Group reaches New Horizon in music

New Horizon Chorus’ primary goal is to exceed expectations through a cappella harmony.

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New Horizon Chorus members Randy Roccia, Jay Mortenson and Roy Williams sing.

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Bart Lovins and Eric Pope sing with New Horizon Chorus.

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Eric Pope and Phil King sing with New Horizon Chorus, a barbershop group that draws members from greater Louisville and meets regularly at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center at John Hardin High School.

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Members Randy Roccia and Jay Mortenson sing with New Horizon Chorus.

The 22-member chorus is hoping to grow into a group of more than 100 men and compete internationally, chorus president Randy Roccia said.

The group chartered with the Barbershop Harmony Society in 2002 and its members range in age from high school students to men in their mid-50s.

The group is a part of the greater Louisville chapter and includes several participants from the Hardin County area, members from Louisville and others like Roccia, who drives from Tell City, Ind., to sing with the group.

The chorus hopes to exceed expectations of their director, Allen Hatton, themselves and their audience while having fun, Roccia said.

“We are in the process of reinventing the idea of the a cappella sound on the modern pop landscape with a captivating sound of male voices coming together to forge a unique style of extraordinary music,” Roccia said. “We have based our success on a combination of musical excellence balanced with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor.”

The group tries to create Hatton’s vision of “that magical moment when music becomes art,” Roccia said.

New Horizon meets 7:30-9:45 p.m. every other Monday at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center at John Hardin High School.

PAC director Bart Lovins enjoys participating in the group because it’s something that goes on at the PAC he can merely participate in and is not in charge of.

“It is like my therapy session,” he said. “I go. I sing. I go home.”

Lovins’ first experience with barbershop music was when he was in a Youth Theatre of Hardin County production of “The Music Man,” which features barbershop music in its score.

While at Western Kentucky University, he tried to join the Caveman Chorus, but classes and theater projects prevented him from becoming involved. 

“Now that I’m an adult, the opportunity to sing this style of music came back around and I was thrilled to get involved once more,” Lovins said.

There currently are three men’s and a women’s barbershop choruses based in Hardin County, Lovins said. One of the men’s choruses, Kentucky Vocal Union, is recognized internationally by the barbershop society, he said.

“It’s incredulous that Hardin County has become such a hub for this style of singing,” Lovins said.

Chorus member Jacob Wagner got involved because Lovins kept telling him how much fun his experience was.

“I joined because I had never sung barbershop before,” he said.

He saw choruses on YouTube and in plays such as “The Music Man” but never experienced it himself.

“The thing I gain from singing in New Horizon is friendship from all the guys there,” he said.

He likes barbershop because it’s a different style of music with four vocal parts singing at the same time, he said.

“It’s a challenge to sing barbershop but it’s rewarding when you sing in front of an audience and the roar of the applause is so welcoming,” Wagner said.               

The chorus always is looking for new talent, Roccia said.

“We heartily encourage you to visit our rehearsals to learn what our chorus is all about and experience the magic of blending your vocal skills with us,” he said.

The first rehearsal of the year is Monday.

For more information, call Roccia at (812) 319-1861.

Becca Owsley can be reached at (270) 505-1741 or bowsley@thenewsenterprise.com.