The Capitol Chordsmen Chorus An Overture Hall headliner!

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The Capitol Chordsmen Chorus is a men's a cappella group "singing the songs that touch America's heart" in four-part harmony throughout this area since 1945. The Chorus entertained nearly 41,500 persons in 2007.

In recent years it has performed at Overture Hall, the Capitol Theater, Brat Fest, Taste of Madison, Middleton Performing Arts Center, opera houses in Stoughton and Mineral Point, the Portage Center for the Arts, and many other area venues. Chordsmen also are known as "the Singing Valentine people" in Dane County, with quartets each Feb. 14 delivering flowers and romantic songs to dozens of surprised loved ones of those placing orders. Its first-ever "Barbershop Thanksgiving" concert in 2007 raised funds for Second Harvest foodbank.

The Chorus is directed by Joshua Oxley and sponsored by the local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (formerly the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc.)

OUR CURRENT OFFICERS are listed here.

COLOR PHOTO: Front row (l. to r.) Dave Hutchinson, George Frye, Todd Fletcher, Jay Mulder, Lee Swanson, Mike Liscum, and John Miller. Second row: Dave Barger, Rick Chapman, Jim Miller, Mike Christopherson, Jim Scorgie, and Jeremiah Diaz. Third row: Chuck Barrett, Kevin Ziegler, Lowell Peck, Mike McCoy, Bob Storm, and Josh Oxley (director). Fourth row: Roger Phelps, Kent McDonald, Mike McCowin, Dick Ripp, and Charles Pierce. Not shown: Matt Banbury, Ross Levine, Alex Martin, and Bruce Wittenwyler.

HERE'S THE STORY OF OUR FOUNDING, as reported by Jim Bennett in the April 1983 issue of "Mail Chord," then the name of the Chapter's monthly newsletter.

The month of April marks the beginning of our Society; it also marks the founding of the Madison Chapter.

Just seven years and seven days after a Tulsa attorney named Owen C. Cash planted the seeds of Barbershopping nationally, a local musician named Albert Endres did the same in Madison.

Shortly after witnessing a Chicago barbershop show, Mr. Endres placed an ad in the newspaper asking men interested in singing close harmony to meet at the Knights of Columbus clubhouse.

Twenty men responded on April 18, 1945. Shortly after, officers were elected and a charter was requested.

By July 1, some 38 men had joined and were declared charter members. (Only two remained in the Chapter at the time of the article -- Joe Hermsen, the first secretary, and Myron Boebel.) Dues were set at $4 a year.

Charter night was set for Nov. 11 at West High School, where Madison was to become the 14th chapter in the newly-formed Wisconsin Association of Chapters (WAC). We were sponsored by the number one chapter, Racine.

On stage, Frank Carey, association president, presented the Madison chapter president, Ed Warrington, with the charter.

The Madison chorus, all decked out in borrowed white jackets, courtesy of the Milwaukee chapter which also appeared, led off the show featuring 12 quartets including the international champions, the Misfits.

Joe Hermsen was in charge of tickets and reported that some 600 seats were sold ahead of time. By the time the show was to begin, a line had formed down to Allen St. and the house was, of course, sold out.

From that somewhat auspicious beginning, the Madison Chapter went on to establish a heritage of which the present members can be proud.

Membership had climbed to 61 by the end of the first year. Joe Ripp had become the chorus director, and continued to direct until the early 60's.

In May of 1947, the WAC reorganized into what is now known as the Land O'Lakes District, and Ed Warrington became its first president. In addition to Warrington, Madison furnished the district with three more presidents -- Joe Hermsen, its third; Cal Browy, its fifth; and Julian Domack, its 15th. All but Warrington went on to become International Board members.

Other Madison men who have been active in district-level activities including Cal Browy, who was the district historian for three years, and Jim Bennett, who edited the district bulletin, the Pitch Piper, for eight years. Bennett also was the district secretary for three years.

Musicwise, few chapters can approach Madison's accomplishments. The Capitol Chordsmen Chorus participated at Oshkosh in the first district chorus contest ever held in the Society. After a fourth-place finish there, the Chorus went on to win the next six contests.

Probably the best known of all the many Madison quartets was the Cardinals. This foursome won the district quartet championship in 1947 and represented the district in international competition nine times. They were finalists six times.

The For Mor was another Madison quartet known throughout the Society. The four young men joined the Madison chapter while still students at East High School and sang together for over 25 years, never once using a pitch pipe. More than a few times, the For Mor stole the show from quartets with higher credentials.

If longevity is a criterion of a chapter quartet's success, the Close Quarters ranks in front. Like the For Mor, the Close Quarters for some 20 years never won a contest but never lost a show.

Madison can be equally proud of its Badg-Aires quartet which won the district quartet championship in 1962, and of its contribution to the Fantastics foursome that won the following year.