OUR HISTORY
On a stormy July evening in 1998, 7 women
gathered in the leaky basement of a Hamden, CT
church in answer to a call for women interested in
forming the first Connecticut chapter of Harmony,
Inc., a women’s barbershop organization. Under the
direction of Charley Verba, this founding nucleus of
dedicated singers soon added others to their ranks
and adopted the name Silk’n Sounds. The chorus
attended its first Area 2 Convention and Contest in
April, 1999, chartering as a chapter of Harmony,
Incorporated with 16 members. Shortly afterwards,
Charley relocated to Florida, and Christine Hayes, a
founding and charter member, became director.
With a new rehearsal location, the addition of
risers, costumes and a two-year music plan, Silk’n
Sounds took the next step on its journey towards
musical excellence. Community performances and
newspaper coverage brought a steady stream of new
members. Fundraising activities and full-length
concerts ensured our financial stability. Continued
participation in Harmony, Incorporated educational
programs and contests as well as coaching weekends
with guest directors and faculty, raised the
chorus’s level of artistry. As our contest scores
rose year to year, our dream of qualifying for
Harmony, Incorporated’s International Contest seemed
ever more possible.
With a membership standing at approximately 40, Silk’n
Sounds has now come of age. In 2009, Silk ‘n Sounds
received the Area 2 Rising Star Award for the most
improved chorus, ranking 5th overall, finally
qualifying for the International Contest stage! At the International Contest in November 2009, Silk'n Sounds received its highest contest score to date and won the G. Ruth Geils award for highest-scoring non-medalist "novice" chorus. In 2010, Silk'n Sounds once again qualified for Harmony, Inc.'s International Contest. During this period, the chorus has
gained local visibility as a dynamic performing
group, entertaining audiences throughout
Connecticut.
Over the course of a decade, more than 100 women
have enjoyed membership in Silk’n Sounds for some
period of time and we hope many more will experience
the special joy of Silk’n Sounds in our second
decade.
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