Looking for something different to give your special someone on Valentine’s Day? The Harmony Katz Men’s Barbershop Chorus has announced that its “Singing Valentines” once again will be available as special gifts to loved ones throughout Central New York on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
Harmony Katz chorus, based in Syracuse, will bring its Singing Valentines to loved ones at work, schools, hospitals, residences, restaurants, senior citizen centers, residential care facilities and more. They arrive not just with songs, but also provide a long-stemmed rose, a box of chocolates from Nun-Better and a personalized card.
The price is $50, with proceeds going to benefit the Food Bank of Central New York.
“It’s always a delight because it really shows people that you care; it’s a special moment for them,” said member Ken Reger. “It is my favorite day of the year. I love it, it’s so much fun, it brings a lot of joy to people’s lives — many people cry, they are so touched by it. It’s just a beautiful day.”
Harmony Katz is comprised of 85 men from all walks of life who love to sing and through their singing give back to their community, according to their website. It is a fraternal organization, a brotherhood of barbershoppers joined together in four-part harmony. The chorus itself serves as the New York chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, which has about 30,000 members in the U.S. and Canada.
The Syracuse chapter has been offering Singing Valentines for more than 50 years, according to Reger. On Valentine’s Day, the organization has at least five quartets, that can handle from 10 to 20 gigs in a day, to cover all the bookings throughout Central New York.
They arrive at the specified location and time, find the gift recipient and typically gather everyone else in the workplace, school, hospital or home to watch the performance. The recipient is seated in a chair, receives the rose, chocolates and gift card, and then is serenaded with at least two songs, typically “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and “Heart of My Heart,” Reger said. Sometimes they sing more than two songs, and have a variety of songs in their repertoire, he said.
Reger said classroom students become excited watching the quartet serenade their teachers; everyone in a restaurant turns to watch, some asking the quartet to sing for their loved ones too. In the car driving from place to place, the quartet often reflects on the joy of surprising people: “Did you see the look on her face?”
In addition to Valentine’s Day, the Harmony Katz do events at Christmastime and throughout the year for all occasions.
In the last four years, the Harmony Katz have raised over $18,300 for the Food Bank of CNY through their Singing Valentines program, which has not only provided almost 55,000 meals throughout their coverage area but helped raise awareness of the hunger in Central New York. The group also donates funds to multiple other organizations, including Onondaga County Firefighters Association, Young Life Capernaum, various assisted living homes, food pantries, and church groups.
Any men who love to sing are invited to join the organization. Rehearsals are from 6:30 to 9 p.m. every Monday at the Gingerbread House, located in the back of St. Daniel’s Church, 3004 Court St., Syracuse.
For more information to order a singing valentine, call 315-303-5757 or visit harmonykatz.com.
