Barbershop Sounds

10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, August 30, 2007

By HOPE PIERSON
The Press-Enterprise

A new barbershop style singing group Temecula Chorus was formed by Jonathan Friedman of Temecula and Arbe Kraft of Murrieta in January. "Our goal was to have an outlet for local residents so they wouldn't have to drive out of town," Friedman said.

Friedman, who drove to Santa Fe Springs to perform with a barbershop group called The Masters of Harmony, wanted to go somewhere closer to home.

The Temecula Chorus aims to be a "charitable, fun, fraternal men's singing organization for the local community," said co-founder Jonathan Friedman. It recently held a membership event.

The 12-member group is in the process of completing paperwork to become a charter member of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

The nonprofit charitable group is seeking sponsorships.

Donations will help pay for youth-education projects.

The group recently held a new membership night and passed out fliers to the community. "We wanted to create a fun men's chorus where men can learn how to sing. We are interested in young singers as well," Friedman said.

The group has established a high school quartet, the Great Oak Four from Great Oak High School. They sing in four-part barbershop style but they are not a "traditional" barbershop singing group, Friedman said.

The Great Oak Four will be singing cover songs familiar to audiences, including versions of songs from Elvis, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and the Beatles.

Some of Friedman's duties as musical director will be to choose the music and teach members the mechanics of barbershop singing.

Friedman has been involved in the barbershop society for more than 30 years.

The group practices from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Sterling Senior Communities in Temecula

Information: 951-699-3086.