The sound of melodic humming and singing resonates against the basement walls of the Queen Anne Baptist Church (2011 First Ave. N.) every Tuesday evening. To the untrained ear, the group of 45 men warming up their vocal cords sounds like they’re in perfect harmony. To the trained ear, they probably sound just as in synch.
For almost seven decades, the Seattle SeaChordsmen have been serenading the Seattle community with passion and pride. Established in 1949, Seattle’s only barbershop chorus currently has seven quartets, one of which is named Top of the Hill, a nod to its Queen Anne roots. It has experienced a recent upswing of success in singing competitions that will take them across the country later this year.
On April 18, in the Evergreen District Division II Chorus and Quartet Competition, the SeaChordsmen placed second while competing against other Western Washington choruses. The group considers this its biggest success in 30 years. Next, it will move on to compete in the district convention in Spokane in October, competing against the rest of the Evergreen District of the Barbershop Harmony Society, which includes choruses from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, British Columbia and Alberta.
On April 19, five of the SeaChordsmen’s seven quartets performed in the Division Competition, as well. The Waiting for the Interurban quartet won best novice quartet and also qualified to sing at districts. The 4.0 quartet, which includes SeaChordsmen director Ted Chamberlain singing as a tenor, won best quartet and will represent the entire Evergreen District at the International Convention in Pittsburgh in July.
“I think succeeding like that is affirmation of the work you put in,” SeaChordsmen member and Queen Anne resident Bill Bush said. “It’s just like any performer: You rehearse and try to improve, and you see the audience react and hear the judges say, ‘this is good.’ It makes it worthwhile and makes you want to get just a little bit better.”
The chorus’ recent winning streak and doubled membership in the last two years have inspired its members to improve their consistency with much gusto, according to SeaChordsmen president Gary Ackerman.
The sound of barbershop
Barbershop is a unique form of music. Performed a capella, or without instrumental accompaniment, these men possess a talent that not many people share. Weaving together many voices into a layered four-part harmony creates “visceral” sounds that, when done correctly, produce tones beyond just the ones sung. Based around a melody, this consists of lead, tenor, baritone and bass singers.
“A capella is the first and most basic instrument,” Chamberlain said.
It’s not just the power of voice that these men admire but also how barbershop music originated in the United States and is considered a true American art form.
“Our sound is incredibly rich,” Ackerman said. “You can feel it in your body — it’s really exciting when you do it right.”
SeaChordsmen youth outreach coordinator David Rice even likened the feeling of hitting a chord correctly to a dopamine surge one might feel when hitting a perfect serve in a tennis match.
Community, camaraderie
Despite the chorus being located in Queen Anne, current members are not exclusive to Seattle. Some are drawn from cities such as Puyallup, Renton, Tacoma and Shoreline. There is no age limit for participants, either, with both young and older singers warmly welcomed. Even some father-and-son pairs sing with the group.
It is not uncommon for members to get their start singing in church choirs or in college fraternities. Chamberlain, in particular, has been singing with the SeaChordsmen since he was 16 years old and has sung all four choral parts in different quartets over the years.
The Seachordsmen are always eager to gain new members who want to learn how to sing barbershop or who want to refine their skills. Reading sheet music before or even after joining isn’t a requirement, as only vocal skills are assessed. It’s common to find that many new members haven’t sung since middle school, which works just fine since all skill levels are encouraged, according to Ackerman.
“We’re just interested in giving these men a great place to sing within an also great community,” Rice said. “Unlike choruses in other areas, we are an everyman’s chorus, with no auditions. We’re happy to take everyone and help them realize their voice.”
The SeaChordsmen exhibit a palpable camaraderie and lighthearted nature among members. “I’m not sure you could get Democrats and Republicans in the same room doing more than we do,” Chamberlain joked as the others nod and laugh in agreement.
The SeaChordsmen are also invested in those outside their own singing community. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the group holds annual concerts to raise donations for charity and fund scholarships for a summer barbershop camp. It also performs annually at events such as the Northwest Folklife Festival and Magnolia Winterfest and compete in the holiday Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition to raise money for the Pike Place Market Senior Center and Food Bank.
The chorus will perform its next show, “Songs from Sleepless in Seattle,” on June 27 at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center in Shoreline. Partial proceeds will be donated to Path with Art, a Seattle program designed to use art to enhance the lives of those affected by homelessness, addiction and other traumas.
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