The mention of a barbershop quartet usually brings to mind images of candy-striped polos and old men, but for a group of University students, it brings to mind their favorite pastime.
The Highland Harmonic is a student organization dedicated to the practice of an art its members say still has a place in today’s world.
“There is a stereotype of barbershop quartets as being old men wearing striped shirts and straw hats,” said Jimmy Kritikos, the group’s baritone singer and a music education senior. “We’re not like that, though. We wear purple-and-gold suits when we perform.”
Barbershop music is sung without instrumental accompaniment, and the songs usually have light-hearted lyrics about love and romance, Kritikos said.
He also said the group adds dancing to their performances.
Kritikos said the group has been together for about three years and that it started from a common love of the musical style among the group’s members.
“We all did something like this in high school and wanted to carry it over to college,” Kritikos said.
Lane Johnson, the lead singer for the group and a vocal performance senior, said Highland Harmonic practices about four times a week in preparation for competitions the group attends.
Johnson said the competitions have taken the group to places such as Ohio, Kentucky and Canada.
“We have a competition next weekend in San Marcos, Texas,” Johnson said. “If we place there, we will compete in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the international collegiate competition this summer.”
In addition to its competitions, the group also performs singing telegrams.
“The telegrams are really popular around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day,” Kritikos said.
The group selects the songs they perform by listening to recordings of other groups and deciding which would best suit their voices, said Brandon Blaylock, the group’s tenor and a music education senior.
“We’re working on a recording of our own right now,” Blaylock said. “We hope to have it out some time next month.”
Brandon Loveday, the group’s bass singer and a choral conducting graduate student, said the group has been working on its album for several months with vocal coach Chip Davis.
Loveday said the group has also worked with a choreographer to help perfect their dancing.
“We really put a lot of work into our performances,” Johnson said. “Barbershop music is about a group performing together live, so the hardest part is finding the time to get together.”