Keeping on Track with a Joyful Noise

The hot and muggy temperatures that had been indicative of the area during the past few days albeited on Monday August 31^st for the final Music on Mondays event for 2015 that was presented by The Eastburg Community Alliance at The Historic Dansbury Depot in East Stroudsburg, PA. My arrival to the depot was delightfully met by The Joyful Noises Barbershop Quartet as they prepared for the performance with one final rehearsal within the structure. It was an honor and privilege to experience a foretaste of what was to come as their a Capella harmonies filled my ears to the point where I became eager to set up my seat outside so I could enjoy the concert when it officially began.

After setting up my seat, I spied the presence of Diane Chandler who represents Pink Zebra Sprinkles www.facebook.com/sprinklesbydiane?fref=ts and Our Heart's Desire www.facebook.com/Ourheartsdesirehome. Her wares were on display with samples of the scents available for purchase entreating passerby through their aromas to visit her site. It was a few moments during our conversation that The Joyful Noises Barbershop Quartet was seen stepping onto the stage in order to utter the lyrics of their first selection.

I sat upon my chair as the harmonious sound of their voices struck a chord of memories many of the large number of people who were in attendance held in their hearts. Those who were too young to know of such memories, felt their essence nonetheless as each melody held a timeless quality that transcends the experiences of a current human life and allows those memories that were acquired prior to one's birth to manifest in one's mind. In other words, the songs The Joyful Noises Barbershop Quartet performed tapped into the human experience in which all people can relate to instinctively.

The range of their selections varied from the traditional songs associated with the Barbershop genre of music such as the piece titled, “In the Good Ol' Summertime” to those written within the last 50 years by Billy Joel and The Beatles. The Quartet's renditions of the songs they sang gave a quiet peace to the audience while at the same time providing a source of joy that led to many becoming animated by the liveliness the music inspired. It was also during the concert did many among the gathering strolled into the Depot's interiors and emerged from them with a nice sized Sundae and a smile on their whipped creamed filled face. I can personally attest that these ice cream delicacies tasted as good as they looked.

A break in the performance ensued as Ms. Sonya Kressler Cole of the Eastburg Community Alliance took the stage in order to share her appreciation to group for lending their incredible voices to bring about a marvelous finale to the Music on Monday Series for 2015. This sentiment was echoed throughout the gathering as demonstrated through their enthusiastic applause. She then shared information about the concert series, its future, and the Eastburg Community Alliance along with coupons offering discounts at various local businesses. It was when Ms. Kressler completed her words did The Joyful Noises Barbershop Quartet share their final selections with the gathering. When they had sung the final word that was accompanied by the final note of their concluding selection, the quartet left the stage in order to chat with the many who came to experience them. You'll find more photographs taken during the event in Keeping on Track with a Joyful Noise Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154164668773761.1073741896.91146283760&type=3.

The Joyful Noises Barbershop Quartet consists of Lead Vocalist Peter Wilson, Bass Vocalist Doug Malefyt,Tenor Vocalist Tom Salmon, and Baritone Vocalist Bob Rosenberger. The vocalists met at The East Stroudsburg, PA United Methodist Church of which they are members. The Joyful Noises Barbershop Quartet has performed in numerous venues and events including as guest of the Phillies Baseball team as they sung prior to a game and they will be seen at the upcoming Stroudfest scheduled to take place throughout the town of Stroudsburg, PA on Saturday September 5^th. You can learn more about The Joyful Noises Barbershop Quartet by exploring their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Joyful-Noises-Quartet/358797744146716?fref=ts.

The Eastburg Community Alliance (ECA) was established over 30 years ago by local leaders and business owners and is funded through a combination of local grants, direct fund raising, memberships, and local contributions. As mentioned earlier, The Joyful Noises Barbershop Quartet concert was the last of the Music on Mondays Series for 2015. ECA hopes to resume the series in the June of 2016 which will include a Farmers' Market featuring a number of merchants who will have their wares available to be purchased. In addition to their Music on Monday Series, The Eastburg Community Alliance presents a number of events to delight and entertain the overall community. These include the arrival of a Nickel Plate Road (NKP) #765 which is a 2-8-4 Berkshire-type steam locomotive on Monday September 7^th, their Fall Octoberfest scheduled to take place on Saturday October 10^th, and a Winter Holiday Celebration which is scheduled to take place Saturday December 12^th at the Historic Dansbury Depot in East Stroudsburg, PA. You’ll be able to learn more about The Eastburg Community Alliance by visiting their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/EastburgAlliance or their Website at Www.eastburgalliance.com.

Photography by Paparazzi Paul.