Celebrating 75 Years!
It all started with a wintry mix!
A chance meeting of the Snyders and Barnwells on a rainy evening on the George Washington Parkway in November 1947 led to our founding.
Gene Barnwell, then Director of Alexandria's Recreation Department and the Harmonizers' first Chorus Director, and Dean Snyder, President of the DC Chapter who, several years later, was to transfer his barbershop allegiance to Alexandria, were Co-Founders of our chapter.
The future shines bright!
75 years later, the Harmonizers have attained twenty medals at international competitions, including four first-place gold medals. We were awarded the Greater D.C. Area Choral Excellence “Ovation” award for Best A Cappella Ensemble. We have performed at Wolf Trap, the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music Center, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court, and Carnegie Hall, and have toured internationally. While we are committed to producing the highest level of vocal harmony, we also strive to be a choral arts group that makes a significant impact on the local community. In addition to performing local concerts each year which have entertained countless thousands throughout Alexandria and the broader DC area. We also regularly provide free community performances such as holiday caroling in Old Town Alexandria and free singing valentines at local senior centers and businesses. We recently became a participant in the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Virginia touring artist program, which helps the chorus travel throughout the Commonwealth to share its music.
This year, we have expanded our organization to include a sister chorus, Metro Voices, and will soon be launching Capital Force, a seasonal youth chorus.
Read more about it in this article from the Zebra Post: https://thezebra.mydigitalpublication.com/?m=69171&i=795793&p=48&ver=html5