MEMORY LANE

WHAT BETTER WAY TO START A MEMORIES PAGE THAN WITH THIS GEM OF A PHOTO

Yes, that’s a 1911 “T-Model”, and those four dapper gents were the Blue Ridge Connection Quartet. All four were members of the Jeffersonland Chorus, and two of those gents (Ken Wallenborn (a founding member of the Jeffersonland Chorus), and Jack Marshall) still are singing with the Jeffersonland Chorus today. Oh, and by the way, the car belonged to Jack Marshall.
Blue Ridge Connection Quartet from Left to Right
*Art Grahame - Lead Jack Marshall - Bass Bob Ellison - Tenor Ken Wallenborn - Baritone*

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And how about this one from around the year 1988? See the youngster on the right? That’s Micah Everard, our present day director. His dad’s in the photo also…

The Name of this Quartet was Three “Old Goats” And A “Kid”

From Left To Right

Dennis Russo “Cap” Miles Everard Art Grahame Micah Everard

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2024

And jumping right into 2024 we have our yearly ….SINGING VALENTINES

This year the Jeffersonland Chorus presented three premiere, tuxedo-clad quartets… “The Barbers Of C’ville”, “Southern Consort”, and “Generations.” In addition to a Valentine Serenade, each recipient received a rose and a sampler box of premium chocolates.

Below is a newspaper article recounting a delightful and humorous story of how one such presentation caused mild alarm among the recipients neigbors. {You may have to use your browser’s zoom feature to read it).

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2023

**Season’s End**

The Chorus captivated the audience with enchanting renditions of beloved carols and modern Christmas classics. With soaring harmonies and lively arrangements, we kindled the festive spirit and left our audience with treasured memories to carry into the new year.

The Jeffersonland Chorus is, of course, busy rehearsing, singing, and performing throughout the year…but especially so as the year draws to a close. Below to the right is a list of our song-filled December 2023 schedule…and to the left, the chorus serenades Christmas shoppers at the Barracks Road shopping center.

Dec. 1st - Holiday Art Opening - (Southern Consort Quartet - a JLC premiere quartet)
Dec. 3rd - Pantops Community Church
Dec. 7th - Old Trail Lodge
Dec. 8th - Branchlands (Barbers of C’ville Quartet - a JLC premiere quartet)
Dec. 11th- Westminster/Canterbury
Dec. 16th -Martha Jefferson House
Dec. 16th -Strolling Sing-out

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The Jeffersonland Chorus performed at the ever popular and wonderful CROZET ARTS & CRAFTS FAIRE which is held twice a year. A well-rounded performance with old fashion Barbershop melodies, Do-Wop songs from the 1950’s, songs from the stage and screen, delighted the receptive audience and passers by.

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Valentines Day in 2023 saw the Jeffersonland Chorus sending TWO premiere quartets. For a nominal fee, you could send a live, in-person quartet to serenade your special Someone.

One of Jeffersonland’s premiere quartets…
THE BARBERS OF CVILLE
Serenading a surprised (and thrilled) customer at the Meriwether Elementary School.

Another premiere quartet…
SOUTHERN COMFORT
Standing with another satisfied Valentine serenade customer

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HIS barbershop (yes, “HIS” is the shop’s current name) celebrated its 100th anniversary in April. And there was no better way to celebrate a barbershop than bringing in an actual barbershop quartet, SOUTHERN COMFORT, complete with striped shirts, vests and straw hats to serenade and entertain the clientele and people passing by.

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**The Virginia Southern Consort Quartet singing at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library “Reading Kick-Off Carnival”**

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2022

AN OUTDOOR CONCERT ON THE STEPS OF THE DOWNTOWN JEFFERSONLAND-MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Jefferson-Madison Public Library invited the chorus to give an open-air concert on its stately front steps. Here we are decked out in colorful summer shirts singing “Hello Mary Lou”

And “NO” (a bit of humor) …...We are strictly an acapella group, so the gentleman carrying the guitar case who passes through our ranks definitely is an Interloper!!!

And as long as we’re downtown, we took the opportunity to stroll the mall and seranade the shoppers. We actually did several Mall-strolling seranades throughout the warm, delicious summer months.

SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT BALL GAMES

A PERFORMANCE AT THE OLD TRAIL LODGE IN CROZET

Micah, our director, with an angelic look on his face right after telling one of his jokes that he intersperses between the songs—>

“Why was Cinderella thrown off of the baseball team? Because she kept running away from the ball” (groan)

Barbers of C’ville quartet (Robby, Tom, George and Micah) were privileged to sing the National Anthem for the @Charlottesville#TomSox game on Thursday night, June 23rd. As a bonus, Tom won the 50/50 raffle for the first time in his life!

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2021

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2020

Drive-In Rehearsals

In fall of 2020, we acquired new equipment that allowed us to sing safely from our cars! We used the equipment until it became safe to rehearse in person again. See more at the Hot Rods & Harmony: Drive-In Rehearsals Facebook Group.

Barbers of C’ville Deliver
Socially-Distanced Birthday Serenade

The Barbers of C’ville, a JLC quartet, delivered 50th birthday greetings to an area resident on November 8, 2020, using our audio equipment to safely deliver musical best wishes from mother to daughter.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Charlottesville in March 2020, we met regularly on Zoom through the summer months and into the Fall.

2019

JLC performs at the RODEO Club gathering

We perform at many functions in the area.

NPR RADIO IQ

Sandy Hausman from Virginia Public Radio features JLC in a story about our free singing lessons.

Valentine’s Day 2019

The Chorus fielded three quartets - Lady and the Tramps, The Barbers of Cville and The Delegates and performed over 50 Singing Valentines in the Charlottesville area. Serenades were predominantly in the city, but we ranged from Zions Crossroad to Crozet, performing to individuals, groups and businesses. Tears of joy were shed by many recipients. Thanks to everyone who participated.

The Delegates…in the car and on the road to their next valentine recipient

A Midsummer Night’s A Cappella Concert

The JLC hosted a wonderful evening of entertainment featuring Aged to Perfection the Harmony Incorporated 2018 International Champions and Jim Wynton. Almost 200 people attended the event at the Grisham Auditorium at St. Anne-Belfield School. We’d like to thank all our supporters for making the show possible.

2018

WINTER

We welcome Alexa Beal as our new director.
The singing lesson program has swelled our ranks. 28 men attended our most recent rehearsal. It is great to have so many voices in the group.
Valentine's Day - Our two quartets - Lark and Barbers of Cville sang in dozens of places across Albemarle County. Thanks to all and we look forward to next year!

SPRING

50 years! That's what it said on the new BHS membership card of our founder, Ken Wallenborn. We didn't just give it to him; we handed it to him on a silver platter!

SUMMER

TomSox National Anthem - JLC had the honor of singing our national anthem on Friday, July 13 as the Charlottesville Tom Sox took on the Staunton Braves. We also were featured in "Baseball movie trivia". We scored 4 out of 5 missing a question about "Field of Dreams." The consolation prize for Dan, George and Tom was a pack of old baseball cards.

THE C’VILLE SING OUT

The JLC is a proud supporter of the C’ville Sing Out. Many members of the JLC sang with the Sing Out Chorus, celebrating Unity Days in Charlottesville and our former president, Nico, was on the C’ville Sing Out board.

FALL

On November 3, 2018, our director, Alexa Beal’s quartet, Aged to Perfection, was awarded highest honors in the Harmony Inc International Contest. Alexa, Gaye LaCasce, Kathy Pomer and Ellie Pomer were crowned Harmony Queens with a first place International finish. They scored an average of 80.7, which, trust us, is a really high number!

Check them out on Facebook

We also celebrated another 50 year membership milestone. John Davis has been singing barbershop since the Johnson Administration. John (on the left above) is being presented with a framed version of his BHS membership card by Tom Guterbock our chapter Secretary. We laud John’s continued contribution to our Chorus and to our art form.

THIRD 50-YEAR PIN GIVEN OUT THIS YEAR

Robby Gough, our past President and go-to problem-solver is awarded his 50 year certificate by Nico Scopelliti. He joins Ken Wallenborn, and John Davis as the foundation on which our group has thrived for half a century.

JLC Members sing “Feast of Lights” medley for our friends and neighbors in Congregation Beth Israel

2017

The Grand Illumination

The Chorus is in demand around the holidays. We're providing festive holiday songs in the a Cappella Barbershop style.

Here we were at the City of Charlottesville Grand Illumination along with other acts like the Virginia Consort and the UVA Virginia Gentlemen.

It was a great event with an enthusiastic audience. Thanks to the City and the sponsors for making it possible!

Mother's Day E-serenades

With great fanfare, Lark and the JLC hosted our first annual personalized E-serenade using an original jingle. Recipients called it the best Mom's day gift ever!