Reveling in the barbershop-style singing of the Long Island Harmonizers

In a holiday celebration of harmonious melodies and festive cheer, the Long Island Harmonizers, a group of over 20 men passionate about barbershop-style acapella singing, graced the Uniondale Library this weekend with their Holiday Barbershop Christmas Show on Dec. 10.

The Nassau Mid-Island Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, to which the Long Island Harmonizers belong, proudly holds the title of the largest chapter on Long Island and is on the cusp of celebrating its remarkable 71st anniversary. Committed to both the enjoyment of its members and the entertainment of its audiences, the Long Island Harmonizers have become synonymous with vocal excellence and a dedication to the art of a cappella.

The library’s audience was treated to an hour of enchanting and heart warming melodies as the Long Island Harmonizers showcased their vocal prowess and had members of the audience, like Elizabeth Parke, in awe of their “beautiful singing.” The quartet’s performance was not just a display of musical talent, their goal whenever they perform is to bring joy, happiness, and bring together the community in the spirit of the holiday season through the rich tradition of barbershop singing.

Jim Johnson, a member of the group who has been singing since a child in his church days, says “this is what makes people happy, you put a smile on somebody’s face and you touch their heart.”

Robert Chan, a member of the Quartet who was born and raised in Uniondale, also started singing in church. “I started singing as a kid at New Apostolic Church, which used to be on Front Street,” he said, “and we were the first Chinese family to join the church.”

The Harmonizers performed everything from traditional barbershop tunes to songs from the Great American Songbook, and even venturing into the contemporary realm with renditions of Elton John’s classics, the quartet weaved through various genres, and brought many smiles to many faces and delivered quite an experience for all in attendance.

Chan’s mother, Margie Chan, who immigrated to Uniondale from China in the 1950’s, said she was beyond proud to see her son grace the stage in his hometown library.

Refusing to be confined to the stage, the Long Island Harmonizers are also known for their community engagement. Johnson says the group frequently performs at hospitals, civic events, and charity functions with the mission of spreading joy and harmony wherever they go.

Parke told the Herald that the Harmonizers didn’t just sing at the library on Sunday, they created an atmosphere of joy, and holiday spirit as well as shared their talents in the art of barbershop harmony — and overall she felt she was “blown away” by their captivating performance.

As the final notes echoed through the library, the Holiday Barbershop Christmas Show left an indelible mark on the hearts of the audience. The Nassau Mid-Island Chapter’s commitment to the art form and to bringing smiles to people’s faces was evident, making the rainy afternoon at Uniondale Library a harmonious holiday memory for all families who attended to cherish.