15 minute read
Mtn Music
High Country Barbershop Chorus Keeps On Singin'
by Kristen Denbow
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The Barbershop Chorus in Show Low has a been through a lot since its inception many decades ago. Our local chapter was revived in this area by Doc Dockendorf, when he moved to Show Low. There had been a chorus, but it had broken up, unbeknownst to him. The local paper still had an ad about the chorus meeting Tuesday nights at Blue Ridge High School in the music room, so he thought they were still getting together. Doc went to check it out and was disappointed to discover the group had dissolved several years before. Months after this discovery, he got the roster from the old chapter and started making calls. Several members were interested in starting up the group again so, on or about April 14th, 2000, the group began again with 12 people. After meeting every week for a while, the group grew to 20 and decided to apply for their chapter license. A couple years later, the group chose to have a float in the 4th of July Parade and have ever since. For the first several years, they won Best Musical Float. Doc was the director for 18 years until Theresa came along and he was able to pass the torch. One thing Doc insisted on every year was to enter the Arizona Division Barbershop Chorus contest to get feedback from the judges and improve. They made District in 2010. James Mark Burden has been the assistant director. Things have changed for the group over the past few years due to covid and other factors, but they are persevering. They stopped singing for two years because of covid passing between singers easily. Despite this they have a very good core and hope to grow to get back to where they were. The White Mountain Chapter currently has fifteen to twenty members and is always open to welcoming more. New members are coming in and they have opened up to accepting women in the group. “A lot of the chapters have done that, because it’s a little more difficult especially in a small community to find people coming in. The hard part with women is that their voice has to have a certain tonal quality and they have to know how to use their voice so that it blends with the men. There is a challenge,” explains Theresa Dick. The Barbershop Society holds Harmony University every year, which has helped to draw in the younger crowds. The big competitions, all the chorus’ being in the chorus competitions, more young people are coming into barbershop, according to James. One of the goals of the chorus for the community is get some more of the young people involved, such as high schoolers becoming part of the chorus, or even forming their own youth quartet.
Doc Dockendorf - Director Emeritus
Doc began his musical journey of 51 years as a sophomore in high school when he walked into a music store and bought a book of barbershop arrangements. In 1949, he was in the choir at school and formed a quartet with three other students called the Cold Fire Four. The uniform consisted of Cold Fire bow ties and shoelaces. When they would sing, a blacklight would be put on so all the audience would see on stage was teeth, bow ties, and shoelaces. Doc decided it was something he wanted to do however life intervened and he didn’t really have time to spend doing it. He went to school, and then the army, where he did have a quartet. In college he had no time for barbershop though one of his criteria for graduating to get a job was the city had to be below the Mason-Dixon line and it had to have a barbershop chapter. Doc went to West Palm Beach Florida and joined one there. He enjoys the ringing chords the most. “Like angels, singing those notes up there. I got hooked.” “Well, we’re really excited to be able to have a show, that’s first and foremost. Because of all the health reasons and stuff. It should be really good. We have an excellent quartet coming in. We’re excited to be back on stage performing. I just hope that the people of the White Mountains support us as they always have. Come out and hear the show and just enjoy themselves.” ~ Doc Dockendorf
Theresa Dick - Director
Theresa took over as director a couple years prior to Covid. She is invested in staying true to the foundation of barbershop while updating the organization to draw more youth and increase the numbers. “We’re just trying to move it in a little more modern direction. When people think of barbershoppers they think of old men in candy-stripe vests and bowties and handlebar mustaches. That’s where we came from, that’s our foundation. But in order to draw more youth into it we do have to update it. That’s one of the things we’re looking at doing while keeping that foundation in place. We don’t want to lose - I don’t want to see them lose where it started. But at the same time, we do have to move it forward, and start with more new stuff. We’re not in a big city, we don’t have the option and all the people. So we have to do - I guess we have to be a little
more creative in how we do Barbershop.” She goes on to explain the intricacies of barbershop and the importance of blending, "all the voices have to blend. And it’s difficult, it really is… it’s finding that blend, because in barbershop you talk about a chord ringing. A chord can ring only if it’s pure, and you know when you hit that. And that’s the thing, you have to make sure that the purity is there, you can’t have all the other factors there and have that purity. It really is a challenge, it’s a lot of fun actually.” “I know when I came in as director, it was just the guys here and everyone who was involved here, that’s what they wanna do. They want to sing and enjoy and have fun, it’s not a, it’s not a criticism. Come on, let’s go, we all have a love together let’s make it work.” ~ Theresa Dick
David Huffman - Bass
David has been doing music since he was a kid, beginning at 7 years old on a kids’ television program where he sang for a while. Since then he has done a lot of different music, including about 30 musicals. His experience with the group started when he was asked to sing in the valley where he stays in the winter. After hearing them sing he decided to sing with them. He enjoys the director and the people. Don is excited about getting back into singing and doing stuff. He encourages others who might be interested to come join for the music and camaraderie. “That was just my hobby. I’ve been in theater and music ever since. My children do it too, my wife does it too.” ~ David Huffman
Don Murrow - Baritone
Don is a young 83 year old who has been singing in public since he was five. He got his start singing in church with his sister. From there he sang in church, junior high, and high school, including being picked as one of four from his 80 person high school to sing in the All State Chorus in Iowa. He’s an inspiration to the barbershoppers with less time under their belt and giving them hope that they’ll still be able to sing as well as he does as they age. His advice for Kerry Lucero - Tenor
Kerry is one of the newest female members as well as a professional violinist. She also owns the Deuce of Clubs Barber Shop in Show Low. She’s a barber, who sings barber shop. “I’m an actual barber.” Theresa asked her to join the group and she agreed. Though she officially joined about a month ago, she sang with the group for their Christmas concert last year. She’s enjoyed it very much and hopes to keep singing for many years with the group. Her favorite part is creating harmonies. “When we gel and we can hear the overtones of the chords, it’s really neat to hear that. We’re just one big family and we’re hoping to grow the barbershop, that’d be awesome.” “I’m excited about it, we’ve been working really hard on the show. It’ll just be a great time and lots of fun, a lot of people can join us.” ~ Kerry Lucero
Tom Wallis - Baritone
Tom is going on 38 years of participating in barbershop. He is currently Baritone Second Leader and Vice President of Music and Performance for the chapter where he’s sang for almost 6 years. Tom discovered barbershop after going to a show he heard about from a flyer he received from friends at church. After seeing the show he spoke with his friends the next Sunday and told them how great it was. They asked him to go to a meeting and he’s been hooked ever since. Tom and his wife made their way to Show Low while in Arizona for a barbershop convention he attended in Mesa. He decided to visit a local chapter and discovered Show Low. As they made their way north from the valley, his wife talked about moving so they sold their house and relocated. “It’s just been a real pleasure singing barbershop. I can have the worst day in the world and after I get through a barbershop rehearsal everything’s a lot better. The camaraderie, the four part harmony, it just makes your day better. Keep the whole world singin’, that’s my motto. If the whole world sang, it’d be a lot nicer place.” ~ Tom Wallis
James Burden - Assistant Director
James is the youngest member of the chorus. He has been singing barbershop for almost 20 years. His love with the pastime began with his father when he was a kid living in Casa Grande. James’ father would take him to rehearsals where he would sleep under the risers and it got stuck in his head. He joined the Show Low chapter in 2006 after moving to the area and has been singing with them for about 15 years. James has passed on his love of barbershop to his kids listening and singing along in the car and joining in during rehearsals. “I want to try and inspire some younger folks to come in and experience the joy of Barbershop like I did.” ~ James Burden
The chorus is mixed and there is no cost to join. Membership to the Barbershop Society is preferred and runs $45-100, depending on age. New members may be subsidized by the chorus for the first year of membership. Interested parties must be at least 10 years old. New members are always welcome. Rehearsals are every Tuesday night in the Blue Ridge High School choir room from 6-7:30 pm. Anyone who wants is welcome to come and sing. Please arrive at 5:30. “come in and sing. That’s really what it’s about is singing.” The upcoming show on July 23rd is being held at Blue Ridge High School Auditorium and begins at 6 pm. This year features the Best of Broadway including songs from the Lion King and There’s No Business Like Show Business, along with some quartets including a guest quartet. Tickets are available for presale by members or at the door. For more information about events or joining logon to http://wmhcbc. com.
SCOTT JEFFERS BRINGS A WORLD OF MUSIC TO MEDIEVAL MAYHEM RENAISSANCE FAIRE
Experience a Viking song one moment, a Celtic hymn the next, with music from India and Africa following. Visitors to Medieval Mayhem Renaissance Faire will take a musical trip around the world when Scott Jeffers performs daily Friday - Sunday, July 8 – 10 at Frontier Field Park, 650 N. 9th Place in Show Low, AZ. The Faire raises money for the Mountain of Hope Scholarship Foundation, which offers gap scholarships to Navajo and Apache County students to help cover higher education expenses not covered by traditional scholarships.
Jeffers has headlined festivals from Arizona to Turkey and back, performing music of the world on instruments such as his trusty violin, a loutar from Morocco, an oud from Turkey, a bouzouki from Greece, and many more. Often accompanied by his band Traveler, Scott travels the globe much as the bards of old, drawing from different cultures and experiences that inspire his original musical compositions.
Scott Jeffers will perform one free show daily and has agreed to perform his special one-man concert, Mutiny! for those age 21 and up Saturday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the concert are available at www.azmayhem.com.
“Some performers defy description and must be seen to be understood. Scott Jeffers blends so many influences from around the world, using so many instruments rarely seen by American audiences, that it’s easy to say this is a unique show and one not to be missed. He even found inspiration from an encounter with mooing cows!” said festival executive producer Daris Gibbons.
Medieval Mayhem Renaissance Faire takes place in the Scottish Highlands community called Wyvernton Shire (Translation - “Land of the Dragon’s Keep”). There, a former pirate has inherited the English royal crown that rules over Wyvernton Shire. While in the process of learning all his kingly duties, his former associates attempt to lure him back to a life of crime on the high seas. The comedy and drama play out throughout the day for visitors, who can enjoy food and drink, buy handcrafted items and participate in the dancing, singing, fighting, acrobatics, and general mayhem of a busy shire.
Advance purchase discount tickets are available online now. Adult tickets are $12, a savings of $3 off the price at the gate. Tickets for children ages 5 - 13 are $6, which saves $1 off the price at the gate. Children under 5 are admitted free every day. Family admission four-packs, Pub Club memberships, knighting ceremony, and Scott Jeffers’ Mutiny concert tickets are available at www.azmayhem.com.
St. Anthony Catholic School
• Developing a Child's Mind, Body and Soul • Generous Scholarships • Excellent Academics
• Sports Teams
• Openings in Most Grades
For more information, please call Our Principal Bryan Yorksmith at (928) 537-4497 www.stantschool.org
Bring your chairs or blankets to sit out and enjoy our beautiful evenings at the Pioneer Park in Snowflake with wonderful entertainment and great friends. June 23, 2022 - Beautiful and colorful entertainment with Standing Horse Traditional Native American Dancing and Traditions of the Dances. Traditional Navajo Tacos and Fry Bread will be available. June 30, 2022 - Kirkman Family Band playing country music and some of Gary's cowboy poetry. July 7, 2022 – Gospel Music with the Messengers from the Lutheran Church
July 14, 2022 – Flagstaff's Dancin' Grannies. Ladies 60+ showing off their moves in retirement.
July 21, 2022 - TBA 7 pm July 28, 2022 -Jazz Monkeys Aug 4, 2022 – Summer Palooza. Do you have a song you would like to sing? A dance you would like to share? Contact us at donniedidit@yahoo.com.
Dinner & Live Guitar Music:
Great Places to Grab Dinner and Hear James T y Los Vatos in May
June 2022:
James T at El Rancho: Wednesday 15 & 29 5-7pm James T at El Patron: Tuesday 14, 21 & 28 5-7pm James T: June 12 at The Den 1-4pm James T: June 18 at Long Wongs 5-8pm James T: June 22 at the Foxfire in Alpine 5-8pm James T y Los Vatos: at El Patron June 25, 5-8pm July 2022:
James T: July 2, at Long Wongs 5-8pm James T at El Patron: Tuesday 5, 12, 19 & 26, 5-7pm James T at El Rancho: Wednesday 6, 13 & 20 5-7pm James T Trio July 9 at the Foxfire in Alpine 6-9pm James T y Los Vatos: July 10, St. Rita’s Festival noon - 6pm James T: July 16, Long Wongs 5-8pm James T: July 23, The Den 1-4pm James T: July 27 at the foxfire in Alpine 5-8pm James T y Los Vatos: July 30 at El Patron 5-8pm Unity of the White Mountains, 257 N. Woodland Rd, Lakeside, is featuring several special events this summer, especially most Wednesday nights in June, July and August. Events include Line Dance Lessons, Concert Pianist, Native American Medicine Wheel, Chakras and Crystals, Astrology, Nature Movie Night, Game Night, Poetry Reading, and even more special events on selected Saturdays and Sundays. Other activities include monthly “Luna Tunes Talent Night”, hiking, several workshops, making mosaics and mandalas, guided meditations and our Annual Fundraiser: Dinner/Dance/Auction on August 4th. To find out more about Unity and our upcoming activities, please see our website UnityWM.org, email minister@UnityWM.org or call 928-3685002. Everyone is welcome! Please join us and bring your family and friends.
On each Friday from now through October from 7-10 pm, there is a live country band at the White Mountain Dance Hall (1105 Old Hwy 160, Show Low). Friday is Family Night. Many families bring their children to this activity. There is a special reduced rate for a family, with individuals paying a $8 donation at the door. On Saturdays (May – Sept), there is square dancing from 7-9 pm. There will be Square Dance lessons before the dance starting in June for all adults and children from junior high and above. “CONTRA” dancing and lessons are held on Monday nights. For more information, please visit whitemountaindancehall.com and on facebook at WhiteMountain-COMMUNITYDanceHall or call Ken and Virginia Baker at (602) 689-7189.
