Some Frequently Asked Questions

What is barbershop music?  Barbershop music is acapella (no piano accompaniment) four-part tight harmonies.  Our four parts are described as follows:  Lead sings the melody.  Tenor sings the high notes.  Bass sings the low notes.  Baritone sings the “leftover notes” that give barbershop music its “crunch”.

What type of music do you sing?  All kinds!  Of course it is holiday music during the winter holiday season, both contemporary and traditional.  We sing music from all genres, from pop to musical theatre to classics.

What is the Holiday Chorus?  Every fall, we invite women and girls from the community to join our holiday chorus.  There is no audition requirement.  It’s a great introduction to our chorus!  Holiday chorus members attend the first half of our weekly Thursday rehearsals, from 7-8:30pm.   You will learn 6 songs, and perform in our Holiday Show in November and go caroling with us in December.  

What is the rehearsal commitment?  Holiday chorus members attend rehearsals on Thursday through December 10.  The holiday chorus portion of the rehearsal is 7-8:30pm.  We ask that you arrive a few minutes before 7pm, so you are ready to go!

When is the holiday show and caroling?  The Holiday Show will be on November 21, starting at 2pm, but we will have a call time for performers earlier that day for warmups and getting ready. We’re planning to go caroling to several Assisted living facilities on December 5. Plan on 9:30am-3pm that day.

What if I don’t read music?  No problem!  Many of our members don’t read music.  We provide access to our website where you will find “learning tracks” for each of the songs you will be learning.  You can listen to these tracks at home or in the car, and you can sing along with them.  

What if I have to miss a rehearsal?  Is that allowed?  While we ask everyone to prioritize rehearsals, we understand that life sometimes gets in the way!  Everyone misses a rehearsal from time to time.  We ask that you notify your section leader in advance, so they are aware.  We also have Zoom options for rehearsal, for example if you are home with a sick child.  

Where else does the chorus perform during the year?  Aside from our Holiday Show, the chorus performs throughout the Treasure Valley during the year, at places that range from Festival of the Trees to the Warhawks Veteran’s Day Breakfast, Meridian ArtSpark, and the Boise Hawks.  Sometimes we are hired to perform at community or private parties or at senior centers.  We’ve even performed at Boise Town Square Mall!  In addition to the above, we host an annual Barbershop Music Appreciation Concert in the Spring, and travel (typically to Spokane, Washington) to compete in our Region 13 yearly competition with other choruses.

What if I like it and want to become a member?  Visit a rehearsal and let us know you're interested in becoming a member! To become a member, you must go through an audition process and pay membership dues (which covers things such as costumes and music). We'll help you through the process of learning our two contest songs, one of which will be used for your audition.  Ask us for more details!