Starting in 2003 ...
The Harbourtown Sound chorus got its start way back in 2003, when four barbershoppers---Ted Byers, Fred Lilley, Jordan Travis, and Dale Wood---put their heads together.
These men shared a common goal---to create a high-performing chorus in the west end of the GTA, accessible for people who lived in the Oakville, Hamilton, Guelph, KW areas.
Barbershop Harmony Society rules were very strict about forming a new chapter. In terms of members, the minimum was twelve people, and half of those had to be either new to barbershop, or re-joining after at least five years of lapsed membership. The four men reached that number of committed people in February 2004. In March, a charter was granted by the BHS, and by the time of their first concert on April 27, a total of twenty-six singers were on the risers.
Today, the chorus first envisioned by Ted, Fred, Jordan, and Dale has grown to ninety-eight members, all but a dozen of whom still sing actively with the group. HTS has, so far, represented the Ontario District at four BHS international competitions, and currently ranks twenty-fourth in the world out of more than 1000 sanctioned choruses.
And you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!