Sonoma County's Premier Men's Chorus

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who Are The Redwood Chordsmen?

A: The Redwood Chordsmen are about 50 singers residing all over Sonoma County, including Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Sebastopol, Bodega, Healdsberg, and Windsor.  We sing and perform a capella harmonies predominantly in the barbershiop style.  We meet weekly to enjoy a variety of singing and performance activities, and we take pride in our affiliation with the world's largest singing fraternity, the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Q: What Kind of Music Do You Sing?

A: We have variety in our repertoire, including popular songs like When I'm 64 and Under The Boardwalk; jazz standards like Satin Doll and Ain't Misbehavin; and classic melodies like Home On The Range, Up a Lazy River, and Sweet Adeline. You will also recognize many of the traditional songs in our Christmas repertoire.

Q: Do You Perform?

A: Yes.  We produce two shows per year, usually in June and December.  We participate in competitions in April and sometimes October.  We also perform about once per month at community, charity, and private events, such as the Church of the Roses Signature Concert Series and the William Barclay Memorial Scholarship Concert.

Q: Are You Looking for New Members?

A: Yes!  Please visit us any Wednesday.  We'd love for you to hear what we are doing and see how much fun it is to sing a capella.  We promise you a warm welcome.

Q: Is It A Big Time Commitment?

A: You will attend our weekly rehearsal on Wednesday nights.  Some months we might have one or more performances; other months are quieter as we prepare for a show or concert.

Q: Will I fit In?

A: We welcome men of all ages and backgrounds who love to sing. Our youngest member is 15 and our most experienced warbler is 90.

Q: What If I'm Not an Experienced Musician?

A: You should be able to match a pitch or tone and be able to sustain it accurately -- but if you can carry a tune, carry it here.  We will help you improve vocally and visually even if you do not have any prior stage experience. Many of our members cannot read music -- they learn our repertoire by singing  along with part-predominant learning tracks. Singing is FUN! You'll make friends, too, because fellowship is an integral part of the choral experience. 

Q: What If I AM an Experienced Musician?

A: Trained and professional singers do well with the Chordsmen.  There many opportunities to learn fun and challenging songs, and to stretch your performance skills, especially in quartets.

Q: What About Barbershop Quartets?

A: Most of the Redwood Chordsmen chorus members love to sing in a quartet any chance they get.  Our chorus also includes some quartets who practice and perform together regularly.  However, some of our members only like to sing in the chorus and don't do any quarteting.

Q: What Songs Are You Singing Right Now?

A: Our repertoire changes each year.  This year we added familiar classics "That's Life," "After You've Gone," "As Time Goes By," and "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You."  In competition, we'll be singing the show tune "Who Will Buy" from Oliver, and a medley of the classic ballads "Love Me Tender" and "Aura Lee."  You might also recognize "You Gotta Have Heart" from Damn Yankees, George Burns' "Old Bones," Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," and jazz standard "Satin Doll."  Our gospel song is "Yes Indeed!"  We also do a funny parody of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."  Drop by and you can borrow a guest book with all the songs.

Q: Say Three Reasons Why I Should Consider Visiting You?

A: (1) Singing is fun and good for your health; (2) Men who love to sing make great friends; (3) A capella singers get to make great music without any instruments.

Q: What Does It Cost to Join?

A: If you are under 26 years old, your first year will cost only $10 - Yes, ten dollars. For men between 26 and 70, the dues are approximately $180 annually, which is less than $4/week -- inexpensive compared to other hobbies -- and you can pay monthly if that's easier than a lump sum. For gentlemen over 70, dues are reduced to about $110. Remember that the Redwood Chordsmen is a non-profit organization and we volunteer our time. Some expenses can be deducted if you itemize on your 1040 tax form. See "Personal Income Tax Deductions" for Barbershoppers.

But it doesn't cost anything to visit -- please drop by!