Barbershop

Here's a clip of Mel from 2017, explaining why he attends Harmony College North West.

But it also explains the most important thing about barbershop for him: the people.

There were two constants in Mel’s life: Pat and barbershop singing. He joined Barbershop Harmony Society in 1961 and was active until he passed away. That’s 60 years of barbershopping!

It’s impossible to catalog all his achievements. He was a member of The Cascade Connection quartet when it won the Evergreen District championship in 1982. He directed the Eugene chorus to district championships in 1982 and 1983. The chorus finished 8th in the international competition in 1983.

Mel judged, coached, arranged, emceed, and sang for decades. Eventually, he moved to Wisconsin to work full time as a music specialist at Harmony Hall. From 1988 until 1994 Mel was the Director of Music Education and Services for the Society. In 1990 Mel was inducted into the Evergreen District’s Hall of Fame.

Mel continued to arrange and coach in retirement. In 2000, his quartet won the senior quartet international competition. His barbershopping will continue for years through his many arrangements that are barbershop staples.

Here's Mel conducting the 1993 Mass Sing (8,000 voices) at the 1993 Calgary Convention.

Go to 31:35.

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Here's Mel conducting the 1993 Mass Sing (8,000 voices) at the 1993 Calgary Convention.

Go to 31:35.

[Sorry, your webmistress has limited skills, so clicking on the phto won't get it to play].

It wouldn't be right if we didn't give a big shout-out to the Baritones of the world. After all, they are the rock of the group! Here's a song written especially for Mel, the best Baritone of them all!

(click on the image to play)