Barbershop concert a rousing success / By Martha Knight

COUDERSPORT—Mickey, Minnie and Donald logos smiled with glee, and jack lanterns grinned on the stage apron, and singing groups on stage seemed to be enjoying the event enormously.

But then, judging from the applause, whistles and cheers,  so was the audience, in the Coudersport Junior-Senior High School auditorium Saturday night, as the Headwaters Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society presented its annual show.

Titled “A Salute to Disney,” the program did include songs from Disney movies, performed mostly by the 13 members of the Allegany Goodtime Singers. Members Dave Hauber and Chris Keir shared directorial duties, as the Goodtimes belted out a Disney song medley, followed by “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah”. “Heigh-Ho”. “”A Spoonful of Sugar” and other hits.

There’s lots of magic in Disney, and in those songs. Gepetto’s yearning came through in “When You Wish Upon a Star.” The Lion King question, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” brought an unspoken affirmative reply, as the Disney songs wound down.

Second Chances, a compact vocal ensemble led by Gloria Richardson, romped through portions of the “100 Years of Broadway” revue, sometimes sounding like Manhattan Transfer with tight harmonies, sometimes invading River City, always at home on stage. Ann Myers’ strong soprano and Anne McCleary’s solid piano accompaniment were pluses.

Keystone Express, with Rick Lytle, Hauber, Burt Crowell and Chris Keir, did a sentimental “Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie,” and later returned to do “Lida Rose” from “The Music Man.” But without Shirley Jones to do the descant, it’s hard to impersonate the Buffalo Bills (quartet in the Broadway show and movie).

Fortunately director Keir, a Belmont, N.Y. area school music instructor, has some talented children, including Grace, age 9, and Nora, age 8, who sang the “Sweet and Low” part in strong, clear voices. The teamwork between the quartet and the diminutive duo was perfect. Learning from the proud dad that it was Nora’s birthday, the audience joined in with all the performers except Nora in singing a hearty “Happy Birthday.”

Another capable young singer was David Empson, a Coudersport sixth grader and son of fellow Allegany Goodtime Singers member Jared Empson. The young man is a veteran of stage, too, having performed in the Potter-McKean Players’ production of “A Christmas Carol” last winter.

The benefit brought a good haul of food items and some monetary contributions for distribution to Coudersport, Emporium and Port Allegany food banks.

After the program the singers and their family members went to the Coudersport Presbyterian Church, where the groups rehearse, and quickly set up tables for a late supper of pizza and other snacks. Who should come to call, Dan Tucker style, and sing for their supper, but the Olean. N.Y. area Chorduroys quartet. They achieved a doo-wop-barbershop amalgam in “Only You.”

Then other singers on hand joined forces in several more rousing numbers, amazingly well coordinated for a group that had not sung together before. They were still having lots of fun, but it was past bedtime for the children. Even the closest harmonizers must part—until the next rehearsal.