Founded in 1948, the Garden City Chorus is the performing chorus of the San Jose chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America.

Originally founded as a fraternal organization to educate men about music, the chorus consistently performs in the top 5 percent of the more than 800 choruses in the society. And although it has placed second in the Far Western District several times, this was its first time winning. The San Jose chorus beat 21 other choruses from California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii on Oct. 5.

The win earned them the right to represent the western United States at the society's international competition in Montreal, Canada next July—which chorus manager and 24-year member Rich Remmers says will be "killer competition."

Remmers scouted out the Montreal area to find a hotel and rehearsal accommodations.

"Some of the choruses that go to the international competition have gone as district representatives many times," says Remmers, 64, who auditioned for the chorus in the former gazebo at the Campbell Pruneyard Shopping Center. "We're the novices. We're just thrilled to be there. We have no hopes to score high but just to do our best."

The chorus is judged in various aspects, including singing ability, showmanship, proper barbershop arrangement and how well they are dressed. One of the largest chapters in the society, it consists of 75 members singing four-part a cappella barbershop songs.

Singing experience and background is very diverse among the members, whose ages range from 12 to 86. Most learned to sing at different times in their lives and many sing in different ranges—tenor, lead, baritone or bass.

Willow Glen resident Sieg Yoder says older people sang more often before television got so popular. Although he sang in high school and the church choir in his youth, he did not sing again until he joined the chorus 13 years ago.

"I have one of the smallest ranges in the chorus," says Yoder, who sings lead. "When I was a wee lad I had a big range."

Dave Laubscher, who also sings lead, agrees. The Willow Glen resident says he can sing low in the morning but throughout the day his vocal chords stretch out. Laubscher, who learned how to sing while helping his mother dry dishes as a child, says such extensive rehearsal in the chorus has "destroyed" his falsetto.

The chorus rehearses every Tuesday evening, except holidays, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Lincoln High School, 555 Dana St.

Those interested in joining the chorus are required to visit the group three times—to attend a rehearsal and listen to the chorus, to participate in the chorus and to audition for the group.

The audition process detects the ability to hear notes, tests the singer's accuracy in singing close to intervals, and determines the individual's natural harmony with a simple melody. The audition also determines the singer's vocal range, uncovers any problems and determines the degree of intonation, pitch accuracy, breath support and diction, says Garden City Chorus President and Assistant Musical Director Randy Meyer.

Aside from extensive rehearsal, Laubscher attributes the chorus' success to "a good, persistent director and coach."

The Garden City Chorus will perform a holiday concert on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway. For more information about tickets, call 650.988.8075. For audition information, call 408.235.9744 or email membership@sjchorus.org.