The Valleyaires are the men’s chorus representing the South Bend-Mishawaka chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS)
Our mission:
Enriching lives through barbershop harmony emphasizing:
- Fun and fellowship
- Musical excellence
- Community service
and sharing our enjoyment of barbershop harmony with the Michiana community and future generations.
Join Us!
From the generation of the Great Depression, to “Baby Boomers”, to “Generation X”, and even “Millennials” – people of all ages and walks of life enjoy barbershopping. The thrill of performing on stage, the challenge of singing in a contest, the satisfaction of ringing a chord with a quartet, or simply the camaraderie of friends getting together – this hobby offers many rewards. Where else can you improve yourself, help your neighbor, and have so much fun doing it?
Sound interesting? Come to one of our rehearsals and find out more. We meet every Monday evening at 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 51490 Laurel Road, South Bend (corner of Laurel and Auten, next to the entrance to St. Patrick’s Park)
History
Founded in 1938 as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA), the Barbershop Harmony Society preserves and extends the reach of a uniquely American close harmony musical art form whose roots lie in African-American improvisation and European harmony traditions. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee since 2007, our nonprofit organization provides active programs and resources in music education, publishing, performance, and community outreach.
Barbershop music is a thrill to sing! Nothing can beat the sound of a “barbershop seventh” chord – where four voices can sound like a chorus, and a chorus can sound like thunder! The Valleyaires are committed to preserving and enjoying this music, by pursuing excellence in vocal and performance skills. We have won the title of “Cardinal District Champions” more than once by putting this philosophy into practice.
Service
Barbershoppers are people who are ready to help where there is a need. Through donations made to the BHS general fund and Harmony Foundation, Inc., grants are awarded to deserving projects that fulfill the charitable mission, “to preserve our musical legacy through support of vocal music education in our schools and communities.” Harmony Explosion camps give high school students and teachers the opportunity to explore harmony with their peers. Barbershoppers donate sizeable amounts of money and time, and numerous performances to local charitable activities in their communities, particularly those which support the charitable mission. The Valleyaires are equally dedicated to service in Michiana. We have helped raise funds for agencies such as Youth Service Bureau, Alcohol and Addictions Resource Center, and St. Margaret’s house, and have supported Bashor Home, a supportive living environment for troubled and emotionally handicapped adolescents in Goshen, IN, serving over 200 young people each year. We’re also involved in youth outreach activities in the public schools, and provide good cheer in a number of retirement homes during the holidays.