Detroit-Oakland Gentlemen Songsters Chorus

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The Detroit-Oakland Chapter, Gentlemen Songsters Chorus is a member of the Pioneer District of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Our chapter made the Barbershop Harmony Society an International organization by sponsoring the Windsor, Ontario chapter in 1944. Read more Detroit-Oakland history below...

[edit] Detroit-Oakland Chapter History

The Detroit #1 Chapter

On Sunday, July 30, 1939, a group of twenty men met in a cottage at Lake Orion, Michigan. At that meeting the Detroit Chapter was organized and a charter was applied for. Our chapter claims to be the first chapter organized east of the Mississippi River, although this is contested by the Wilmington, Delaware, and Chicago, Illinois chapters. However, no charters were issued by the Barbershop Society until 1941. The Detroit #1 Chapter is believed to be the first chapter chartered east of the Mississippi since one of the Society members in charge of charters was a Detroit Chapter member!

The second meeting of the Detroit Chapter was held at the Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit with about 50 men in attendance. In this group were visitors from other parts of the state that then went on to form chapters in their own cities..

First "Parade of Quartets"
On June 8, 1940, the Detroit Chapter held the Society's first "Parade of Quartets" at the Book Cadillac Hotel's Ballroom. They put eight quartets on stage that evening. This was the first of a string of shows that last to this day.

Since then...
The Detroit chapter had a rich history in competition representing the Pioneer District (originally known as the Michigan District) many times at International competition and were the Pioneer District Chorus Champions many times.

Oakland County Chapter #9
The Oakland County Chapter was the ninth chapter chartered in Michigan on November 7, 1941 and was later responsible for making our Barbershop Harmony Society an international one. They were the chapter that sponsored the Windsor, Ontario chapter in March of 1944.
Oakland County has also had a rich history in competition going head-to-head with the Detroit Chapter. They too represented the Pioneer District many times at International and have also been the Pioneer District Chorus Champions many times.

Two Chapters Become One - The Detroit-Oakland Chapter
In 1986 the Detroit #1 Chapter and the Oakland County Chapter merged into one chapter with the Oakland County Chapter surrendering its charter. The newly formed chapter was named the 'Detroit-Oakland' Chapter and the next spring went on to win the District Chorus Contest.

Currently...
We enjoy competing in the two Pioneer District contests every year. We have been the Pioneer District Chorus Champions in 1987, 2001, and 2004. We also put on a fantastic annual show in February as well as performing at a multitude of civic and private functions around Detroit and its suburbs.

We take great pride in who we are and what we can yet accomplish.