The Statesmen Chorus has an extensive a cappella repertoire, including contemporary, Broadway, gospel, folk, and light jazz music, and we maintain, as well, a continuing commitment to preserving and singing in the barbershop harmony style. Our music appeals to audiences of all ages.

The founding fathers of the Spring Texas Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) are Ralph Browne, Jim Cusato, Bob Magill, and Jim Ward.  They met in early 1981 to bring their dream of a chapter of the society in the Spring area to fruition.  The first chapter meeting was held on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving that year at the Cypress Creek Christian Church and Community Center.  The Statesmen Chorus was the first organization to utilize the brand new CCCCC facilities.  A license to operate as an entity of the Society was granted on February 4, 1982.  The Spring Texas Chapter was chartered on July 30, 1982.  Following are the charter members of the chapter:

Mack Allred, Harold Anderson, John Chumney, Jim Cusato, Robert Dupree, John Dupree, Fred Eastman, Henry Elrod, Joel Empie, Phil Erdman, Lloyd Franson, Tom Frey, Wayne Gardner , Walter Hall, Paul Gross, Lyn Harding, Martin (Jim) Hauser, Bill Hoofnagle, James Johnson, Douglas Lootens, Bob Magill, Jack Mase, Charles McClure, Leo Mitchell, Harold Moeller, Ron Nelson, Bill Pierce, Russell Pierce, Clint Purser, Cary Sorensen, Don Spradling, Jim Ward, Fred Wright, and Paul Wiegmann.

The first “Annual” show (Barbershop Harmony ’82) was held in October at the Spring HS auditorium with 670 in attendance.  The Statesmen had 28 men on the risers and were joined by The Houston Tidelanders under the direction of John Devine.  The fledgling chorus hosted an impressive lineup of quartets, including the ’76 International gold medalist Innsiders and the 83 International champion Side Street Ramblers and the ’84 Southwestern District champion Rare Blend – WOW what a lineup!

Statesmen “Firsts:”

• President – Jim Ward – 1982
• Director – Fred Eastman - 1982
• Quartet – San Jacinto River Bottom Four – ( Doug Lootens T, Fred Wright L, Lloyd Franson Br, and Lyn Harding Bs ) - 1982
• Singing Valentines – 1987 ( 57 valentines delivered )
• Division Contest – 1983 ( Qualified for District competition )
• District Contest – 1983 ( Placed 11th )
• Small Chorus Competition – 1985 ( Placed 6th )
• Most singing valentines – 206 ( $6,000+ ) 1994
• Good Times Show ( and benefit auction  - raised a record $8000 ) - 1995

Recent History

In October of 2007, under the direction of Janet Burnett, The Statesmen won the Plateau A ( small chapters ) Chorus Championship of the five state Southwestern District in Corpus Christi Texas. We qualified for the SWD after having won the Plateau A Championship for the Southeast Division the preceding March in Shreveport Louisiana.

In March of 2008, under the direction of Janet Burnett, the Statesmen with 28 men on the risers won the Plateau A Chorus Championship as well as the “Most Improved” chorus in the three state Southeast Division ( of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Southwestern District ) in San Marcos Texas and qualified us to compete in the 2008 Southwestern District ( SWD ) competition in October of 2008 in Little Rock Arkansas.  The Statesmen Chorus was also named the Outstanding Small Chapter in the Southwestern District and was presented the Ralph Ribble Small Chapter award.

In 2009, the chapter again was the recipient of the Outstanding Small Chapter Award for the Southwestern District.  Performances included a Good Time Show, Performances included a Good Time show in the spring, an annual show at the Crighton Theatre in Conroe entitled “Let the Good Times Roll”, a pretend visit to New Orleans.

In 2010, The Statesmen Chorus was named Champion Plateau A (small chorus) for the Southeast Division.  Performances in 2010 included a Good Time show at Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, our annual show was “America from Sea to Shining Sea” where we were joined by actors of Stage Right at the Crighton Theatre, and a Veterans’ Day celebration.  The year was closed with a Christmas Concert at First United Methodist Church of Willis, TX.

In 2011, the chorus successfully defended its title of Plateau A Chorus champions of the Southeast Division.  Chorus performances included a highly successful Good Time show with attendant silent auction and bake sale, two performances for the Wounded Warriors Foundation, and a 9/11 observance at the Depot in Tomball.  Our annual show at the Crighton Theatre was “Let’s Get Away from it All”.  We produced two Christmas Concerts, the first at Klein United Methodist Church where approximately 250 patrons watched and listened to the chorus and quartets perform all their Christmas favorites.  Half the proceeds from the Klein UMC show were contributed to Habitat for Humanity.  The following week, we performed our Christmas Concert at the First United Methodist Church in Willis.