La Palma man plays role in Empire Barbershop Chorus

Orange Empire Chorus Associate Director Woody Woodson from La Palma is pictured far right and Director Craig Ewing from Buena Park is on the far left, performing with one of the quartets from the chorus. Photo by Loreen Berlin

Next performance – Muckenthale

The Orange Empire Barbershop Chorus performs throughout Orange County, directed by Craig Ewing of Buena Park with Associate Directors Woody Woodson of La Palma and Tom Nicholas from La Habra lending a directing hand too.

For those who enjoy the four-part harmony of barbershop singing, the Orange Empire Chorus is

scheduled for their Summer performance at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., in Fullerton, on Thursday, Aug. 29, which will be followed by their Annual Christmas Cabaret luncheon and dinner shows at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the La Habra Community Center

OEC members come from many local cities and walks of life including La Palma, Buena Park, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Brea, Diamond Bar, Long Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Orange, Placentia, Roland Heights, Yorba Linda and all points in between.

The common bond of the chorus is singing four-part harmony, with a love to perform for audiences, in tenor, lead, baritone and bass parts.

Men of any age interesting in joining the group for weekly rehearsals, may do so; rehearsals are held at the Fullerton Union High School choir room, Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Guest are always welcome.

Each year, OEC performs, “Harmony Under the Stars” to benefit their “Youth in Harmony” program that supports music education in local high schools. Since the high school music program began, the young people, directed by OEC member and Associate Director Tom Nicholas have now formed quartets at the high school level, which includes both young men and young women as barbershop members.

As the students have become more skilled, they are often invited to perform during the OEC concerts; it’s easy to see and hear that the youth training has and is paying off and will therefore keep barbershop singing, ringing throughout the next generations.

Tickets for any of the upcoming concerts and/or Singing Valentines in the month of February, may be purchased at oechorus.org/DinnerShow or by calling 714-931-6958 or, they  may also be ordered by mailing a check to: Show Tickets, Orange Empire Chorus, P.O. Box 3331, Fullerton, CA 92834 and can be picked up at Will Call or a self-addressed and stamped envelope will get the tickets mailed directly to the purchaser.

The Fullerton Barbershop Chapter is a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, which is an international organization of 40,000 members.

For OEC Barbershop information, visit www.oechorus.org