PHOTO: Sounds of Concord Vocally Victorious in Choral Championship

The following is a press release from the Sounds of Concord, a barbershop-style singing group that practices and performs in Lexington.

Sounds of Concord, a men's chorus singing in the barbershop style, has won the Barbershop Harmony Society's Northeastern District 2011 chorus championship.

In a concert held in Chicopee on Saturday, Oct. 22, the best 14  barbershop choruses from throughout the northeastern United States and Canada competed for appraisal in singing quality, musicality and presentation as judged by several experts in barbershop harmony. Sounds of Concord scored highest among all the contestants and, as a result, will be representing the Northeastern District in the Barbershop Harmony Society's International Competition in Portland, Ore. in July 2012.

Sounds of Concord is made up of about 50 men from throughout the Greater Boston area, as well as a few from western suburbs and even neighboring states, who promote their art form by rehearsing every Thursday evening in Lexington.

Under the direction of Dan Costello, a highly respected barbershopper sinced age of 12, the chorus has doubled in size in the past couple of years, attracting singers of a wide variety of experience, including veteran, award-winning barbershoppers.

In addition to the competitions, the chorus performs in a variety of settings, including fundraisers for local groups and supports the Barbershop Harmony Society's youth programs. The chorus is a non-profit organization that relies heavily on public donations for support.

Now faced with financing their travel to Oregon to represent the Northeastern District in the International Competition, the chorus hopes its success in Saturday's competition will encourage more public support.

The chorus continues to grow and rehearsals are open to any man who is interested. Rehearsals are held at on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. For more information, check out the Sounds of Concord website.