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Mid-Atlantic District
The largest district in the Barbershop Harmony Society
Chapters & Choruses
Harmony Express
Germantown, MD
The Harmony Express Men's Chorus has both a long tradition and a short history. Its roots extend back over 50 years, to the 1960 formation of the first chapter in Montgomery County, Hometowne USA.
The chorus got its start when some members of that first chapter decided to create a group with more ambitious singing and performing goals. At first, the men met and sang in some pretty odd places, like the lobby of an office building. They soon realized, though, that they should incorporate as a new Society Chapter for stability’s sake. Hometowne graciously served as sponsor, and Harmony Express held its first formal rehearsal at St. Rose of Lima Church early in 2009.
The new chorus was immediately successful. Harmony Express entered its first Society competition within a few months and performed respectably. The following year, we were champs at our level in Division competition and moved up. In 2011, we took second place at a higher level and received an award for Most Improved Chorus. The foundation was set.
Harmony Express currently has 28 active members, ranging in age from about 35 to somewhere north of 70, and is actively recruiting more men who love to sing. Besides competing in Society contests, we give 15-20 performances a year throughout Montgomery County, some paid, some charitable. On September 21, 2013, we offered our first major show, headlined by Frank the Dog, the whimsically-named Quartet Champion of the Mid-Atlantic District. On September 13, 2014, we offered our second annual show at Leisure World, featuring Mayhem, the 2014 District Quartet champion.
The motto of Harmony Express is “Fun through Excellence.” Excellence comes in many forms. We work hard to excel at our craft. We strive to excel in competition. We strive to excel in performance. Finally, we strive to excel as valued members of the local community. In August 2013 and August 2014, Harmony Express quartets strolled the grounds every day at the Montgomery County Fair, and the chorus appeared on Montgomery County cable Channel 21.
The men of Harmony Express sing for the joy of it, and for the joy of performing. We also sing to help preserve the traditional American art form of Barbershop. We want to keep those harmonies ringing far into the future. We’re doing our part to “Keep America Singing.”
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