It’s a warm Memorial Day night at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction. As thousands of baseball fans await the JUCO World Series fireworks, more than a dozen men in royal blue shirts walk onto the field. Suddenly, the stadium is alive with four-part a cappella harmony as the crowd joins in for ‘God Bless America.’ From a stadium of thousands to a quiet serenade for two, the goal is always the same: to unite our community through the power of harmony. This is the Bookcliff Chorus.
What We Do
Since 1968 the Bookcliff Chorus has been entertaining audiences large and small through seasonal shows, community performances and our special deliveries of Singing Valentines that touch so many hearts. Our music spans the generations. Our repertoire includes timeless 19th-century classics like ‘My Wild Irish Rose,’ beloved 20th-century standards such as ‘Sweet Adeline’ and ‘Darkness on the Delta,’ and modern favorites like ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ and ‘Kokomo.’
Who We Are
We are more than just a group of singers. We are teachers, mechanics, pastors, and mail carriers. We are retirees and high school students. Our personal music interests and influences are across the board including rock, jazz, country, and opera. We are men of all ages from all walks of life who, every Tuesday night, gather under the guidance of our directors to do one thing: create resonant, heartfelt, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style.
Meet the Directors
The Bookcliff Chorus is led by a dedicated team of musicians whose passion for barbershop harmony spans decades and generations.
Olyn Carlson, Frontline Director
Olyn Carlson has been an avid and active barbershopper for over 40 years, joining the Bookcliff Chorus in 1987. Though he made his living as a Registered Nurse, Olyn’s passion for music has always been his “avocation,” driving him to continuously develop his skills through the Barbershop Harmony Society’s (BHS) Harmony University and numerous coaching sessions. Olyn is an experienced quartet man, having sung lead in several local groups including the Two Rivers Magic Quartet and the Close Harmony Quartet. He currently sings with the Canyon Grand quartet . He is deeply invested in the leadership and growth of the chorus, having served in nearly every chapter office over the years, and is a four-time “Barbershopper of the Year” recipient. He currently guides the Bookcliff Chorus as its Frontline Director.
Davis Devereux, Assistant Director
A native of Grand Junction, Davis Devereux has been keeping barbershop singing a vibrant part of the local community since his high school senior year. After being invited to a Bookcliff Chorus rehearsal, Davis immediately found his passion for the art form. His commitment quickly grew from singer to leader. As the Assistant Director, Davis helps shape the musical and performance quality of the chorus, representing the newer generation of singers dedicated to the barbershop harmony tradition.
Find Your Voice With Us!
Discover the feeling of locking in a perfect, ringing chord with a group of friends. It’s an activity that lasts a lifetime, and we want you to be a part of it!
We invite you to visit our rehearsal and see what it’s all about. Come on down Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm in the basement of First Baptist Church in Grand Junction. There’s no pressure to join, just an opportunity to sing or listen, meet the guys, and explore the Barbershop lifestyle.
Ready to discover the joy of harmony? Come make some noise with the Bookcliff Chorus!
