About Us

Coles County Chorus

The Coles County Barbershop Chorus

The Coles County Barbershop Chorus officially formed as a chapter of SPEBSQSA, the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, in June of 1970.

Much has changed since then: leisure suits, floppy discs and VCRs have come and gone, SPEBSQSA is now the Barbershop Harmony Society, and the Chicago Cubs have…well, not everything has changed.

2011, our 41st year, has been one of the best ever for the Coles County Chorus.  We have:

  • Welcomed five new members
  • Sung for more than a dozen community events, including church services and special events at nursing homes
  • Raised $6,500 for area food and homeless programs through our Lenten and Christmas benefit concerts
  • Presented $1,800 to area high school vocal music programs
  • Hosted an all-day Youth in Harmony Festival for more than 200 students from nine area high schools
  • Placed 3rd out of thirty barbershop choruses in Illinois competition
  • Received the Philanthropy Award from the Illinois District of the Barbershop Harmony Society

Our 35 members live in 18 different communities within a 75-mile radius of Coles County.  We’re always looking for men of good character who like to sing.

We invite guests to visit any Tuesday night at 7:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church in Mattoon, Illinois.  (For a map, see here.)  Come to sing or just listen!

Contact any CCC member for more information.  See our calendar for upcoming rehearsal and performance dates.

Coles County Chorus officers

The 2012 officers of the Coles County Chorus. Front row: Ron Hawkins (VP Membership), Tom Woodall (Co-Director and Youth Outreach Director), Dave Clausing (Secretary), James Tidwell (President), Jeff Bowyer (Chorus Manager). Back row: Tim Woodall (Co-Director), Eric Butler (Board Member at Large), Bob Jones (Program Vice-President), Roger Smith (Treasurer), Jim Roll (Immediate Past President), Derek Gilbert (Publicity/Webmaster). Board Member at Large Steve Blucker is not pictured.

Upcoming Events

Jun
22
Sat
4:00 pm 44th Annual Show: Music in Mayberry
44th Annual Show: Music in Mayberry
Jun 22 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
44th Annual Show: Music in Mayberry @ Charleston High School | Charleston | Illinois | United States
Forefront: 2012 International 7th Place Quartet The Coles County Barbershop Chorus presents its 44th annual show, Music in Mayberry!  Our featured quartet is the 2010 [...]
6:15 pm Dinner and Afterglow
Dinner and Afterglow
Jun 22 @ 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm
Join us after our annual show for dinner and the Afterglow at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union on the campus of Eastern Illinois [...]
Oct
21
Mon
9:00 am 10th Annual Southeastern Illinois Youth in Harmony Festival
10th Annual Southeastern Illinoi…
Oct 21 @ 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
The Coles County Barbershop Chorus hosts its 10th annual festival of a cappella music for singers from area high schools. Last year, 250 students from [...]

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