News
Dave LaBar Can You See Me Now Emcee Award
Keith Hopkins, 2010 Recipient
Presented at Barbershop Harmony Society International, Philadelphia, July 2010
Presenter, Bill Colosimo
“Good afternoon!
The Society’s Music & Performance Committee serves our membership and our art form by developing, encouraging and supporting programs and resources that increase the quality of performances by our chapters, choruses and quartets.
One of the most important elements of a quality performance is a “first-rate” Master of Ceremonies. The Dave LaBar Emcee award, named for one of our departed Society giants, honors an individual who embodies greatness in the “Art of the Emcee.”
The Committee’s selection for this year’s award has been a Society member since 1977. He currently serves our Society as President of the Sunshine District and his own beloved Winter Park, Florida Chapter. He was named Sunshine’s Barbershopper Of The Year in 2008 for his service and accomplishments. He has sung with such entertaining Society quartets as Four Man Vocal Band, Special Edition, the Fabulous Mavericks, and–in the 1990’s–Shenanigans, in which he sang with this award’s very namesake, Dave LaBar! From 1998 until 2004, he performed full-time with the Dapper Dans at Walt Disney World, still “subbing” with them from time to time. Throughout his barbershop career, he has honed his passion for combining music and engaging entertainment and has become a sought-after Emcee Society-wide…for countless shows, contests and–in recent years–for five of our International Mid-Winter Convention extravaganzas where his wit and novelty have even taught his audiences the art of “Barbershop Haiku Poetry!”
Married since 1999 to the talented front-row member of the Toast of Tampa Chorus, Pat Nugent, he now owns a Math and Reading Center which encourages young people to build their academic skills.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in congratulating the 2010 Dave LaBar Award recipient, KEITH HOPKINS!”
Award Criteria
This award is given to an Emcee who:
- Has achieved outstanding success at the chapter, district, and international levels as an emcee.
- Understands how to communicate with the audience as both a presenter and an entertainer when appropriate
- Has always used material that is suitable for barbershop audiences of all ages.
- Is always prepared and is very comfortable when addressing the audience by developing an excellent rapport.
Congratulations, Keith!
Frank L. Chlad passes
May 12, 1934 – June 5, 2010
Frank L. Chlad, 76, of Sarasota, died June 5, 2010.
He was born in Cleveland. During his teens he was a nationally ranked figure skater. In 1954 he qualified for the United States team in three events: Singles, pairs and dance. To date, he’s the only skater to accomplish this feat. In 1956 he was named an alternate on the United States Olympic Team. He turned professional in 1957 and coached, choreographed and performed in ice shows.
He graduated from Michigan State and received degrees from Case / Western Reserve University. While at Michigan State, he played varsity hockey and was president of Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity.
Frank served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959 with the Fourth Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He was entertainment coordinator and staged variety shows for the troops. He was designated Soldier of the Month April 1958.
Professionally, Frank was a faculty member emeritus of the chemistry department at the University of Akron. He was also university director of hazardous materials. He authored two books on chemical safety and laboratory design and published numerous journal and magazine articles. Through his own consulting company, he designed over 30 chemistry building and science centers throughout the United States. He was a speaker at many events and presented plenary lectures in Montreal, Hawaii and for the Korean Institute of Science and Technology in Seoul.
While at the U of A he coached the tennis team for four years, taking them from a losing team to several winning seasons. (He also called service lines for several U.S. tennis tournaments.)
A 42-year Barbershopper, Frank sang with his Cleveland quartet, The Crooked River Music Company, for 28 years. They have the distinction of being the first barbershop quarter to sing on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and had three repeat performances. They also performed at the Opry Land Theme Park and the General Jackson Showboat. In 1989 they signed a recording contract in Nashville with Landmark Records.
For the past 16 years he sang tenor for the YBLimited quartet. Every year, from November to April, they performed at 50+ events and appeared on various cruise ships.
He was a member of Sarasota, Bradenton, Englewood, Venice and Cleveland East chapters. He was instrumental in organizing the Lemon Bay Chord Company (Englewood) with Blair Walker.
He was active in various civic, educational and recreational organizations. Frank served as president of Jaycee chapters and was the state V.P.; He was a school board member for Bedford, Ohio, (four years) and Solon, Ohio (four years).
For 45 years he actively participated and supported his wife with the National Safety Town Center, a non-profit group that provided safety education classes to young children.
Favorite pastimes, other than singing, included fishing (he took four wilderness raft trips to Alaska), collecting antique sheet music (over 2,500 pieces) and golf. He won a tournament and received a trip for he and his wife to Scotland to play five courses, including St. Andrews.
He was blessed with many talents, including a wonderful sense of humor and a sharp and witty mind. His stories and jokes will live forever.
He is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy, of 54 years (they dated since the 7th grade); daughters Tammy Doroshewitz and Lyn Beck; a son-in-law, James Beck; and four grandchildren, Michael, Kristin, Karsten and Brittney.
A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 12, at Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home, 7454 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Frank’s name to your local barbershop chapter, or to the National Safety Town Center at 765 John Ringling Blvd. C-32, Sarasota, FL 34236 for safety books to be donated to children’s organizations.
Bart Van de Mark – Sunshine District’s Barbershopper of the Year for 2009!
Bart Van de Mark from the Martin/St. Lucie Chapter was announced as the Sunshine District BOTY for 2009 at the Spring Convention. Bart has contributed to Chapter and District operations and is currently District Director of Membership for Sunshine.
Congratulations Bart, and thank you for your many years of service to the District!
Sunshine District Hall Of Fame Inductees for 2009
The following outstanding members of Sunshine District were named to our Hall Of Fame for 2009 at the Fall Convention:
Lee Frayer, Frank Thorne
Randy Loos, Tampa
Dave LaBar, Tampa **
[**posthumously]
Congratulations and thank you for your service to the District!
Lucky Day is Sunshine District Quartet Champion for 2009!
With a final score of 1903, Lucky Day becomes our 2009 District Quartet Champion.
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Congratulations, Lucky Day!
Jacksonville Big O and Sarasota’s One Voice are going to the International convention in Philly this July 2010!
The Big Orange finished in First Place and earned Most Improved Chorus while One Voice was close second in the International Chorus Qualifier here in Sunshine!
Congratulations, Jacksonville and director Tony De Rosa and Sarasota directors George Gipp and Don Clause!
International Quartet Qualifiers Announced:
Collegiate:
Power House! & Spanglish
International Reps:
The PURSUIT, Lucky Day, and Fortissimo
Congratulations, Guys!
2010 Seniors Quartet Champions – Crosstown Connection – CONGRATULATIONS!
2010 Collegiate Quartet Champions – Power House! - CONGRATULATIONS!
