Real Men Sing Clinic And Show, October 17, 2009

We had a WONDERFUL experience at the Real Men Sing Clinic and Show on October 17, 2009 at Lewis Middle School, San Diego, CA. This was our first annual RMS Clinic, following our hastily produced event this past January with the Ringmasters.

Thirty students from eight schools attended the clinic; twenty-four were on stage for the show. When the student chorus sang, it was astounding that 24 voices (plus the teaching quartet and clinicians – see photo) could do so well in one day. There were five teachers attending. There was unanimous excitement and enthusaism about the experience. These numbers and reactions foretell a success for next year. More men from more schools can be expected.

Show chorus with Allan Webb, directing, and clinicians, back row, l to r, Matt Gray, Patrick Haedtler, Andrew Bearden, Brian Philbin, Paul Tabone, Jason James, and John Brockman.

The students learned four songs during the course of the day, as they were coached by the clinic staff. The head clinician was Brian Philbin, bass of the fabulous comedy barbershop quartet, Metropolis. The assistant clinicians were Jason James, assistant director of Pacific Coast Harmony, Allan Webb, director of the San Diego County Youth Barbershop Chorus, and Andrew Bearden, music director of Morse High School. Andrew Bearden and Jason James were the tenor and bass, respectively, of Four Score, the 2004 silver medalists at the International Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest. The teaching quartet was The Crush, 2007 silver medalists at the International Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest and silver medalists at the 2009 Far Western District Barbershop Quartet Contest. They are Matt Gray (T), Patrick Haedtler (L), Paul Tabone (B), and John Brockman (b).

Pacific Coast Harmony and Sun Harbor Chorus “stand behind” the student chorus.

There was support from all four San Diego County men’s barbershop chapters: Pacific Coast Harmony of La Jolla, Sun Harbor Chorus of San Diego, Music Masters of El Cajon and Music Men of Palomar-Pacific. These men sang Coney Island Baby/We All Fall Medley with the student chorus. The evening show featured the student chorus. And special entertainment was provided by The Crush and our headliners, The Alley Cats.

Each student was provided with a T-shirt to wear during rehearsal. For the evening show, cummerbunds and bow ties were provided, courtesy of the Masters of Harmony, who use them for their Youth Festival, which will be held on February 20, 2010.

The Kiwanis serving line.

The pizza serving line.

The local Grantville-Allied Gardens Kiwanis provided and served lunch. Pizza was a well-received, well-consumed dinner prepared by the near-by Mona Lisa restaurant.

Overall it was a rewarding experience and bodes well for next year. In the meantime, we are forming quartets and ensembles to be coached in preparation for our next event, a Young Men’s Vocal Ensemble Showcase, April 24, 2010. This concert will include male groups of any vocal genre for a diverse program, and it will expose a larger audience to barbershop harmony.