Anthony Arbaiza's blog

Stellar Performances Light Up Messiah University's Stage

MECHANICSBURG, PA - The American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania (ACDA-PA) Summer Conference at Messiah University was the setting for an evening of remarkable musical performances this week, featuring the Gettysburg Children's Choir, the Schumann Quartet, and the Parkside Harmony Barbershop Chorus.

We are thrilled to announce that Parkside Harmony, our internationally acclaimed male a cappella group, has returned home with silver medals from the 84th Annual Convention of the Barbershop Harmony Society. This live singing event took place in Louisville, KY, from July 4-7, and featured top vocal ensembles from eight different countries.

Since its inception in 2015 under the guidance of Artistic Director Sean Devine, Parkside Harmony has been entertaining audiences across south central PA and at music festivals and competitions across the United States, including in Las Vegas, NV; Orlando, FL; and Nashville, TN. While we have previously earned bronze medals in 2017, 2018, and 2022, this year's score and placement mark our highest achievement to date.

On March 10th, Parkside Harmony had the distinct pleasure of hosting the internationally acclaimed quartet, Signature, at local schools for an entire day. This unique event, made possible by a generous grant from The Association of International Champions (AIC) in partnership with Harmony Foundation International, aimed to share the joys of barbershop music and the positive impact of lifelong singing with students.

Signature, hailing from Miami, Florida, are not just renowned performers but also International Quartet Champions. Their passion for barbershop music and their commitment to fostering the next generation of singers made them the perfect ambassadors for this outreach initiative.