Chorus with local singers hits high note in regional competition

April 25, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

Members of the Barre-Tones acapella group in a 2023 competition photo. Left to right (back row): Janet Whitlock, Amy Donald, Carolynn O’Donnell, Susan Klein and Carole Furr; l to r second row: Kathryn Oliver, Sylvia Beck. Suzan Doucette and Amy Tatko; l to r next row: Theresa White, Peggy Gates, Diane Benoit, Lynn McKinney and Lisa Parro; l to r front row: Sandy Atkins, Julia Morgan, Valerie Montanus, Tracey Coutts and director Carol Hollenbeck. Courtesy photo

The Vermont a cappella chorus the Barre-Tones recently took home two awards at a regional competition in Framingham, Massachusetts.

The group performs in the barbershop style and includes local singers Peggy Gates from Waterbury and Lisa Parro from Duxbury. 

At the April 11 competition, the Barre-Tones were one of 11 chorus groups in the Area 2 competition of Harmony Inc., an international organization of women barbership chapters. The Barre-Tones placed fifth and received recognition as a chapter member of the organization for 55 years.

The group also was recognized as the highest-scoring small chorus (fewer than 25 singers on stage) and they received the Rising Star Award as the chorus with the most improved score since the last competition. 

Their performance also qualifies the group to sing at an international competition in Lousiville, Kentucky, in November.

The format has the choruses scored in three areas: performance, musicality, and singing, by two judges in each category. The Barre-Tones improved their score by 57 points over last year’s compeition to earn their award. Judges for the contest came from Boston, Texas, Arizona, New York, Oregon, Michigan and Nova Scotia.

The chorus includes members from northern and central Vermont. They rehearse on Mondays at the Capital City Grange. Find more information online at barretonesvt.com or harmonyinc.org.