 OUR
DIRECTOR
Christine Hayes discovered barbershop harmony in
1989, when she wandered into a chorus rehearsal in
San Francisco and was delighted to find that as a
soprano (a barbershop tenor) she didn’t have the
melody! Immediately addicted to women’s a cappella
harmony, Chris went on to receive training and serve
as assistant director for two choruses over the next
ten years. In 1998, in answer to an ad for women
interested in starting a barbershop chorus in
Hamden, Chris was one of 7 singers to attend the
first rehearsal of what would become Silk’n Sounds.
She is both a founding member and charter member of
the chorus. She served as assistant director to
Charley Verba until his relocation to Florida in
2000. At that time, Chris became Silk’n Sounds’
frontline director. The chorus has generously
supported Chris’ on-going training through the
annual HITS program (Harmony Intensive Training
School) and she is working towards certification as
a master director. Chris has directed Silk’n Sounds
in eight Area 2 contests. At the April, 2009
contest, Chris’s song “What a Dream Can Do” was
premiered as Harmony Incorporated’s 50th Anniversary
theme song. At the same contest, Silk’n Sounds
received the Rising Star Award for most improved
chorus, placed fifth, and qualified for Harmony,
Inc.’s International Contest in November. Chris
writes:
“New members quickly discover that Silk’n Sounds
is not only a remarkable performing group dedicated
to musical excellence and community service; it is
an incredible sisterhood of vibrant, talented,
funny, and caring women. For so many of us, Silk’n
Sounds has become a profoundly important part of our
lives, a safe arena for exploring our own abilities,
and we cannot imagine our lives without it. I hope
that this will be the year that you discover Silk’n
Sounds… “
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