Chorus Director Dave Buss who organized and led regular Zoom rehearsals that included visiting music educators, judges, and barbershopper dignitaries from all over the world.
The awards were presented at the Clipper City Chordmen annual meeting held via Zoom last week.