The Capitol Chordsmen Chorus An Overture Hall headliner!

The following Chorus events are in addition to our weekly rehearsals and Chapter meetings (Tuesdays starting at 7 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church on University Ave.), and numerous performances by our affiliated quartets. For reasons of space, only selected appearances by the Chorus and its quartets are listed. Items are listed most recent first.

OUR HOLIDAY 'VERY LARGE QUARTET' entertained about 130 persons at a Verona Chamber of Commerce holiday-themed event Saturday, Dec. 6, another 150 persons at a holiday party in the Madison suburb of Windsor Friday, Dec. 12, and another holiday part for about 40 at Attic Angels Dec. 15. Other appearances are scheduled, including caroling up and down State Street in Madison from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20.

CHORDSMEN DELIVERED HUNDREDS OF POINSETTIAS throughout Dane County starting Dec. 2 to conclude our biggest fund-raiser of the year. Proceeds after expenses support the non-profit Chorus' programming year round, as well as music purchases, rehearsal space rental, and other costs. We'll begin taking orders again in early September 2009. Let us know if you'd like us to contact you then. Call 608/223-9939 or barbershoppers@hotmail.com.

OUR SECOND ANNUAL BARBERSHOPPERS THANKSGIVING CONCERT Nov. 1 offered a real feast of barbershop music for an estimated 270 fans at Asbury United Methodist Church! Performing were TEN! choruses and quartets. Under the theme, "We Sing So Others Might Eat," it also benefited area food pantries as we accepted donations at the concert totaling $712 for Second Harvest Food Bank. Based on Second Harvest calculations, that will provide an additional 4,900 meals in our 16-county area! THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED!

WE ELECTED OFFICERS FOR 2009 in October, with terms to begin Jan. 1. Returning as President is Jim Scorgie, as well as Chuck Barrett as Secretary, Dave Barger as Treasurer, Roger Phelps as Vice President-Membership, and Mike Christopherson as Vice President-Individual Development. Jay Mulder is the new Vice President-Music and Performance replacing Todd Fletcher and Tim Gies is the new Vice President-Marketing and Public Relations replacing Mike McCoy.

FOUR CHORUS MEMBERS attended a Sept. 29 rehearsal of the Milwaukee area's Midwest Vocal Express, a chorus which annually is chosen in the "top 20" in the Barbershop Harmony Society. Our group also got to sing with the group on one song and several shorter selections known as "tags."

THE CHORDSMEN HELD our annual fall "Open Call for Singers" nights Sept. 9, 16, and 23 so adult and teen males could have fun singing with the Chorus and learning more about this great art form and how to enjoy it year-round. The series was held at our regular rehearsal location, Asbury United Methodist Church.

WE SANG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Saturday, Aug. 23, at the last home Mallards baseball game at Warner Park attended by more than 2,400 baseball fans.

DEAN HOUSE 'BACK PORCH' CONCERT. The Chordsmen returned to Monona's Dean House Aug. 7 for the next-to-last "Back Porch" concert of the season, serenading an estimated 175 persons on a beautiful Thursday summer evening. Also appearing were the Sound Concensus and State Street quartets. This has become an annual event for the Chorus.

MAD CITY DOG TRIALS. A quartet from the Capitol Chordsmen sang the National Anthem and "God Bless America" Aug. 2 and 3 to an estimated 400 persons attending this event over the two days in Madison.

WE SANG AT 'DUCK SOUP CINEMA.' The Capitol Chordsmen March 1 made its first-ever appearance at the Overture Center's popular "Duck Soup Cinema" featuring both vaudeville type entertainment and a silent film with organ accompaniment. (The March 1 film feature was 1916's "Flirting with Fate" with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.) We were one of the opening acts at the Center's Capitol Theater at both the 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows, which drew a total of 875 persons. Click here for more about Duck Soup Cinema.

AWARD PRESENTED TO DAVE HUTCHINSON. We held our annual Awards and Officer Installation Dinner Jan. 26, highlighted by the announcement of Dave Hutchinson as the recipient of our highest award, Barbershopper of the Year. More

'SINGING VALENTINES'. We began taking orders in mid-January for Singing Valentines to be delivered Feb. 14. It's an annual program of the Chorus and other Barbershop Harmony Society chapters throughout the U.S. More