The Barbershop Style:
As much a part of American culture as the flag, Mom,
and apple pie, barbershop quartet singing is an
original American musical art form. It thrives today
through the efforts of an organization called the
Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of
Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America
(SPEBSQSA), the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Though the roots of four-part harmony go back more
than a century, it was not until the nearly accidental
formation of the Society that barbershop quartet
music was actively promoted.
The Early Years
SPEBSQSA was founded in 1938, when Tulsa,
Oklahoma tax attorney Owen C. Cash ran into a
fellow Tulsan, investment banker Rupert I. Hall, in a
hotel in Kansas City, stranded when a storm closed
the airport. Striking up a few chords, the men
bemoaned the decline of that all-American institution,
the barbershop quartet. Determined to stem that
decline, when they got home they wrote a letter to
friends, inviting them to an informal songfest on the
roof garden of the Tulsa Club on Monday, April 11,
1938.
Twenty-six men attended that first rooftop meeting,
and their numbers swelled rapidly in subsequent
meetings. Membership grew to more than 2,000 men
in that first year, and the Society held its first
convention and national contest the following year.
The Society today
From that start, SPEBSQSA has grown into the
world's largest all-male singing organization, with
more than 32,000 singers in over 825 chapters in the
United States and Canada. Another 4,000
Barbershoppers are members of affiliated
organizations in Australia, Germany, Great Britain,
Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa
and Sweden.
Geographically, The Barbershop Harmony Society is
comprised of 16 districts.
The Southerntiersmen Chorus:
The Southerntiersmen are the Singing chorus of the
Binghamton, NY chapter of the Barbershop Harmony
Society. This society, born in April 1938, has grown
to over 800 chapters, over 31,000 members, and more
than 1000 registered quartets. And it is the largest all
male singing fraternity in the world.
The Binghamton chapter was chartered in April 1943-
the society’s 29th chapter and the third in New York
State. Over the years, the Southerntiersmen have
earned the right to represent Senecaland (upstate NY
and Northwestern PA) in International competition 6
times (1962, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1979). We
have placed as high as 8th and 9th in these
competitions which is a remarkable accomplishment
when you consider that these are the best choruses in
the world!
We currently have 54 members from all walks of life.
Teachers, doctors, authors, ministers, engineers,
farmers, factory workers, postal employees,
attorneys, salesmen, construction workers,
policemen, chemists, dentists… you name it…we’ve
probably got one. The common thread isn’t what we
do- it’s what we love- 4 part a capella singing in the
barbershop style. We meet every Tuesday night at 7
PM American Legion Post 80 (76 Main St.)
Binghamton, NY. Come join us in song and find that
it’s easy, it’s fun and you can do it.
Why sing?
In a word: FUN! When current chorus members are
asked the question: "Do you wish you had gotten
involved in barbershop singing earlier in your life?
The answer is invariably (and emphatically) YES!
More specifically, here are some of the things that
keep our members harmonizing year after year:
• Fellowship - Male companionship in a
wholesome family-like environment is conducive
to friendship and the establishment of bonds that
can last a lifetime. Members enjoy that unique
sense of belonging that comes from shared
positive experiences and team membership.
• Challenge - Singing well is its own reward, but
singing well enough to win a competition is
something really special. If you think you're too
old for competitive sports…try singing. There’s
great satisfaction in being a part of an
organization that encourages you to grow.
• Performing - The basic reason we sing is that it
makes us feel better. Singing affords us an
opportunity to express inner emotion and at the
same time frees us from stress. Whether one
sings for fun or for serious performance, it is
always a joy to sing. Singing touches the
performer and listener alike. Best of all, singing
does not require extraordinary talent, only the
desire to make joyful sounds.
• Learning/Teaching - Mastering the intricacies
of four-part a cappella harmony in an
environment conducive to learning helps our
members stay young and mentally alert. Never
too young (or old) to learn is our motto.
 The
Questions and Answers: Q & A, continued

Q When and where can I come to a rehearsal?

Q Can I just try it out without making any kind of
commitment?
A Absolutely! We encourage potential members to
attend a few rehearsals before considering
auditioning for membership.
A Come any Tuesday evening. We begin promptly
at 7 and finish at 10:00. We meet in the main hall of
American Legion Post 80 which is 2 blocks west of
Binghamton High School, on the north side of the
street.

Q Auditioning? You mean I have to sing in front of

everyone…alone???
A No, it’s really painless. Auditions are held with
our director and section leaders to determine your
level of experience, your ability to match and
harmonize with tones, and the chorus part best
matched to your voice.
Q Do I have to be able to read music?
A No. While musical experience and formal
training are certainly desirable qualifications, in
actual fact most chorus members have both learned
Chorus
and honed their musical talents right here in the
chorus…and you can too. Invites you to
Q What does it cost in time and money? Q Where can I get more information?
A We get together from 7 to 10:00 pm on Tuesday A Ask the person who gave you this brochure or join us in Song!
evenings. We have performed our annual show for visit our website at
over 60 years and compete in two chorus http://southerntiersmen.org/ Binghamton Chapter, Barbershop Harmony Society
competitions per year. Just before shows and gdurham@frontiernet.net
competitions we may have an extra half-day
rehearsal. Practicing your music at home is Southerntiersmen Barbershop Chorus or, visit us on the Web:
encouraged. Quartet participation is optional. c/o Jim Putman http://southerntiersmen.org/

Annual dues are $117 (discounted for seniors and

9 Endwell St.
Johnson City, NY 13790 SenecaLand District
Chapter Phone (607) 797-4752
students) and include Chorus, District, and Society
memberships. Members receive the quarterly District
gdurham@frontiernet.net Champions
newsletter and the bi-monthly Society magazine "The
Harmonizer", in addition to a wide variety of other
benefits. Contest entry is typically $25 per member.
Uniforms are provided by the chorus.