The Spirit Of Shenandoah

The Barbershop Harmony Society; Founded in 1938 in Tulsa, Okla., is the largest all-male singing organization in the world with nearly 30,000 members including 1,500 quartets in over 800 chapters. There are also eight official foreign affiliates of the Society. This organization was formerly known as, the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA), Inc.

There are two musical artforms that are uniquely American. One is Jazz the other is Barbershop Singing. Barbershop harmony, a uniquely American musical art form is known for its four-part harmony and the “expanded sound” created by its unique chord structure. Fine tuned voices of a four part quartet or chorus create music in it's finest form. Combining the words of a ballad, the uplifting verses of a traditional spiritual, the universal lines of a love story, or the words of a song relating to the nostalgia of a by-gone era can raise one's experience to a new emotional level.

The Apple Capital Chorus is the Winchester Chapter of the  Barbershop Harmony Society The Barbershop Harmony society is a non-profit organization which donates all profits to charities through the Harmony Foundation.  Under the direction of John Westervelt the chapter strives for excellence in Barbershop Singing.

The Chorus practices every Monday evening from 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM at the First United Methodist Church at the corner of Braddock and Fairfax Streets in Winchester, Va. Go to  Schedule of Practices for directions.  Visitors and new members are always welcome.   We audition for new members throughout the entire year.

The mission of the Winchester Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is to keep and strengthen the tradition and reputation of the style in barbershop singing, providing a personal opportunity to participate in a continuing and rewarding hobby, while realizing our commitment to our chapter, our community, and our international organization.

The Apple capital Chorus' show - "Songs of the Season" featuring the combined chorus' of The Apple Capital Chorus and the Harrisonburg Harmonizers plus the Winchester Troubadour Quartet and the Blarney Brothers Quartet was attended by a very appreciative audience. The seasons in the lives of Joe and Nellie, depicted by Ben West and Susan Ryker, brought them through courtship, marriage and ultimately to a happy home in their beloved Shenandoah Valley. At the finalè when both Chorus' sang their robust rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" the audience enthusiastically rose to their feet and gave a rousing cheer as the song ended with gusto. Many comments following the show "That is the way The Star Spangled Banner should be sung."

The Northern Virginia Daily published the article on barbershop singing in their March 25th issue.  Appropriately headlined with "IN HARMONY" the item provided all the pertinent infomation on the Apple Capital Chorus as a chapter and the Barbershop Harmony Society as the International Society. Reporter Josette Keelor was the object of one of the Singing Valentine songs, "Heart of My Heart" sung by the Troubedors quartet to demonstrate how that works. The article explains the make up of barbershop harmony demonstrated by the singing of a few old barbershop favorites.  To show that age is no barrier to becoming a barbershop singer she included the "Four Score and Then Some" quartet whose singers are all over 80 years old in the article. Her photographer took many pictures of the chorus and quartets. Three pictures were published in color, the Troubedors quartet, John Westervelt, the director and Bruce Ryker a lead singer. We are greatful that the NV Daily publicised our hobby with an excellent, informative, entertaining article.

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