Aurora and Elgin barbershop chapters celebrate 80 years of harmony

Sixty enthusiastic present and past members of the Aurora Lamplighters and Fox Valley Harmonizers Barbershop Chapter and choruses jointly celebrated their groups’ 80th anniversaries at Nick’s Pizza Restaurant on Elgin.

Their city mayors and deputy mayor presented proclamations to their chapter presidents extolling their long-standing service to their communities.

Both chapters were founded in 1946 during an upwelling of music and happiness that following the conclusion of World War II.

Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain noted that an Elgin newspaper documented the first meeting of 20 eager-to-sing men that took place in the Elgin city hall courtroom on April 30, 1946, with chemist Ben Willis leading the singing. Aurora’s deputy mayor, Casey Cuevas, praised teacher and the Aurora chapter’s first president, Bill Henderson, and his 29 fellow members who chartered the Aurora Chapter on May 3, 1946.

Both Aurora and Elgin Barbershop Chapters were originally sponsored by the Fox Valley Chapter which consisted of many members from St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia. Unfortunately, this chapter folded in 2000 for lack of members, but their organizing work paid off and lives on.

Current senior chapter members Carl Missele (70 years, Elgin member), Bill Miller (Aurora and Elgin, 35 years), Danny Britton (Aurora, 27 years) and Tom Strong (10-year Aurora member and follower for 40 years) called out notable past and present members who contributed greatly to sustaining these chapters’ long lives.

Aurora notables feted by Britton and Strong included Jim Fourmont, Gene Leifheit, Bill Worst, Wiley Zabel, Dudley Smith, Marty Swanson, Fran Sibenaller, Norm Larson, Jack Windsor, John Parker, Glenn Rinkel, Tom Erwin, Paul Gossman, Bill Miller, Jack Roller, Marv Bohm, Dave Norris, Marv Maurer, Rod Hupach, and Leroy May.

Elgin notables mentioned by Missele and Miller included Walt Martin, Harry Swenson, Marv Jedicker, Dennis Toren, Arnie Olson, Ron Skol, Jim Pedersen, Les Bloomfield, John Jeide, Doug Mather, Don Rooney, Ron Schulz, John Fox, and Glenn Auble.

Notable Aurora chapter chorus directors included Harvey Sterkel (11 years with Aurora, splitting time between fast pitch softball for the Aurora Seal Masters, and expertly composing, arranging, directing and singing chorus/quartet repertoire), John Hertzberg (9 years with Aurora), 50-year permanent assistant director Gene Leifheit, John Erickson (4 years), Kappie Swanson (2 years), Bob Squires (6 years), Nicole Adams (4 years) and Mark Barone.

Notable Elgin Chorus directors included Doug Smith (27 years in two stints with many song arrangements), John Schultz (8 years), Ben Wiley (charter director), John McDougald (6 years), Pete Hansen, and Jim Foley (5 years with Aurora and 2 years with Elgin).

Notable past Elgin quartets included Valley Fouragers, Nicklelodian Sound, Diminished Capacity, Yesterday’s Boys, Mood Makers, Grandfather’s Clock, Houligans, Kord Kids, and Harmony Time Machine.

Notable past Aurora quartets included Tall Tones, Satisfaction Guaranteed, Tri-County Sound Union, Jukebox, Premium Blend, Friends of Yesterday, Doggone Cats, Ol’ Styles, Used Parts, Bits N Pieces, Quadraphonics, Windwood, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, and Fox Sounds who rose to sing in three different decades.

Both Aurora and Elgin chapters were eager to admit women to sing in their choruses as soon as the Barbershop Harmony Society permitted it in 2018 after 80 years of men only. Male chorus tenors really appreciate the women’s help on songs with very high endings.

Entertainment for this party was provided by the Take Your Seats Quartet with Michelle Pajeau (tenor), Noah Miller (lead), Brian Kachur (baritone) and Doug Smith (bass).

The real treat of the evening was all six of the past and present chorus directors (Squires, Barone, Schultz, Hansen, Smith and Ahlgrim) leading the two choruses in the best-known polecat songs. The energy in the room rose to a feverish pitch for each song especially on the closing song “Keep the Whole World Singing.”

All in all, this party reinforced a strong bond among our Elgin and Aurora Barbershop chapters and the decades of past members and quartets that entertained so many of the residents of senior homes, hospitals, churches, auditoria, shopping centers, etc.