Harmony, Laughter, and New Voices: Peace Arch Chorus (PAC) Hosts a Joy-Filled Barbershop 101 Workshop
Peace Arch Chorus welcomed singers from across the Fraser Valley on November 1 for a day that blended education, community, and pure musical joy. Our PACappella Barbershop 101 Workshop brought together 20 enthusiastic participants—from seasoned choir members to brand-new singers—each ready to explore the world of four-part a cappella harmony. The focus of the day was to explore what makes barbershop a cappella music unique among chorus styles.
From the moment registration opened, the room buzzed with energy. New friendships formed over coffee, name-tag scribbles, and warm-up stretches as participants settled in for a full day of learning. Guided by our dedicated facilitators and supported by volunteers from Peace Arch Chorus, guests were introduced to the fundamentals of barbershop technique, vocal production, tuning skills, and part singing.
One participant, Natalia, reflected on how much the workshop offered:
“I learned so much about the basics of barbershop. I would recommend this workshop to all chorus singers—new or seasoned.”
Laughter echoed throughout the day as singers jumped into icebreakers, tried new vocal exercises, and discovered the thrill of “ringing” chords together. The afternoon performance brought the day’s learning to life, as participants joined forces in confident harmonies, shared smiles, and well-earned applause.
Longtime singer Carol shared that the workshop offered something meaningful even for experienced vocalists: “I had so much fun. Even as a seasoned singer, I learned new things—and a refresher is always great.”
We were also honoured by a visit from Isabella, representing BC MLA Jody Toor, who stopped by to see the workshop in action and cheer on our participants. Her encouragement was a wonderful reminder of the value of community arts and local support for music programs.
This event was made possible in part thanks to a generous grant from Sing Canada Harmony, whose commitment to fostering a cappella music in our communities helps moments like this come to life. We greatly appreciate their support. Learn more about this wonderful organisation at singcanadaharmony.ca.
|