Those who spent their lunch hour along the one-way section of Fraser Highway on Friday, July 13 received a special, musical treat from the Yes鈥檓 Quartet.

The a capella group 鈥� made up of members Joyce Gram (tenor), Louise VanNoort (lead), Nancy Stewart (bass) and Patti Thorpe (baritone) 鈥� strolled up and down the street, entertaining passersby with their harmonious voices to celebrate Barbershop Appreciation Day and the 73rd anniversary of Sweet Adelines International.

Sweet Adelines is a network of women barbershop singers that has member choruses around the world.

The Yes鈥檓 Quartet is a branch of the larger Westcoast Harmony Chorus in Surrey, which is a Sweet Adelines member.

Featuring more than 60 singers, Westcoast will be travelling to St. Louis, Mo. in the fall to compete at the Sweet Adelines International annual convention.

The chorus has already earned many accolades over the years, including the title of best mid-sized chorus in the world in 2013. The group recently placed first at the Region 26 competition at Chandos Pattison Auditorium in Surrey, which entitles them to compete against 35 other choruses internationally in the fall.

鈥淲e like to sing and this form of singing is a real challenge, it鈥檚 not easy,鈥� said Gram. 鈥淎nd some of us are experienced, some of us are very inexperienced and have learned everything in the last few years about this art form. And we get a lot of pleasure and fun and camaraderie out of it.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing how much people enjoy listening to us. I think most people have never heard barbershop, certainly not seen it live and in front of them. And I think they鈥檙e amazed, frankly. So that鈥檚 great fun for us. We watch the faces and it鈥檚 just 鈥� whew. It brings it all to life.鈥�

Westcoast Harmony has members ranging in age from 13 to 80 years old who all sing together, noted Thorpe.

鈥淚鈥檝e been teaching music for 25 years, (and) I learn something every single week from chorus, it鈥檚 never failed,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great challenge every time, and we have the opportunity to travel and meet new people.鈥�

鈥淎nd sing for other people and make people happy and bring some sunshine into people鈥檚 lives,鈥� VanNoort added.

Although fun, this style of singing can be very difficult, VanNoort said.

鈥淲e have to really be on our pitch because it鈥檚 100 per cent a capella, no instruments,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 our voices that are conveying the message and all of the chords that we make need to be on pitch.鈥�

鈥淚t is the close harmonies that 鈥� make it magical (but) you have to work at it,鈥� added Stewart. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 come easily all the time.鈥�

Westcoast Harmony is accepting new members. The group rehearses Wednesdays at Parkland Church in Surrey. For more information, email membership@westcoastsings.com or visit.

entertainment@langleytimes.com
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