Harmony Revival

Harmony Graduates
take the stage

A graduation ceremony with a difference took place in Offerton recently when a group of local men celebrated the end of a special “Learn to Sing” course, run by Stockport chorus “Harmony Revival.”

Most of the students had never sung in public before but after only ten hours tuition they wowed family and friends with four-part harmony renditions of “Under the Boardwalk, “Let me Call You Sweetheart,” and “Yesterday.”

The eight-week course, which was funded by the Arts Council North-west and supported by Stockport Council’s Arts Development team, is part of a national programme to develop barbershop harmony singing among men. Over 50 applications were received from throughout the Stockport area with 30 of these winning places on the course.

“It has been an amazing experience,” said Ged Dargan, from Hazel Grove. “I’ve always wanted to sing and the course has given me the confidence I needed to actually do it.” Bramhall resident Peter Williams added, “When we started producing the harmony sound, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I couldn’t believe I was part of it.”

Ged and Peter are among the majority of the graduates who have decided to take up singing as a regular hobby and join Harmony Revival at their regular Wednesday night rehearsals at Offerton Methodist Church on Marple Road.

“It just shows that there are lots of men out there who want to sing and just need to be given the right opportunity,” commented Musical Director Stan Waters, from Bramhall. “We hope to run the course again, but anyone who wants to try harmony singing in the meantime is welcome to come along to one of our rehearsals.” Harmony Revival can be contacted on 0161-486 6667.

Above are 19 of the students who finished the course, there were a couple who could not appear on the final night and consequently missed the graduation photograph. It appears that our club will recruit about fourteen new members.