Barbergators to hold Open Rehearsal/Guest Night
Press release from Barbergators Chorus
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Barbergators Chorus will hold an open rehearsal and guest night on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church, 3146 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL. They invite all men who like to sing to attend and learn about the chorus, barbershop harmony, and a cappella singing. Guests will learn a new song with the chorus and sing along as the chorus rehearses one of their songs for an upcoming competition. Refreshments will be served. (Pizza is rumored to be involved.)
The Barbergators Chorus has come out of the COVID-19 pandemic with a new focus. Through their public performances, they have raised over $6,000 for non-profits this year. They’ve donated to Grace Marketplace and Helping Hands Clinic, both Gainesville-based charities whose missions are to help the homeless and people living below the poverty line. They also did a benefit concert at Ocala Civic Theatre earlier in the summer.
“We came out of our pandemic shutdown with a new music director and a fresh, new mission,” said Dave Jacobs, the chorus president.
Their new director, Mark Slamka, is a barbershop quartet champion, having won the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 2003 international quartet contest with his quartet, Power Play.
The new mission, which revolves around enriching the community through barbershop harmony, has given new energy to the chorus and is attracting new members. “Although our numbers dropped when we had to shut down during COVID, we’ve had more new singers join us in the past 12 to 18 months than in years past,” said Jacobs.
As they approach their 50th anniversary year, they hope events like this will help them grow and have a bigger impact on the Gainesville community.
The Barbergators is a men’s barbershop chorus that has been active in Gainesville since 1973. They are a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society.