Submitted by Sounds of Aloha on
What a fun evening the Sounds of Aloha had as guest performers in the Hawaii Pacific University International Vocal Ensemble's spring concert on March 31, 2023! Dubbed "Laugh Tracks," the whole concert featured humorous songs. Our chorus and quartets drew on the comic repertoire for which barbershop groups are known, and the HPU choir showcased a variety of humorous music of different styles, including an absolutely delightful and beautiful original choral composition by director Dr. Alec Schumacher using as lyrics some funny things his very young daughter has said. The evening concluded with a joint performance of "The Best of All Possible Worlds" from the musical "Candide," with a solo by our new Musical Director, Bryce Irvine.
HPU is located at Aloha Tower Markertplace on the Honolulu waterfront, a beautiful spot not only for the concert but for some socializing afterwards. One of the most exciting things about that for us was teaching and singing some tags with the college singers, who were very enthusiastic a cappella harmonizers. Extra fun was Dr. Schumacher's stepping into a quartet to sing a full barbershop song he learned in college himself!
The concert also marked debuts for three Sounds of Aloha singers. Jason Roach, pictured left, had been in the audience at our free 2022 "Gift of Song" holiday concert at Kawaiaha'o Church, where he was moved to tears by the music and vowed then and there to get singing back into his life after many years. Brad Gettelfinger, pictured on the right, was a music major in college, is a guitarist/singer, directed a church choir for years and, like, Jason, was ready this year for more music in his life. This was their first performance in the chorus. And in the middle of the picture, of course, is Bryce, for whom this concert marked his first public performance in that role!
