For the Nassau Mid-Island Chapter of The Barbershop Harmony Society, formerly known as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA), an active group of some 40 male voices, it has been a case of (local) "chapter" and many, many verses -- sung with a fondness for this type of four-part harmony for over fifty years.

Repertoire sung in traditional barbershop harmonies ranges from old favorites such as "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" and soul-stirring renditions of cherished patriotic music including "God Bless America" and an "Armed Forces Medley" to more recent music such as "Cabaret" arranged in the distinctive style of singing that led to the beginnings of the national society in 1938. Today, The Barbershop Harmony Society numbers about 26,000 members in more than 800 chapters from the U.S. and Canada with affiliated organizations around the globe The Nassau Mid-Island Chapter -- with its chorus name "Long Island Harmonizers" -- is Long Island's largest.

"Our devoted members come from all walks of life in the Long Island community and some of them have been singing barbershop almost their entire adult lives," notes George Seelinger, chapter president for 2010. "Their enormous joy and camaraderie in performing becomes immediately apparent whether audiences gather in local libraries, our park system, street fairs or large auditoriums. Listeners are at once caught up in the pleasures of the music, and it is difficult for them resist singing along -- something we encourage occasionally as part of our presentations that combine music, nostalgia, humor and a bit of participation."

The Nassau Mid-Island Chapter, led for over 10 years by its talented director, Maurice Debar, has entertained at Shea Stadium, Old Westbury Gardens and Coe Hall, to cite just a few venues, and for a great many civic, fraternal and religious organizations. The energetic Chapter was honored in late 2005 with a citation from Thomas R. Suozzi, Nassau County Executive, for "selfless commitment to the community and its residents" on the 55th anniversary of singing by the organization as it is now known and under its original name.

The Nassau Mid-Island Chapter rehearses Tuesday evenings at Winthrop Hall Church of the Advent, 555 Advent Street (off of Post Avenue) in Westbury at 8 p.m. and those interested in becoming new members are welcome. (Phone 516-938-4272 for more information.)