As the name implies, Summer
Harmony describes a group of guys who begin rehearsals in mid-May, enjoy a
summer of singing, then return to their “on-season” musical pursuits in
September. It was 1991 when several fellows who shared a love for singing put
their thoughts and voices together for what has become the premier Men’s
Chorus of the Lehigh Valley. The person responsible for planting the seed that
developed into Summer Harmony was our own Art Schmidt. These fellows persuaded
George Boyer, widely recognized throughout the Valley for his ability to meld
vocal “instruments” at Allen High School, Christ Lutheran Church, and many
organizations, to conduct the chorus.
In the following years, the chorus has grown and
matured. Not only in numbers, as the membership hovers around 100 men, but also
in the diversity of its repertoire and for its popularity in and beyond the
Lehigh Valley. The chorus has appeared at many of the area’s churches and
community parks, as well as at a variety of other musical venues, including
Musikfest, Ocean Grove, NJ, Mt. Gretna, PA, and opening for the Philadelphia
Phillies. A major event on the Summer Harmony schedule has been taking place
early in the summer at Allen Organ’s Octave Hall in Macungie. A two-night
sell-out, this program has become an
annual tradition. As each season winds down, the chorus presents its annual
concert in August, which has often been at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Allentown.
Recently this event has moved to the beautiful Zoellner Center at Lehigh
University. The music
library has swelled over the years to well over 100 numbers; ranging from the
classics, sacred, Broadway tunes, barbershop, folk and of course a growing
variety of patriotic standards. The chorus enjoys a special relationship with
the Allentown Band, performing with it over the course of each summer. Several
numbers with the band are included on two of Summer Harmony's four CD’s.
When summer slips away and fall approaches, the music
is put away for another season and the men return to their other musical
interests. But the special friendships among the guys which have evolved over the
years, and the joys of singing with Summer Harmony linger long after the last sheet of music has been filed away.
At
the end of the 2007 year, George Boyer asked to be allow to retire from the
group to pursue other interests and opportunities and to enjoy his retirement. We accepted with much thanks for a job well done
and many happy memories, and then looked to find how we could best continue for
future years performing as the premier men's chorus of the Lehigh Valley. We
have been honored to be able to add Clair Neamand as our new Director of Music.
And the future looks bright for this band of men who sing because it is a
pleasure to do so for our wonderful audiences.
SUMMER HARMONY
pays special tribute to the memory of those who
were an important
Ralph Beisel
*
Albert Bellesfield
*
Thomas Beltz
*
Dr. George Boyer
*
Wally Brobst
*
Tom Cannon
*
Jim Cherrington
*
Bob Collier
*
Norman Cressman
*
Bob Fatzinger
*
LaVerne Good
*
Matt Hinkle
*
Jim Hunter
*
Walter L. Lomonski
*
Joseph Maletz
*
Bill Marsh
*
Edward Minor
*
Charles Nehf
*
Robert Ney
*
Robert Palmer
*
James Reese
*
Joseph Rieger
*
Franklyn Rosenblum
*
Carl Shepard
*
Raymond Siegfried
*
Sam Smith
*
Hugh Sutherland
*
Clarence Werley
Matt Hinkle conducts the chorus at Citizen's Bank Park on July 24, 2005. Photo courtesy of Susan Harwick.
The stadium scoreboard shows the chorus. Photo courtesy of Susan Harwick.
The Phillie Phanatic joins the choir to "improve" our sound. Photo courtesy of Susan Harwick.
Mike, Joe and Don prepare to entertain the crowd at the Welsh Festival. Photo courtesy of Frank Romaker.
Below are photos from our 2005 performance of Schoenberg's "A Survivor from Warsaw, OP 46" courtesy of Frank Romaker and George Weiser. Thanks guys!
Last Update 12/01/2008
