Barbershop Bonanza at SJCT

Popular Barbershop Bonanza Returns June 1

A 45-member choir from British Columbia, a Northwest quartet with a combined 150 years of barbershop singing and San Juan Island’s own barbershop masters share their a cappella talents at San Juan Community Theatre on Sunday, June 1 at 2:00 p.m.

Celebrating its 16th year in Friday Harbor, Barbershop Bonanza honors this uniquely American music with contemporary and old-time favorites full of four-part harmonies.

Directed by Angel Michaels, the Bonanza is hosted by San Juan’s mixed barbershop chorus, Island Chordsmen Plus and features the island’s local women’s a cappella ensemble, Sound Vibrations.

This year’s visiting groups include First Capital Chorus, based in Langley, British Columbia. The choir got its start more than 40 years ago and today has more than 45 active members. While the group has a few old standards they share, their repertoire is now filled with “boogie, Broadway, Elvis and Elton, Beatles and Beach Boys.”

The Northwest quarter, Cheers, re-formed in 2014 after being “Friendly Advice” for the better part of the previous decade. The total number of District Championships among the four men is 14. In addition to their combined 150 years of barbershop singing, they have over thirty appearances on the international stage presenting a variety of music types such as gospel, doo-wop, popular, traditional barbershop and patriotic.

The Business Partners for the Bonanza are Kirk House Bed and Breakfast and Friday Harbor Drug. All tickets are $18, with festival seating. The SJCT box office is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m

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