Summer Harmony: History

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 as well as at a variety of other musical venues, including Mayfair, Musikfest, Ocean Grove, NJ, Mt. Gretna, PA, Souderton Community Park, Allentown's West Park, and performing the National Anthem for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. For many years, a major event on the Summer Harmony schedule was held at Allen Organ’s Octave Hall in Macungie. A two-night sell-out, this program it was an annual tradition, which has since moved to Allentown's Nineteenth Street Theatre for the unveiling of their restored theater organ, and is now held as a one night event at Asbury Methodist Church and still features a nationally known organist as our guest artist. As each season winds down, the chorus presents its annual concert in August, which has often been at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Allentown. For several years this event has moved to the beautiful Zoellner Center at Lehigh University, and now is held in the beautiful auditorium at Parkland High School. 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 of our 19 seasons to date. Several numbers with the band are included on two of Summer Harmony's four CD’s. We have had many other guests perform with the group, including Eric Fennel, the Macungie Band, Cameron Carpenter, Sons of Pitches, Tom Hazleton, Fermata Nowhere, and the Hill to Hill Brass.

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. And many seasons we get back together to perform one or two times during the Christmas Holidays.

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 part of our first twenty years...

Ralph Beisel

Albert Bellesfield

Thomas Beltz

Dick Bortz

Dr. George Boyer

Wally Brobst

Bob Bucher

Tom Cannon

Jim Cherrington

Bob Collier