A Night at the Music Box

The Ladybirds holding concert to benefit regional food bank

For the Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND - The Ladybirds Barbershop Harmony Singers will hold its first formal show in many years on Sept. 9 in the Allegany College of Maryland auditorium.

The show, titled A Night at the Music Box, will center on the music of Irving Berlin in a setting depicting the times of Berlin's Theatre, called the Music Box. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is a benefit for the Western Maryland Food Bank.

The program will feature a number of guest quartets, including Pizzazz, Sentimental Sounds, Totally Vocal, Afternoon Delight and Having Fun.

A 50/50 drawing will be held during the event. Those attending the show are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the Western Maryland Food Bank.

Barbershop singing is truly an American art form and groups of barbershoppers, men and women, are active all over the world. It is a great way to make friends and to have a good time, as well as a wonderful hobby.

The Ladybirds, a local group of singers of barbershop harmony, was established in 1974, and have been entertaining for over 30 years. Some of the original members are still active in the group, and over time, many new members have joined the chorus.

The group, under the direction of Ellie Batchelor, meets weekly at the Park Place United Methodist Church in Cumberland for their rehearsals. They entertain at various functions in the tri-state area including Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Occasionally, they travel even further astray from their "home" audience.

Entertainment by The Ladybirds has been enjoyed by such groups as residents of nursing homes, church organizations, senior citizens groups, hospital staffs, business groups, veterans groups and eclectic audiences who follow the barbershop singers wherever they go.

The group has sung everywhere from the Country Club Mall in LaVale to the Bedford Village (Pa.) to the Frostburg Festival to Cumberland's Heritage Days to the Gordon-Roberts House in Cumberland and, last but not least to the White House in Washington. The group is very ambitious and is very much in demand in the area.

The Ladybirds Barbershop Harmony Singers is an organized group, partially sponsored by the Allegany Arts Council.

Advance tickets are available at Ott's Music, Print & Stitch, Main Street Books, The Book Center, and the food bank, located on Frederick Street in Cumberland. Tickets also will be available at the door.

For more information, visit The Ladybirds' Web site at www.palestars.com/ladybirds or call Betty Twigg at (301) 729-6848.