About Our Chorus

              We are a vibrant a capella chorus,

dedicated to developing expertise in four part harmony 

          in the barbershop style and to sharing

 both our music and enthusiasm through performance.

Harmony Inc. is a non-profit, international organization, whose purpose is to empower all women through friendship, education, and a capella singing in the barbershop style.

The Thousand Islanders Chorus came into being in the early 1970's. When Harmony Inc. member Diane Ball from Montreal arrived in Brockville, she found that it lacked a Harmony chorus so decided to start her own. She became not only the founder, but also the first director of The Thousand Islanders Lady Barbershoppers which became a chartered chapter of Harmony Inc. in May of 1973. In 2005 we became incorporated as The Thousand Islanders Chorus. Directors over the years have included Lillius Lippert, Dave Carr (who became a sound judge for SPEBSQSA now known as Barbershop Harmony Society), Cally Tripp of Brockville theatre fame, Jane Dargie, Ann Foy (who has since formed a chorus in Elliot Lake), and our present director, BJ Vermue. Each of our directors has shared their vast knowledge, skills as well as spirit to make us the chorus that we are today.

Every April we compete in the Harmony Inc. Area 2 Contest in order to qualify to compete on the international stage in November. These two contests have taken us to such places as Vermont, Rochester, Massachusetts, London and Montreal.

As Thousand Islanders, we have always shared our love of music by singing for seniors in care facilities, for festivals and summertime concerts along the St. Lawrence River, for church and community celebrations and by Christmas caroling while strolling Downtown Brockville etc. From the larger chorus, quartets are formed to sing for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, Singing Christmas Cards as well as for CPHC luncheons for seniors. The FourTune Seekers, Selective Hearing and New Day are such quartets who share their love of harmony.

Costumes, director’s fees, hall rental and music are the major expenses on our balance sheet. In addition to membership fees for the Thousand Islanders Chorus, we pay dues for Harmony Inc., the organization to which we belong. Though we prefer to earn funds by using our craft in musical performances, we do have fundraisers throughout the year.

Honoured by a life membership for her 33 years of devotion to the chorus, Eva Brown says,"the friendships formed with my sisters in Harmony both near and far are treasures of the heart. What a joy it has been for me to sing a cappella in the barbershop style."