The Downsmen

News Aug 2024

The Downsmen Logo Welcome to the website of the North Surrey Barbershop Harmony Club, The Downsmen...

We are an a cappella Male Voice Barbershop Chorus, and draw most of our Members and Supporters from the Ashtead, Bookham, Epsom, Fetcham, Leatherhead, Tadworth and Sutton areas.

We perform at concerts and regularly sing at other local venues. There's a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction in singing together in close harmony.

Barbershop songs are typically 'old favourites' but we also like to sing specially arranged show stopper songs.

The chorus has 4 voice parts, in keeping with barbershop tradition: lead, tenor, baritone and bass. With most songs it is the leads who sing the melody or main tune, with the 3 other parts providing the harmony.

Every rehearsal is brought to a close by a rousing rendition of 'Lets Get Together Again', one of the barbershop classics.

The Downsmen are based at the Methodist Hall, Church Road, Leatherhead. We get together each Wednesday evening at 7:30 till 10 pm for rehearsals. There is an interval for tea, biscuits and chatter. Although each rehearsal is different, the musical director always aims to help us become better singers and performers, as well as to make sure we have an enjoyable evening!

When it comes to sing-outs (ie: performances in public), The Downsmen can sing either altogether or as quartets. Our top quartet is 'Southern Electric', winners of the Barbershop Trophy at the Godalming Festival 2016. Scratch quartets are an occasional feature of rehearsals.

Supporting Charity

The Downsmen have entertained local audiences for many years, helping to raise funds for charities along the way. We are proud to support fundraising for the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund, coordinated by Bess Harding MBE, which since 1979 has helped provide specialised equipment for Epsom Hospital.

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Entertaining shoppers at Christmastime

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Showing off the trophy at East Grinstead Music Festival

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Performing at BABS Convention 2019