Barbershop singing may be something of an old-fashioned genre, but more and more young people are falling for its charms.

One of the newest members of the City of Sails Barbershop Chorus is North Shore 23-year-old Joseph Peyroux, who joined in July after hearing the chorus perform at the choral get-together known as VoCo and at the World Choir Games in July.

A workmate who was present and singing encouraged him to give us a go.

Joseph is far from a newcomer to singing: he enjoyed belting out the hymns in church as a kid, though not from the choir stalls. “just down the back” and he and his sister sang along with the musical classics such as The Phantom of the Opera and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, which he watched repeatedly. He also spent several months with the Takapuna-based community choir Stellar Singers.

But he particularly enjoys the subtle, shifting harmonies of barbershop music and is taking to the new repertoire like the proverbial duck to water.

“The blends that we get together are really cool,” says Joseph. “It’s so surprising that you can create something that sounds like a musical instrument, but isn’t; it’s just four people – or four groups of people – singing in harmony.”

Joseph says he really enjoys the camaraderie of the chorus rehearsals on Monday evenings. “I love the way we sing happy birthdays each week. I’ve found them all very chummy, a nice group of people.”

In the few weeks he’s been in the chorus, when we speak to him, he has not learnt many of the songs, but he says he loves our version of John Denver’s Annie’s Song very beautiful and reckons we give a good account of The Eagles’ Desperado. “But I just like the sound of people singing together so I’m not very picky.”

The chorus’ musical director, Richard Harker, says it is wonderful welcoming newcomers such as Joseph, who typically pick up the repertoire quickly and with enthusiasm. 

"It was inspiring to see him on stage with us at the recent BHNZ convention, after only two months with the chorus.”
Richard stresses that the chorus always welcomes all new members.

“It’s been encouraging to see some younger people giving barbershop a try, or coming back to it after singing at school. They bring a real energy – not to mention much-needed social media skills, which help get the word out.” 

Newcomers might feel intimidated by the demanding and repetitive drilling needed to bring some numbers up to standard for competition performance but Joseph says there is no need for stress.

“I think it’s as difficult as you want it to be. If you don’t want it to be too demanding you can just hang out and have a good time and have supper together and enjoy singing with other people. But if you do want to challenge yourself, you can go into competitions.

“It’s your choice and that choice is respected. But what’s important is just to enjoy singing.”