Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1512713
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM December 6-12 UCW 9 "We said we are going to do this a little differently this year," Nicholas DiLorenzo, Musical Director for Fayetteville Sound, says. "We are going to give back to the commu- nity. It's called 'A Very Barbershop Christmas.'" DiLorenzo adjusts himself in his chair. e typical lineup he is speaking about involves a con- cert and admission. As he looks around the room, he verbally walks through the upcoming events for Fayetteville Sound which takes up his and other members every ursday and Saturday through the end of the year. is will include singing at nursing homes, the Christmas tree lighting at DirtBag Ales and other various perfor- mances. A Very Barbershop Christmas, which is free to the public and one of many events the group takes part in during December, will be hosted on December 9th at e Sta- dium Events Center in downtown Fayetteville. e event will begin at 5:30 and last until 10 p.m. with Fayetteville Sound performing at 7 p.m. "is is a really important one for us," DiLorenzo says. "It's aimed at children." Fayetteville Sound will be giv- ing out presents to the first 50 kids through the door via Santa Claus, and a barber from Cut My City will be offering free haircuts for kids during the event. Local comedian, Heather Berube, will be the MC for the event. ere will also be food vendors and small business vendors present for any of those attending. Most of the participants, DiLorenzo says, have given their time or talents. "We are asking everyone [there] to give back to the community with us." Fayetteville Sound has been active in the area for about seven years although originally it was known under a different name. DiLorenzo says the group has always acted like a community chorus rather than a group wor- ried about competitions and has a varied array of members. "We have a little bit of every- thing," he says of the professions of the group members. "We are a true crazy kind of chorus. Anyone who likes to sing can join." e group currently has 24 active members although most events will include about 18 to 20 members, including the upcoming Christmas event. All members are there on a volunteer basis, some of which, he says, have volunteered after watch- ing them perform. "Some of our members have never sung before [this]," he says. "ey say, 'I think I'd like to try that." And they do. ey become lifelong barbershoppers." For DiLorenzo, his journey into barbershop started 24 years ago with a teacher helping him explore his love of music and ultimately, barbershop. Although much of what he does he prefers to do behind the scenes of Fayetteville Sound, he still loves to sing along- side the members of his "second family," whether that is traditional barbershop music or some modern music. "We do a little bit more modern music that is fun for people," he says. At "A Very Barbershop," the lineup will be music geared to- ward children including "Jingle Bells," "Angels We Have Heard On High" and "Jingle Bell Rock." Both Christmas and music are good for the cheer factor, according to DiLorenzo. "It's good for [the kids'] ears and their happiness level." A Very Barbershop Christmas by KATHLEEN RAMSEY EVENT KATHLEEN RAMSEY,Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. (Photo courtesy Fayetteville Sound Barbershop Facebook)