The Northshoremen Barbershop Chorus took the stage in the recent Northeastern District Patriot Division competition in Hyannis, and qualified to compete at the district level this October in Worcester. Under the direction of Billy Carleton, who teaches chorus and music technology at the Holten Richmond Middle School in Danvers, the chorus notched its highest competition score in more than 25 years, earning high marks for its presentations of “After You’ve Gone,” and “Hello Mary Lou.”
The chorus’s newest quartet, “Foreshadow,” was named the Men’s Novice Quartet champion, and it too qualified for district competition in October, singing the World War II classic “Sentimental Journey,” and “After You’ve Gone.” The quartet includes tenor Joel Maxwell of
Gloucester, lead Steve O’Connell of Danvers, baritone Billy Carleton of Danvers, and bass Skip Durham of Everett. Carleton and Durham had never competed onstage with a quartet before.
“I was very proud of our chorus, and of all our quartets who took the stage and represented us so well,” Northshoremen Chorus President Irv Orloff said. “Billy did an excellent job preparing us for this competition, and I predict that we’ll do even better at the district level this fall. He brings great talent and vast musical knowledge to our group and has been a tremendous asset to our chorus since he walked in the door two years ago.”
The chorus meets at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at All Saints Church, 46 Cherry St., Danvers, and welcomes men of all ages who love to sing to join them. The ability to read music is not required. For more information, please call 866-462-7664, or visit one of our rehearsals.
The chorus is very grateful to the Beverly and Danvers Cultural Councils, along with Oceanside Cabinets, Inc., and the Friends of the Peabody Institute Library, Danvers, for their support.
