“What kept us going during the pandemic was that the singers in Stay Tuned are top-notch, and were eager to get back together and sing” 

FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - A new mixed-voice a cappella community chorus, “Stay Tuned” has formed in Fair Oaks. Their vocal style is decidedly “jazzershop,” a term coined by their musical director Terrie Carrozzella.

“We are jazz-focused, but we also sing some pop and other a cappella music.” The term barbershop relates to the way which the music is arranged,” she said.

The chorus welcomes all singers and embraces the motto “everyone in harmony,” said its director. The chorus is a subsidiary of a well-known Sacramento-based men’s barbershop chorus, the award-winning Voices of California (VoCal) Chorus.

Membership is approximately 25, Carrozzella said. She anticipates that number to grow as the public looks to engage in more community group activities such as singing.

Fifteen members of the chorus attended the group’s first in-person rehearsal in more than a year Sunday, June 27^th in the backyard of a member’s residence in Granite Bay.

“It’s my first rehearsal,” said Raphael Pazo, who said he didn’t mind the drive from Lodi. “It’s a very friendly, diverse mix of singers. I look forward to singing with them.”

Cynthia McCarver, of Elk Grove, sings baritone. She’s sung before in a vocal quartet with Carrozzella. McCarver said she was attracted by becoming part of a mixed a capella group where so many choral groups are segregated by gender.

“It’s a relaxed and supportive environment. If you do sing, don’t be shy. Come to a rehearsal,” she said.

Dwayne Smith, a resident of Antelope, sings bass. “I’ve been singing most of my adult life, mostly in all-male choruses and barbershop groups,” he said. Smith, a member of Voices of California (VoCal) said the chance to sing in a jazz style in a mixed chorus creatively appealed to him.

Carrozzella told chorus members they now have a rehearsal space at the Old Fair Oaks Library at 4200 Temescal Street near the arts council building for the next four to six months. Their next rehearsal will be Sunday, July 25^th from 2 to 5 p.m. in Fair Oaks at the new location.

“Since we’re a non-profit, we needed to find an affordable rehearsal facility which welcomes our unique culture and can host us on Sunday afternoons,” Carrozzella said.

“Our songs aren’t typically traditional barbershop songs. Our repertoire includes “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,” “We Can Change the World,” and the Frank Sinatra favorite, “That’s Life,” all sung in jazz style,” she said.

The members of Stay Tuned had met for their first and only physical rehearsal last spring in Fair Oaks just before the pandemic suspended their ability to gather.

“What kept us going during the pandemic was that the singers in Stay Tuned are top-notch, and were eager to get back together and sing,” she said.

“Members came to our spring Zoom practice sessions knowing their music, and their singing was of such high quality, that the singers themselves could sense our chorus has the potential to be a very strong unit with a really amazing sound,” Carrozzella said.

Carrozzella, a singer herself, directs two choruses and trains singers from across the West Coast. A native of Placerville, Calif., she has been singing in barbershop choruses for over 25 years. She attended Shenandoah Conservatory of Music after high school. The barbershop organization’s Sweet Adelines and the Barbershop Harmony Society, to which she still belongs to, taught her much about music, performance, and vocalization, she said.

“Barbershop is a unique art form and it’s not what most people expect,” she said.

“It’s not all about men in straw hats singing dated music. Barbershop music can be as current as today’s pop. The structure of the chords can create an incredible ringing tone or ‘fifth voice’ from four parts.”

“It takes a lot of skill to sing barbershop arrangements well. We are all a cappella, so we do not have instruments to tune to,” she said.

Stay Tuned welcomes new singers with an ability to sing at a high level and understand that since the chorus meets for rehearsal only once a month, “they’ve got to come to rehearsal prepared,” Carrozzella said.

The chorus also has an audition process to ensure that the overall quality of its sound remains. The audition process requires singers to learn their part and then sing it in a quartet with other members.

“This way, we ensure singers can hold their part against others. One of the big benefits of the chorus is that we don’t just provide music, we also provide learning tracks, so non-music readers can still join us,” she said.

“Part of the reason why I started this chorus, was that I was not seeing the level of diversity in other choral groups which I thought should be there,” Carrozzella said.

“I have learned that some singers don’t feel comfortable in some chorus environments, and it’s vital that all singers have a place to fully share their voices without having to question if they belong. I simply do not accept members who don’t embrace this message.”

Carrozzella expects to have some sectional rehearsals periodically which will also help solidify the group’s overall vocal sound.

“In regard to COVID, we are being very cautious. All of our members are vaccinated. We are also in discussion over how we will move forward with welcoming new members, but ensuring the overall safety of all,” she said.

The Stay Tuned Chorus continues to welcome new members. Email the chorus at  [email protected] or call Terri Carrozzella, musical director at 530-350-0247 for audition information.