Youth festival planned in Vernon

The International Barbershop Harmony Society announced today that the Sussex County Chapter of their 24,000-member organization has been sanctioned to produce the third of three Youth Harmony Explosion Festivals in the Mid Atlantic District of the organization.

The High Point Harmonizers, the performing chorus of the Sussex County Chapter, has chosen Richard Taylor of Hopatcong, to be the executive producer of this major cultural event that will bring 200-250 local high school, upper middle school and college choral students together for a one day Festival of Barbershop Harmony on Feb. 7 at Vernon Township High School.

“We are thrilled to have been chosen to bring this major cultural event to the region and we have assembled the finest support Staff for the operation of the 1st Annual High Point Youth Harmony Explosion Festival in Vernon, New Jersey," Taylor said. "We have secured the talents of Gimme Four, the 2013 Mid Atlantic District Collegiate Champions, Faces 4 Radio, the 2014 International Barbershop Harmony Seniors Champions, and Class Ring, the 2014 Sweet Adelines International Risiing Star Quartet Champions as the clinicians for the Festival."

The clinicians will work with the students to develop their show package for the Festival Celebration Show to be held in the evening of Feb. 7. David Ammirata, of Montclair, N.J., the musical director of East Coast Sound, will be the conductor for the Festival’s Men’s Chorus and Stephanie Brictson, a renowned sweet adeline director and coach, will be the conductor for the Festival’s Women’s Chorus, and Brictson will also be the choreographer for the Festival Choruses. Douglas Carnes, of New York, a noted youth festival conductor and professional music educator, will conduct the combined Festival Choruses in the evening show. Music and learning media will be supplied by the Barbershop Harmony Society and Sweet Adelines International, who will provide some of the funding as well for the inaugural Festival.

This will be a major cultural arts event for the tri-state region including lower New York, Sussex County, and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The organization is looking for an attendance of 200-250 students but if the festival catches on, the group is prepared to have as many as 300 students singing on the Feb. 7.

Students will be provided with their printed music and learning tracks and will be expected to learn the music prior to the date of the festival. The celebration show will be opened to parents and friends and to the general public.

Anyone who needs information on the Festival or the Show can visit the Harmonizers website at www.highpointharmonizers.org or call Rich Taylor at 973-592-7351.