The Harrisburg Singers. Photo courtesy of The Harrisburg Singers.
Back in 1984, Steve Jobs launched the first Macintosh personal computer in the United States. “Dallas” and “Dynasty” were the most popular shows on TV.
“Terms of Endearment” won the Oscar for best movie, and Prince’s “Purple Rain” spent 24 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard charts. The Oakland Raiders won the Super Bowl, and the Detroit Tigers took the World Series.
It was also the year that one of the region’s top choral groups, The Harrisburg Singers, was formed. To mark their 40th anniversary, the Singers will perform a weekend of concerts later this month, with locations on both the east and west shores.
“I’m just so grateful that we’re still out there after all these years,” said Artistic Director Susan Solomon Beckley.
Beckley remembers the early days fondly.
Dr. Ronald Sider, a music professor at Messiah University, founded the group, bringing top soloists in the Harrisburg area together. Beckley came to one of the first rehearsals and has been with them since. Several other singers also have been with the group since it started.
“I can’t believe where the time went,” Beckley said. “We must be doing something right.”
The Harrisburg Singers take special pride in their ability to perform works from many different traditions, with the highest level of musicianship. Over the years, they have performed with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, ventured down to the White House and sung at historic Christ Church in Alexandria, Va., among many other special honors.
Beckley said that the group tries to keep things light while working hard to put out great music.
“There’s always a balance between working hard and having fun,” she said. “But it’s important for the group that the music is enjoyable and fun to sing.”
Special Group
As artistic director, Beckley said that she picks the music for the group’s performances, calling it a “labor of love.”
“I listen to a lot of music,” she said. “I like Broadway and pop songs, and I enjoy putting a program together that is challenging for our group but also one that our audiences will enjoy.”
Despite the number of long-timers in the 40-member group, Beckley said that there’s always some turnover, so the group holds annual auditions to fill vacancies.
Bernie Labuskes, a board member who has been with the group for 2½ years, described the auditions as “rigorous.” Then, once you make it in, rehearsals take up about two hours a week.
“We don’t get paid, so it has to be enjoyable for people to come back,” Lubuskes said. “The people in the group make it so much fun. That’s why people keep coming back.”
Members of the group come from all walks of life, including teachers and attorneys, electricians and judges. They also come in all ages, from people in their 20s to those in their 70s.
Managing Director Breanna Echelmeier handles ticketing and publications for the group, along with “anything else that needs to be done.”
She said that she joined the group shortly after moving to Harrisburg with her husband.
“We didn’t know anyone, but the people in the group were very welcoming,” she said. “I often wondered how lucky I was to find such a wonderful group of singers and people.”
Much like Lubuskes, Echelmeier said that the closeness of the group is very special.
“There’s a real loyalty within the group,” she said. “It’s like a family. We look out for each other. There’s a real camaraderie that makes it a special group.”
For more information on the Harrisburg Singers, visit www.theharrisburgsingers.org.
High Notes
To mark their 40th anniversary, the Harrisburg Singers have a weekend of dates this month for the show, “40 Years of Broadway Favorites.”
- April 26, 7:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 212 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
- April 27, 7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Catholic Church, 410 E. Simpson St., Mechanicsburg
- April 28, 3 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 2000 Chestnut St., Camp Hill
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