Chapter Quartets

The SENIOR CLASS quartet organized and began rehearsals in July 2001. Divisional and District Contests followed with the quartet winning the title of 'Johnny Appleseed District Senior Champions' in Lima, O. The members have over 135 years of combined singing experience. They represent a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. The quartet has represented the District at International Seniors Competitions in Albuquerque, Biloxi and Jacksonville. All are very active in their respective chapters.

'From The Top':

DICK LENTZ, singing tenor, is a true 'card' of this quartet having worked with Hallmark Greetings for over 40 years. Dick started barbershopping in high school and joined the society in 1961. Now retired (but available for part-time work that doesn't interfere with his hobbies), he enjoys golf, tennis, bridge with wife Carole and visiting his grandchildren.

DR. BRIAN BARFORD, singing lead, is a retired chemist from P & G. Besides holding many patents for make-up and other beauty products, he found time to become a certified singing category judge, is assistant director of the Southern Gateway Chorus (multiple District and International Champions) and coaches many society groups. He and wife, Jean, are proud parents and grandparents. They reside in Cincinnati.

CARL 'WOODY' WOODROW, singing Baritone, is Music Director of the Middletown Razor's Edge Chorus. Retired from a local school system, he now spends free time singing with the Southern Gateway Chorus as well. As a self-described "grizzled veteran" of 30 years of quartetting (including a District Champ and International competitor), he still finds time to enjoy ringing chords with Senior Class. He and wife, Sharon, reside in Cincinnati and are proud parents and grandparents.

DICK BAKER, singing Bass, is Music Director of Piqua's The Melody Men Chorus. Dick is employed as a psychiatric community support professional for a community mental health clinic. Also a District Champion and International Quartet competitor, Dick has been a barbershopper for over 33 years. He still has time to enjoy his children and grandchildren with wife, Darlene. They reside in Greenville.

For more information or to book the quartet, contact:

Brian Barford
8002 Quail Hollow Ct.
West Chester, OH 45069
Tel: (513) 777-9364
Email: Brian Barford

Forté formed in the summer of 2002 at a chorus rehearsal of the Southern Gateway Chorus. Forté is the 2007 3rd place medalist in Johnny Appleseed District. This is the first quartet experience for three of the members of Forté. We are all current and active members of the Southern Gateway Chorus and Todd is also active with the Dayton Metro Chorus.

Singing tenor is the experienced member of the quartet, Jim Koch. Jim has sung in numerous quartets such as Our Gang, Brand New Gang, and most recently When Hector was a Pup. Jim has been a member of Southern Gateway since 1965 and when not singing he owns and operates an antique furniture restoration/refinishing business. Jim is a Past President of Southern Gateway. Jim is married to his lovely wife Fran and they have 2 children and 5 grandchildren.

Ernie Blevins is our lead singer. Ernie attended Eastern Kentucky University as a music education major with an emphasis in voice and piano. Ernie has been a member of Southern Gateway since 1998. In college, Ernie gained a wide variety of vocal experience including lead vocalist in a rock band and singing Lead in his college quartet, The Dixieland Four. Ernie works for Convergys on the Procter & Gamble customer service team.

Todd Farrow is our x-tenor singing baritone. Todd has been singing barbershop since the fall of 2000 with the Southern Gateway Chorus and Dayton Metro Chorus. Todd has served on the Board of Directors for both choruses and was named Barbershopper of the year in 2002 by the Dayton Metro Chapter. In his spare time (HA!), Todd is a Network Engineer working at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton. Todd is married to a very understanding wife, Cindy and they have four children, Amanda, Mary, Gabrielle and Jon.

Finishing the quartet is our bass singer Terry Healey. Terry has been a member of Southern Gateway since 1979. He has held several positions such as President and Presentation Coach for the chorus. Terry also coaches several quartets and choruses in Sweet Adeline International, such as Seven Hills Show Chorus and Queen City Chorus 2004 IES Division Champions.

For more information, visit www.harmonize.com/Forte or contact:
Terry Healey at trhealey1@aol.com

 

The Cincinnati Pops quartet was formed in 1997 and was crowned the 1998 Senior Quartet Champs of Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. They represented the Johnny Appleseed District (JAD) of SPEBSQSA at the Seniors Quartet Midwinter Competitions in Tucson, Arizona 2000, Jacksonville, Florida 2001, Riverside, California 2002 and Albuquerque, New Mexico 2003. The quartet’s first Midwinter competition was in Biloxi, Miss. 1999 as a wild card.

Members, left to right, are Kent Smith, tenor; Don Jennings, lead; Larry Findlay, bass and Bob Mucha, baritone.

Contact
Kent Smith
513-922-3195
513-917-6228
Cinpopsbsp@aol.com

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Don Gray, Chuck Watson, Dutch Speidel and John Byerly sang together for the first time following a Southern Gateway Chorus rehearsal in February of 2005. Seven weeks later they were named the Seniors Quartet Champions for Ohio, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. In 2007, they were ranked 8th internationally among hundreds of Seniors Barbershop Quartets.

Riverblend delights in entertaining audiences with their rich blend of elegant barbershop harmony. For more information, please explore their website at www.riverblend.com, or contact:

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