Concert shows women in perfect harmony
The love for what they do is clear to see when the Manawatu Overtones sing.
The Palmerston North group of 30 female barbershop singers have created a combined concert which will see them sharing the stage with all-female groups, the Wellington City Chorus, He Tangata-New Zealand Show Chorus and Revelry.
Overtones member Jenni Masters said it would be a fantastic celebration of barbershop singing.
"It's the wonderful feeling that you get when you're singing in four-part harmonies. It's like surround sound."
Founding member Sylvia Fountain, who was part of the original seven women who started the group 11 years ago, agreed.
"It's the buzz that comes from not having an instrument to lean on and it's all about the voice."
"We started off just meeting in one of our member's houses and as we grew we eventually started to rehearse at the Milson Church Hall."
The barbershop group is affiliated with the Sweet Adelines, a worldwide organisation of female singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance.
The whole organisation is really education based, Fountain said.
"When people join they can't expect to remain the same singer that they did when they first met us. There's a lot of technique and we are always learning."
The repertoire of songs the group will be singing on the night are "fun, favourites" one of the groups director's, Liz Watts, said.
"We have a Chicago medley, which is from the old song Chicago, that one is a lot of fun", tenor Chris Thompson said.
"[I] can't stay still for that one."
The programme will also include songs from ABBA, the Beatles, Dean Martin and Michael Buble and member Faye Roberts said the groups showmanship and friendships would also be on display.
"One of the great things about the group is that we all come from all different walks of life but it is the camaraderie that we have when we meet together. It's a great group."
World on a String will be held at Palmerston North's Speirs Centre on October 31.
Image credit: Facebook / Manawatu Overtures
Written by Carly Thomas. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz
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