West Central Barbershop Chorus to Perform in Central Park

One of this summer’s music concerts in Litchfield’s Central Park will celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The West Central Barbershop Chorus will present “250 years of American Music” on July 2nd from 6-to-8 p.m.

Chorus member Rick Sandry says they will be wearing their tuxedos that evening. He says the concert is made possible with a Southwest Minnesota Arts Council grant.

Sandry says he began singing barbershop music in 1976, took a few years off to drive semi, but has been back at it the past 35 years. Jon Schmidt says he joined the West Central Barbershop Chorus about 10 years ago. He says there are close to 18 members and they will sing about 9 numbers – mostly from the last century.

Schmidt says they will sing the set that they performed in Willmar last spring, and it’s all memorized. Bob Starz says the West Central Barbershop Chorus has performed in several other states and in Canada. He says barbershop is fun music that can be heard all over the world.

Starz says he started performing barbershop music in 1978 and was in a chorus in Upstate New York, then moved back to Minnesota and performed in Rochester and then in Willmar. He says people should attend their concert on July 2nd at 6 p.m. in Litchfield’s Central Park and celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

By the way, this Thursday’s concert – June 25th – in Central Park will be the Dad & Drea show with Terry Shaw and his daughter, Andrea, and the Meeker County Dairy Princesses will be serving ice cream.