HEY EVERYBODY - SPECIAL NOTICE!!!

Come to the Mount Seymour United Church and see the Gentlemen of Fortune sing!!

Click here for more information

Welcome!!

to the

Home of the

2010 Division I (EVG) Champions

Who Are We?

 The Gentlemen of Fortune Chorus is an award winning Barbershop Ensemble consisting of 50 members from the Greater Vancouver area. The group is part of the Barbershop Harmony Society, an International Organization comprised of 33,000 members.

Like the Barbershop Harmony Society itself the Gentlemen of Fortune Chorus attracts members from all cultural backgrounds and walks of life. Each member’s strong interest in singing as a hobby with a non-professional group is the primary motivation which binds such a diverse group of men together to provide entertainment to the community in which they live.

Music performed by the Gentlemen of Fortune is sung a cappella in the barbershop style of four part harmony consisting of lead, bass, baritone, and tenor parts. The GOF repertoire consists of a wide variety of selections from the traditional to the modern with selections from the movies and a very moving arrangement of O Canada.

The Chorus presents an annual Christmas Show at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby and performed a Cabaret with the title “Show Time” in June 2008. As well, the Chorus enters an annual Division competition and is the perennial representative of Division 1 at the Society’s annual Evergreen District Competition. In October 2008 the Chorus traveled to Honolulu to compete in a Pacific Rim a cappella competition.

The Chorus is active in the community entertaining at Senior’s Residences including Crofton Manor, Century House and Courtyard Gardens and at civic events such as Canada Day celebrations, Winter Fest, and Lion’s Club picnics.

The Gentlemen of Fortune Barbershop Chorus is a not for profit registered charity, Charity License #887511038RR0001.  Please consider supporting the arts through sponsoring us or one of our shows.

 What is Barbershop?

Barbershop is a style of music that is arrange for four acapella (or unaccompanied) male voices.  The four parts are tenor (high), lead (usually the melody), bass (the foundation), and baritone (the fourth note to produce a desired chord.

Barbershop is performed by either a quartet of the four parts or a chorus where a larger number of men sing each of the four parts.  Structurally, both a quartet and a chorus sing the same notes - just more voices on each part.

Barbershop is one of four musical styles originating in North America.  Almost any song can be arranged in the barbershop style but classic barbershop often uses songs from the 1890 to 1920 period.  The best songs for barbershop involve a clear melody line and extensive use of the 7th chord to produce a pleasant harmonic sound.

Today, barbershop singing is practiced and performed globally although the largest constituents are in North American.   Over 35,000 registered men are members of the Barbershop Harmony Society, organized by chapters, districts, and international regions.

Our History

 Now celebrating our 50th year as a chapter within the Barbershop Harmony Society, the GOF have a rich history of both competing within the Society and entertaining within the community. Read more

The GOF mission statement: “Working together in fellowship we enrich Society with “A” level Barbershop Entertainment.”