‘Come for the music, stay for the friendship’

A group of women have been keeping barbershop music alive in South Jersey for 25 years. 

Shades of Harmony, an all-women’s a capella chorus based in Williamstown and Turnersville, was founded in September 2001 by Lori Ludlum, a longtime musician, instrumental music director and school music teacher. 

She first got involved with barbershop music – an American art form that is a four-part blend of bass, baritone, lead and tenor singing roles, based on a classic barbershop qaurtet – in 1981 when she joined a chorus in Cherry Hill. She stayed with that chorus for about 18 years. She then moved to directing the men’s Philadelphia Sounds of Liberty Chorus, which she did for 15 years. 

“I was missing the women’s end of (this music), so I started Shades of Harmony,” she said. “We started with three people, and we’ve grown to 20-plus.”

The a capella chorus is a hobby for the women involved. All members memorize the songs and brief choreography in some of the numbers. Plus, they build connections with the other women involved.

Members can decide how committed they want to be, as well. 

Shades of Harmony is part of SingUnited International, the women’s a capella barbershop organization groups and choruses like Shades of Harmony compete in annually. Its full chorus and individual quartets compete in the Atlantic Bay Mountain Region 19 in the spring. Qualifying winners can compete in the international competition.

“The competitive end of it is what I really enjoy. I love that it’s a very friendly competition. We get to know each other really well,” Ludlum said. “We all love each other. (The competition) is just for bragging rights.” 

However, women do not need to participate in the competitive end. Shades of Harmony holds weekly rehearsals on Tuesday evenings at St. John’s Church in Turnersville, and they perform locally year-round. 

On the evening of August 25, Shades of Harmony held its free Summer Sing Fling Finale performance at the Monroe Township Library. The hour-long performance featured a variety of a capella songs performed by the chorus and two different quartets. 

The chorus harmonized the entire hour, performing a variety of songs. There were tunes from Disney films, old-school barbershop bops, nostalgic sounds and mega hits. “You’ve Got A Friend In Me,” “Barbara Ann,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “Dancing Queen,” “Sweet Caroline” and the “Cheers” theme song were some of the songs performed. 

All of the women performing were completely engaged. Whether it was winking and dancing with the women beside them, smiling at the conductors or flashing theatrical facials to the audience, they all provided a captivating show out of just their voices and limited body movements. 

The Summer Sing Fling also is a special opportunity for singers who want to get involved with the chorus without the entire commitment. Guest singers who auditioned and signed up for the free six-week summer experience learned and memorized three songs with the chorus, and they performed as a whole at the end of the showcase. 

A similar six-week program will be offered for the holiday season. It starts on October 13, and the finale showcase will be on November 21 at Pfeiffer Center in Williamstown. 

Ludlum said these shorter programs are a great way for women to try out the chorus in a non-committal fashion to see if they like it and would want to become further involved. Even if they do not decide to join and compete, there is still value in joining for the brief programs. 

The performance and singing component of the program is obviously a huge part, but meeting and connecting with a community of women across different generations is one of the most rewarding parts, Ludlum said. 

“This particular hobby, once you walk in, it’s like walking into a family thing,” she said. “Friendship is a big deal in this organization.” 

Ludlum said a mantra Shades of Harmony follows is “you come for the music and stay for the friendship.” 

“We’re very close knit. We take care of each other. It’s one of the big things that’s kept me (involved in SingUnited choruses) for 45 years.”