Our history

A Brief History of the Utah Valley Skyline Chorus

The Utah Valley Chapter was born September 18, 1959 at the Provo High School auditorium with 25 charter members.The Salt Lake Beehive Statesmen Chapter sponsored the new chapter. As the program read:

“Mr. I Will Harmonize and Mrs. B. Marion Gay announce the arrival of Utah Valley Chapter, attended by Mid-wife John Carl Hancuff.”

Val Hicks, Max Lloyd, Carl Hancuff and other men of the Salt Lake Chapter were leaders in getting the infant off to a good start. Jack Owen was the first President and the chorus was known for several years as “The Valleyaires”. In the mid 60's the name was changed to “The Utah Valley Skyline Chorus”.

Fred Webb was the first Director of the chorus. Some of the notable directors throughout the chorus history have been: Val Hicks, Gerald Maxfield, Bob Brock, Turk Evans, John Sasine, Dick Barker, Bob Burgener, Darrell Berry, Kerry Hansen, Lee Gillman, Glade Johnson, Dave Gilgen and Paul Curtis. Adam Haggart is presently the Director of the chorus.

Several registered quartets have contributed to the success of the chapter. Some of the earlier quartets were: The Modulators, The Four Fathers, The Provokers, The Candidates. Some of the more recent quartets are: The Knudsen Brothers Quartet, Four Part Invention, Latter-Day Sounds, State Street Sound Emporium, Bamberger Express, The Silver Kings, Ringside, Penny Arcade, The Golden Spikes, Harmony Restoration, The Stylists, Sound Accord, Four All Intents and Purposes, Sound Spectrum, and Maxim.

The Utah Valley Chapter was part of the Far West District (FWD) until 1976 and now is part of the Rocky Mountain District (RMD) of the Barbershop Harmony Society. The Latter-Day Sounds placed 12^th in the FWD competition in the early 70's and The Provokers were the Novice Quartet Champions at Sacramento in 1975. Also that same year The Provokers placed second in the FWD Comedy Quartet competition at Oceanside, California. Maxim was a composite quartet from the Skyline Chorus and the Saltaires Show Chorus in Salt Lake City. Maxim were the silver medalists in the Rocky Mountain District in 2002. The Knudsen Brothers Quartet got its start on the Utah Valley Spring Show “Salute to America” in 1976. They went on to place 8^th at the International Competition in Salt Lake City in 1986. Bamberger Express were the Seniors Champions for the RMD twice.

The Skyline Chorus was contest oriented and very seldom missed out on this chance to improve their performances. Under the direction of Gerald Maxfield, they were the Small Chorus Champions in 1982 at Rapid City, South Dakota and again in 1983 at Denver, Colorado. In 1989 they were “The Most Improved Chorus” in the competition at St. George, Utah under the direction of John Sasine.

The Skyline Chorus hosted the RMD competition in September of 1981 at the 6^th Annual Convention and Contest and put Utah Valley on the map in barbershopping. That same year they won the international award for Membership and Activities for the previous year when membership rose remarkably from 12 to 46 men.

Due largely to the efforts of Allen Evans as President in 1983, the Chapter sponsored The Color Country Chorus of St. George. The Utah Valley Chorus and quartets performed in St. George for their first two spring shows. Due to the distance from the other RMD chapters, the St. George chapter transferred from the RMD to the FWD. We miss them but wish them well.

Utah Valley Skyline Chorus has an annual Spring Show with wonderful guest artists. In addition to the Spring Show, dozens of performances are held throughout Utah (shows have been performed in Utah Valley, Salt Lake Valley, Manti and Heber City).

Chapter meetings and rehearsals are held on Tuesday nights. Guests are welcome to join us.

We are always looking for Men Who Love to Sing.