To The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—Simcoe’s Gentlemen of Harmony have done it again. The championship trophy is back in Simcoe for the next year, following the superb performance by the chorus at the Ontario District Barbershop Competition in Belleville on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Simcoe Chapter, which includes several Haldimand members, also brought home two other trophies and a special new leadership award.
This is the fourth chorus championship for the Gentlemen of Harmony – in 2007, 2011, 2014, and now 2023. But it was a sweet first victory for Director Derek Stevens, who has been directing in Simcoe since 2016, and for Assistant Director Robert Ross, who has been working with Simcoe since 2019. The Gentlemen of Harmony scored significantly higher than their competitors from Scarborough and Peterborough Chapters, earning a second trophy as Plateau 3 top performer.
In addition to the Gentlemen of Harmony chorus, Simcoe Chapter was also represented by four quartets at the spring competition. One of the quartets, comprised of Terry Pond, Les Komaromy, Ben Janciewicz, and Alan Daly, brought home the Novice Quartet trophy.
Dan Locke (left), President of the Ontario District Barbershop Harmony Society, presented the Sandy Bell Chapter Leader of the Year Award to John Deacon, member of the Simcoe Chapter and the Gentlemen of Harmony Chorus.
Topping off the chorus and novice quartet accolades, the Sandy Bell Chapter Leader of the Year Award was presented to John Deacon, a prominent member of the Simcoe Chapter. Deacon has provided exceptional leadership for many years both at the Simcoe Chapter and the Ontario District levels in many ways and is highly deserving of this award.
The Gentlemen of Harmony is a barbershop chorus centred in Simcoe and drawing members from a circle that spans London, Brantford, Niagara, and many points between. Simcoe Chapter fields as many as 50 men on risers to sing when they appear to perform in community events. Quartets and mini-choruses often volunteer their services to sing in special church services and community fundraising events.
When not assisting local community groups, the Gentlemen of Harmony support Harmonize for Speech, a charitable organization that assists people who have speech problems, and several local people have benefited from the excellent services provided by this organization.
The slogan for the Gentlemen of Harmony is “ordinary men making extraordinary music,” and they are recognized across North America as one of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s top chapters.
“But it’s not just about the singing,” says Chapter President Terry Pond. “We look forward each week to the fun and fellowship when we get together on Tuesday nights and into the community to sing.”
