About us

Dec 6 2016: the national Barbershop Harmony Society selected our chapter as one of the "Magnificent 17" healthy and successful smaller chapters. The "Mag17" chapters, one from each district in the country, will work with society leadership on the "Healthy Chapter Initiative" to promote best practices and help other smaller chapters to succeed.

Our Chorus

Bridge Town Sound (BTS) aspires to be the premier men's a cappella chorus in the Pacific Northwest, serving the Portland-Vancouver Metro area (and beyond). BTS has won the all-Oregon Barbershop Chorus Contest numerous times, most recently in April 2014.

BTS is the performing chorus of the Portland Metro Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. The Portland Metro chapter was founded in 2001, with the intent to create the premier barbershop chapter in the Portland area, to host high-quality shows featuring the best performers in the country, and to sponsor a top-notch chorus and numerous quartets. 

That vision is still active as we complete another year of operation. The Bridge Town Sound chorus has won the Division IV (all-Oregon) chorus contest in the Evergreen District seven times, and we intend to continue striving for excellence in our singing.
 
We typically compete in both spring and fall contests that are sponsored by the Evergreen District. In addition, we host an annual show or two in which we bring in outstanding talent to share the stage with us. We also put on holiday shows in December, and sing regularly at other community events. Bridge Town Sound welcomes potential members from Beaverton and Hillsboro to Gresham, and from Wilsonville and Salem to Vancouver.

One of the things that sets Bridge Town Sound apart from many other choruses is the fact that each singer who performs in public as part of Bridge Town Sound has previously demonstrated the ability to sing each song accurately in regard to the notes, words, and breathing plan, without looking at the music. Singers recording themselves in order to qualify on a song has become part of the culture of BTS, and we take pride in putting on the stage only those who have proven that they have what it takes to be Bridge Town Sound performers.

Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to perpetuate the American institution of barbershop singing by: promoting vocal harmony and fellowship among its members; educating the public in music appreciation generally and barbershop specifically; and funding charitable projects. Receipts from chapter activities or external donations may only be used for chapter expenses, not for the benefit of members. Receipts from members may be used without restriction. 

Mission Statement

Portland Metro Chapter is a dynamic and innovative men’s singing fraternity dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in "a cappella" close harmony through performance, outreach, and education in the barbershop harmony style.

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Website changes

If you have comments about the website, please email administrators @ bridgetownsound.org.


Our Director

Director Paul Olguin is a world-renowned songwriter, arranger, teacher, performer and coach who specializes in acapella harmony, especially barbershop harmony.

A 40+ year barbershopper, having been introduced to barbershop as a high school freshman, Paul has competed many times in the International Quartet Contest, placing as high as 5th with Special Feature in 1993. Paul is one of the barbershop community's top composers and was the Grand Prize Winner of the Barbershop Harmony Society's 50th Anniversary Songwriting Contest, among other song- and tag-writing awards.

One of Paul's favorite parts of barbershop is woodshedding (creating harmonies around a known melody without having a common arrangement in mind). His presentation on Woodshedding at the Harmony University General Session in 2014 received a standing ovation and has more than 13,000 views on YouTube. Paul is also a sought-after coach, working with men's, women's, and mixed groups from New Zealand to Holland and most points in between. 

Our Leaders

Music Team
Musical Director - Paul Olguin
VP of Music & Performance - John Hazen
Section Leaders - Aaron Weller and John Hazen

Board of Directors
President - David Dennison
Immediate Past President - Carlos Aguayo
Secretary - Alex Meldrum
Treasurer - Don Davis
VP of Music & Performance - John Hazen
VP of Program and Marketing - Duncan Gilman
VP of Membership - Todd Dignan
Member at Large - Jeff Welsh