A Cappella Rules with WMMHS Singers
The freckle-faced, red-headed West Morris Mendham High School vocal music teacher could pass for one of her students, but Patty Danner is the school’s inspiring pied piper of singing. From rock and roll to barbershop style singing, she encourages her students to try it all. On November 21, an octet of young women and the 24-member Women’s Ensemble will perform collegiate and barbershop style a cappella music at WMMHS on ‘Museum Mayhem’ as guests of the Hickory Tree Chorus chapter of Sweet Adelines International.
Mrs. Danner, a graduate of West Morris Central High School and Westminster Choir College, disproves the disparaging cliché of, “those who can’t --teach.” In addition to teaching and directing at least three afterschool vocal ensembles, she performs with and is an assistant director of the Hickory Tree Chorus and sings baritone in the 2009 Greater New York Region of Sweet Adelines International’s 3rd place quartet, “Drive!” She also manages the New Jersey All-State Mixed Choir and is the Road Manager for the independent Rock N Roll Chorus.
When asked what they like about Mrs. Danner, an enthusiastic group of senior girls from the octet shouted out, “Everything! She rocks! Love Mrs. Danner! Her hair, her energy!”
The octet will sing a mix of collegiate and barbershop a cappella in the lobby for guests arriving for the 3pm and 7:30pm performances of the show.
The Women’s Ensemble, a non-audition chorus performing primarily barbershop style singing, will join the Hickory Tree Chorus on-stage. Danner uses materials provided by Sweet Adelines International’s Young Women In Harmony program to help teach the American musical art form although, as a child of a past member and Director of Hickory Tree Chorus, barbershop music is in her blood.
“I had the barbershop experience with my mom,” she says of why she introduced the style to her students. “I love barbershop music because it creates better musicians, they become better musicians and they are better in my chorus. You can do outside performances without bringing a piano or keyboard, which is HUGE! Plus, they were excited about it. I try to pick very current songs, Broadway tunes and songs like that, that keep it exciting for the girls.”
The Women’s Ensemble incorporates some aspects of a show choir which also appeals to the students.
Megan Holnes, senior, says, “I like barbershop, everyone in there [Women’s Ensemble] gets along, never any fighting, I like the whole dancing along. Barbershop? I just like the sound.”
Melissa Replogle, senior, says of the barbershop sound, “I really like the close harmonies. I like singing bari, it has the coolest harmonies.”
Hickory Tree Chorus Director, Carolyn Schmidt, is delighted that Danner has included barbershop singing in her curriculum.
“It’s a fun, yet challenging, form of a cappella singing. It’s fun for all ages. It incorporates good singing techniques and blends vocal, performance and characterization skills. Barbershop singing can be a lifelong passion. Not every singer can be a lead in a musical, but we can all be stars in a large vocal theatrical production like barbershop,” observes Schmidt.
Schmidt has two daughters, Andrea, a recent college graduate and trained classical pianist, and Lauren, a college student and trained opera singer. Yet both also love barbershop singing. Andrea sings with Hickory Tree Chorus and Lauren with Chicago-based Melodeers Chorus.
“Barbershop singing is something that women can do even after they’ve left the structured community of college life. The camaraderie is very much like a collegiate choral group. The friendships, the bonds that develop from a shared activity brings together women of all generations, careers, and backgrounds. We’re so much more alike because of the music and how it pulls us together,” says Schmidt.
Wrapped around a fun story-line, ‘Museum Mayhem’ will feature not only the WMMHS singers, but Danner’s quartet and guest men’s quartet ‘Round Midnight, a group of young music educators and the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Mid-Atlantic District current champions.
‘Museum Mayhem’ tickets are on sale now. All seating is reserved and tickets for both the 3pm and 7:30 pm performances at WMMHS, 65 Main Street Mendham range from $10-$20 in advance. Order by phone 908-790-0334 or e-mail: tickets@hickorytreechorus.org. More information at hickorytreechorus.org
