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In September
of 1961, at the
request of the North Penn Hospital Auxiliary, 17 individuals from the
Souderton-Lansdale area participated as a male chorus in ‘Love Apple’,
the 5th
annual benefit performance for the North Penn Hospital.
The music for the performance was arranged and directed by Alvin
Schmidt,
choral director at North Penn High School,
on November 10 and 11, 1961 who later
became the first director of The North Pennsmen.
The first
rehearsal took place on
January 2, 1962 and by February 24 the chorus had grown to 34 members.
That
night the brand new North Pennsmen
performed their license show under the sponsorship of the Delchordians
of Delaware County, PA who at that time were 95 men strong. The Delchordians sponsorship proved
to be the catalyst for the North Pennsmen to
receive
chapter charter in The Society for the Preservation and
Encouragement of
Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (now called the Barbershop
Harmony Society)
on October 26, 1962.
Since the
charter, the North Pennsmen boast 3 men who actively and
enthusiastically participate in
the chorus: Walt Rittenhouse, Don Baumgartner, and John Weber. The
dedication
of these men in The North Pennsmen
is testimony to
the chorus in the community and the Society and we are grateful for
their
continuing service. They are inspiration to the new members and many
guests who
join us at rehearsals.
Thank you,
gentlemen, for all the years of dedication!
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