About Us

We are a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that seeks to enrich our community with our talent and our treasure through singing barbershop style music. 

Our chapter is an active sponsor of the music program (the Voices) at Beaufort High School, and our special charitable focus is on the work of the Alzheimer’s Foundation in Beaufort.

Our Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is currently singing as a mixed chorus only. Anyone who has a desire to sing is welcome.

Where We Meet

The Beaufort Harbormasters rehearse every Sunday from 2-4 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 157 Lady’s Island Rd.

Occasionally we will meet at another location – a nursing home or in waterfront park for example. Contact Erik to verify rehearsal schedule or to be added to our mailing list.

Performances and Activities

February 14, 2024 we will be delivering singing Valentines as quartets (both in person and via facetime if desired).

April 2024 Date TBD The Harbormasters Annual Show

We plan and conduct activities in the Beaufort area that will accomplish the following:

  • Support the music program at Beaufort High School

  • Support the work of the Alzheimer’s Family Services of Greater Beaufort

  • Provide an enjoyable time of singing and of fellowship: to have fun.

  • Increase the musical knowledge and singing abilities of the members of the chapter chorus and quartets, and of the youth groups when opportunities arise.

  • Enrich our community and promote public appreciation for barbershop harmony

  • Perpetuate and promote a capella, four part, close harmony vocal music known as barbershop, and encourage other men to join us in this endeavor.

  • Support the objectives and activities of The Barbershop Harmony Society and its Carolina District.

 

To carry out these objectives we engage in these typical activities:

  • Performances at local charitable and civic events

  • Entertainment at private functions

  • Delivery of Singing Valentines, a rose and a card

  • Singing at retirement and nursing homes

  • Presentation of formal (ticketed) shows and some free shows.


Beaufort Harbormasters History:

In January 1999, Peter Stevenson, our founder and the heart and soul of our Chorus for many years, advertised for singers for a barbershop chorus. Four hardy men showed up for the first meeting in July, and by March 1999, we had 12 members and were qualified to be a chapter of the national society.

In September of 1999 the Harbormasters were granted a charter from the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Singing in America (SPEBSQSA), now known as the Barbershop Harmony Society.

A tragic blow for us was the sudden death of our beloved Director and President, Peter Stevenson in March 2005. Mike Masters, one of our members, held us together as Interim Director and our membership remained loyal.

Since then we have been fortunate in finding qualified and exciting directors, musical professional who have come to embrace our music style in a big way, and who have helped us demonstrate that barbershop arrangements can be sung in almost every genre.

The Beaufort Belles History:

The Beaufort Belles got started got started even before that. In 1992 founders Doris Heard, Peggy Callahan and Audrey McBratney put an ad in the paper looking for singers. They had 9-10 singers then, meeting at the Two Suns Inn on Bay Street.

In 1996 they formed the Sea Island Chapter of the Sweet Adelines International, and competed in their first competition in 1998 with 16 members.

They became the Beaufort Belles when they withdrew from the Sweet Adeline organization in 2000.

The Belles have joined the Beaufort Harbormasters under the umbrella of the Barbershop Harmony Society in 2019 and shared equally in their activities and board of directors until the full merger of the choruses in December of 2021. The beaufort chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society continues the traditions of both choruses as a single mixed chorus under the Harbormaster name.

Our Director:

Nick DiLorenzo caught the “Barbershop Bug” while in high school on Long Island.

In his 19 years barbershopping, he has shown his talent winning 3 championships, singing at high levels in choruses and quartets, as well as arranging and directing.

Nick exudes energy, charisma and determination, while making sure that most of all, singing is fun.

 The Beaufort Harbormasters is a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society 

(Formally, the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America SPEBSQSA)