2008

PCH Finishes Third at the Far Western District Contest
Bakersfield, CA, October 11
With 23 men on the risers, PCH sang impressively, eliciting many congratulatory and salutory responses from friends and strangers.

A Congenial Cabaret Show Continues A Warm Tradition
Torrey Pines Christian Church, May 10
Guest Quartets, California Crossroads and Affinity excited the crowd.
PCH wowed the crowd with a surprise rendition of Boot Scootin' Boogie, cowboy hats and all.
The menu of Antipasto, Bolognese Italian Sausage Lasagna, Roasted Vegetable Lasagna, Italian Style Spinach and Mushroom Salad, Bread with Roasted Garlic Butter, Home Made Italian Cookies (Zaletti, Mostaccoli, Anisette Biscotti), Lemonade, Coffee, and Tea, prepared by shrewd, economic, masterful chef Frank Borik contributed to that warm, fuzzy feeling of contentment and family, and it was delicious, too.

PCH Wins SoCal East for second time in a row
Garden Grove , May 3
PCH won the Far Western District - Southern California East Division Contest, scoring 76.2. In addition, HIT took second in the quartet contest, and Amplitude was third. California Crossroads won the seniors corner.

PCH Thanks Bob Baker and Operation Homefront
Mission Valley, March 20
A surprise party was held at the headquarters of Bob Baker Auto Group, in appreciation of their generous donation (see below). Bob Demers arranged to have Bob Baker present for a thank you from a PCH quartet, singing the Bob Baker Auto Group jingle. It was also a surprise for the Operation Homefront attendees who were serenaded Singing Valentine style. They thought they were there just to thank Bob Baker. From left: Bob Baker, Jae Marciano, OH-SD President, Bob Demers, Kirin Macapugay, Dir. Ops., Andrew Eisen, Trisha De La Paz, Dir. Dev., Steve Bates, and Jerry Kent.

PCH Sings Valentines for Operation Homefront
San Diego County, CA, February 13-14
This was our first year of delivering free Singing Valentines to relatives of deployed military personnel. With a generous donation from Bob Baker Auto Group, PCH presented our offering to Operation Homefront, who contacted the USS Nimitz. Anticipating the over 300 responses, they had wisely billed it as a drawing. We delivered to about 30 surprised families. We also delivered another 45 presents to loved ones around the county. See highlights.

2007

PCH Places 4th at Far Western District
Phoenix, AZ, September 29
Far Western District Fall Convention and Contest

PCH Says Farewell to Our Dear Friend Dave Miller
Escondido, September 22

Memorial Pamphlet	We are very sad to report to all of you that our dear friend Dave Miller passed away September 16. Dave had been hospitalized over the weekend and died late Sunday evening. Dave's wife Sue wants all of youto know how much your thoughts and prayers meant to her and the family during Dave's illness. Please continue to remember the family in your prayers.
Dave loved his barbershop hobby and cared deeply for his friends that shared a passion for barbershop harmony. He was a talented singer, show production man and script writer. No doubt, he is already working on a draft for the "heavenly" Christmas show featuring all our barbershop brothers and sisters that have preceded him.

PCH Part of Summer Jazz At The Moonlight
Moonlight Amphitheater,Vista, July 23

The repertoire moved on to later eras to include favorites like It Had To Be You, Love Is Just Around The Corner, and Blue Moon. The headliners, Ready Willing and Mabel (Mabel is their microphone), a mixed quartet, enthralled the audience with a variety of a cappella renditions in the jazz genre. The chorus closed with patriotic favorites, including an audience sing-along to God Bless America.

Cabaret Show Another Entertainment and Sellout Success
Torrey Pines Christian Church, June 30

Once again, our annual Cabaret feast and entertainment was a resounding success.  Chef Frank Borik even topped his 2006 Barbeque spread with his delicious Luau, including Huli Huli Chicken and Kahlua Pork, pineapple chutney, coconut rice and Asian-style coleslaw, finishing off with pineapple right-side-up cake.  The 300-seat house was essentially sold out two weeks before, for the third year in a row. In addition to a great meal, our fans were first serenaded by strolling quartets, then treated to the music of the chorus, chapter quartets (Added Attraction, Splash, HIT and California Crossroads), and other chapter ensembles.

The zany antics of our headliner quartet, Metropolis, had the audience rolling in the aisles.  Not only are they International Contest medalists, but they have performed their hysterical routines in over 27 different states and several countries. Join us at next year’s event, but get your tickets early.

California Crossroads wins 2007 San Diego Fair A Cappella Contest
Del Mar Fairgrounds, June 9

Buddy Yarnell (T), Les Weiser (L), Larry Thorpe (Bs), and Pete Hensley (Br) won the small group contest ($500 + trophy), the Audience Favorite memento, and the overall prize (another $1000 + trophy). They did NOT win the young group trophy (all 18 or under), because they're older than dirt - they have 185 years of barbershop experience among them. The overtone on I'm Sitting On Top Of The World almost sounded like feedback - it screamed!!! The audience went wild.

Judging was based on 30% Musicality, 30% Rhythm, Tuning, and Ensemble Blending, 20% Creativity and Originality of Arrangement, 10% Style and Showmanship, and 10% Audience Enjoyment. The Royals, a 5-man Doo-Wop group with Bryan Soland singing first tenor as a sub, finished third in the small group category. Way to go guys.

Added Attraction Supports the Encinitas Rotary Wine Festival
Quail Botanical Gardens, June 2

Added Attraction (Don Saba, Jim Langford, Kerry Witkin, and Jim Watt) provided harmonies in supporting non-profit music programs sponsored by the Encinitas Rotary.

Pacific Coast Harmony Wins SoCal East Division Contest
Whittier, CA, May 5
With a new up-tune, Love Is Just Around the Corner, PCH won the division (as well as AAA plateau, now based on previous scores) with a 78.5. Seeded third for the District contest in Phoenix on September 29th, our next goal is to pass Voices In Harmony from Bay Area. In addition, a new seniors quartet, California Crossroads, with PCH members, Pete Hensley and Larry Thorpe, and friends Buddy Yarnell and Les Weiser, qualified for the District seniors contest.

Musical Island Boys Thrill San Diego Students
San Diego County, January 15-18

Formed in 2000 at Tawa College (high school), all four members currently study at Victoria University of Wellington. Its members are Jeffrey Hunkin (Tenor), Lusa Washburn (Lead), Matthew Gifford (Bass), and William Hunkin (Baritone). They are of Samoan, Niuean, Cook Islands and NZ Maori descent. In 2002 and 2003, they won the New Zealand Secondary Schools Young Men In Harmony competition. In 2004 and 2005, they stormed the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Convention and Competition, placing third each time in the Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest. Then, in 2006, they became the first non-American group to win an International first place title in that contest.

We were proud to host these fine examples of Youth In Harmony, who visited 9 schools stimulating students with their singing and style. Paul Girard, YIH Chairman, housed and escorted them. Clinicians, who accompanied the Boys to the schools and explained the basics of barbershop, included Kim Hulbert, director of PCH and San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines (SDSA), Kathleen Hansen, director of Sun Harbor Chorus and assistant director of SDSA, Mike Lawton, baritone of 1998 International Champions, Revival, Royce Ferguson, tenor of Revival and director of Westminster Chorus, and John Hulbert, director of Palomar-Pacific Music Men. They also were our guests on a Youth In Harmony show. They went on to Phoenix for more school visits, then to Albuquerque, more schools and the BHS Mid-Winter convention. (More)

More History
Click here.