Board Member at Large - Bob Dobson, Wes Reed, Mark Stokes

(back to top)

Communications VP - Dave Gunther

My musical training started in second grade when I began learning to play trumpet. I played in symphonic bands from elementary school through college.

My first interest in vocal music began when I joined the A Cappella Choir at Charter Oak High School. I sang in this great choir for four years and we were one of the best choirs in Southern California. Because of my age and vocal immaturity, I had to sing tenor, but I always wanted to sing bass, so I worked on that part of my range. At the same time, I had a high falsetto that would beat most tenors nowadays. It was during this time that I found I truly loved singing harmony and would harmonize to anything I could. I often played trumpet solos in church, and even there I would find ways to harmonize with the piano accompaniment during some part of the solo. After high school, I sang in several church choirs, singing either bass or tenor as required.

My first exposure to barbershop was in 1984 when a fellow church choir member invited me to a guest night with the “Whittier Choralaires.” Although I had never learned any of the songs sung by this 200-man chorus, I found that I knew exactly where my voice part went and could almost hear the words before we sang them. I auditioned as a bass under Earl Moon and quickly became an avid barbershopper.

When I was ready to start singing in quartets, I found there were plenty of basses, but not enough tenors to go around, so I switched parts. I have been singing tenor for most of my time in barbershop, but occasionally sing bass and sometimes play with baritone. I do not sing lead.

Although I have been in many quartets over the years, my most rewarding quartet experience has been filling in for tenor Bryan Forbes in “Four Fifteen.” My personal highlight was singing with them on the Whittier Choralaires show in 2008.

When I first entered the barbershop world, I was a truck driver and I drove both cross-country and local runs. I now work at Boeing Satellite Development Center in El Segundo where I set up and run environmental tests on satellites.

My motto is that I work so I can barbershop.

(back to top)

Director - Phil Ordaz

I began my music career at USC, playing in its famous marching band, concert band and jazz band. Then I went to school with Mort Burt’s son who invited me to a Whittier show in spring of 1982. It was a great show and I was wowed by what I heard. In September of that year, I joined the Whittier Chapter and the Society with my then future father-in-law.

As a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society for more than 25 years, I have performed in and coached many quartets, and have earned a gold medal in chorus competition. I have also worked as a show producer, chorus director, arranger and certified music judge for the Society.

After leaving the Whittier Chapter, I suggested the idea of a chapter in Brea to Nick Papageorge, and the rest, as they say, is history.

I work for Vons (yes, I’m a retail grunt) and I teach high school biology for Biola University’s STAR program. I also run Youth Worship Arts at my church.

Other than barbershop, I play saxophone or clarinet when I can. I played in marching and jazz bands in college and I have done some theater. Hey, I once directed the LA Philharmonic! Of course, there’s the occasional musical theater thing, and my son and I have shot off some model rockets. I also like watching and playing a little baseball.

(back to top)

Immediate Past President - John Gaston

My first exposure to barbershop was at La Serna High School in Whittier during a production of “The Music Man.” Back in 1989, I was walking around Uptown Whittier during the summer Uptown Festival and heard this great sound coming from one of the booths. The guys at the booth were selling hot dogs and drinks to raise funds for the Whittier Barbershop Chapter. They also had an authentic old-fashioned barber chair that someone could sit in while a quartet sang a few songs. I got to talking to one of the men and he passed me an invitation card and a map. I was at the very next rehearsal and have been involved with the Society ever since.

I am one of the six founding fathers of the Brea Chapter. The founding group of us started the chapter in 2002, at least that is when we conceived the idea of actually starting a new chapter and got our charter from the Society.

When I’m not singing barbershop, I work for a construction management/engineering firm named Arcadis. I have functioned as a project manager, construction claims analyst, project controls manager, and cost and schedule analyst.

Before I started singing barbershop, I sang in the choir during my high school years. I have also been involved in the choir at my church. When I’m not singing or working, I enjoy exercise and weight lifting, photography, motorcycle riding, going on wine-tasting tours, and reading (mostly non-fiction).

(back to top)

Marketing & PR VP - Buddy Yarnell

I have been a Society member for 57 years! I started singing with my dad at age five and was in a quartet with him by age 11 called The Californians. I have sung in over 20 quartets and have belonged to 16 different barbershop chapters from Chicago to Seattle to Brea. A little know fact is that I was the original baritone with the International Champion Quartet The Golden Staters. I also sang bari with the 1975 Evergreen District Champions The Lions Share while in Seattle.

I was in the original Masters of Harmony from 1987 to 1996, where I won one bronze and three gold medals. Additionally, I won a fifth place medal twice (2000 and 2001) with my senior quartet A Touch Of Class. ATOC still does gigs occasionally in San Diego County.

My current senior quartet California Crossroads won the FWD Senior Quartet Championship last year and placed eighth in our first Senior International Quartet Contest last January in San Antonio. CxRds will be competing in Boise (Evergreen District) in October to qualify to compete in the 2009 International Senior Quartet Contest in Pasadena next January.

I am a four-part man who loves to woodshed - just ask me. I am currently the Marketing and Public Relations VP for our chapter.

(back to top)

Membership VP - John Phipps

(back to top)

Music & Performance VP - John Gassman

I have been singing barbershop for 36 years, originally with the Whittier Chorus and for the last couple of years here at Brea.

My high school choir teacher introduced Larry and I to the barbershoppers in the Whittier area. I was attracted by that big sound! I've sung in several quartets throughout the years and most recently finished in tenth place with “Four Fifteen” at last year's Far Western District Contest.

When I'm not barbershopping, I work for Disney and book the three hotels at the Disneyland Resort, and train new blind cast members with the reservation system and special screen reading software.

Barbershop harmony is a major part of my life and I am very happy to be able to play a small part in the success of the Brea Chorus.

(back to top)

President - Larry Gassman

I remember seeing “the Music Man” (the movie in the early 60s); that was my first identification with barbershop. Later in 1972, my choral ensemble was doing a show in high school about the gay 90s, and they needed a barbershop quartet. John and I volunteered with two other guys.

I remember first walking up the stairs at Henshaw’s auditorium in Whittier and being drawn to that wonderful barbershop sound. I was immediately hooked and joined in 1973.

Over the years, I’ve been a section leader for both the baritones and leads. I was co-baritone section leader in 1975 until 1987, then lead section leader from 1987 to 2005. I was chapter President for two years, and Music Vice-President for at least 10 times that I remember. I was fortunate enough to have coached several quartets and choruses through the years. I emceed Divisional prelims, District contests, and International prelims. I also emceed several chapter shows. I was Weekly E-mail Update Editor from September 2003 until December 2005.

Over the years, I won several awards at Whittier, including Freshman Barbershopper Of The Year (co-winner with John) in 1974, Barbershopper of the year in 1984, President's Trophy (co-winner with John) in 1989, Hall Of Fame Award (co-winner with John) in 1993, the Earl Moon Award in 2003 and 2005, and the Far Western District President’s award in 1993.

I’ve sung in three quartets over the years.  In “Pacific Electric Chord Company,” we had four different tenors (none of them would stay very long), Chuck Burkes, Ron Black, Buddy Yarnell, and Gordon Sladen. Then in 1987 I sang with “A Pitch in Time” and we sang for 14 years. In 2003 we formed “Four Fifteen” and were fortunate to make the top 10 in District in 2007.

I joined Brea in 2005 but sang on Christmas shows going back to 2003.

I have other interests, Old Time Radio and New Visions (a social organization of other blind people in Southern California), so I am kept busy outside of work.

The thing about barbershop that makes it so very special is the people. The music is the bond that draws us all together, but it is the people that really make it all worthwhile.

(back to top)

Program VP - Dave Gunther

My musical training started in second grade when I began learning to play trumpet. I played in symphonic bands from elementary school through college.

My first interest in vocal music began when I joined the A Cappella Choir at Charter Oak High School. I sang in this great choir for four years and we were one of the best choirs in Southern California. Because of my age and vocal immaturity, I had to sing tenor, but I always wanted to sing bass, so I worked on that part of my range. At the same time, I had a high falsetto that would beat most tenors nowadays. It was during this time that I found I truly loved singing harmony and would harmonize to anything I could. I often played trumpet solos in church, and even there I would find ways to harmonize with the piano accompaniment during some part of the solo. After high school, I sang in several church choirs, singing either bass or tenor as required.

My first exposure to barbershop was in 1984 when a fellow church choir member invited me to a guest night with the “Whittier Choralaires.” Although I had never learned any of the songs sung by this 200-man chorus, I found that I knew exactly where my voice part went and could almost hear the words before we sang them. I auditioned as a bass under Earl Moon and quickly became an avid barbershopper.

When I was ready to start singing in quartets, I found there were plenty of basses, but not enough tenors to go around, so I switched parts. I have been singing tenor for most of my time in barbershop, but occasionally sing bass and sometimes play with baritone. I do not sing lead.

Although I have been in many quartets over the years, my most rewarding quartet experience has been filling in for tenor Bryan Forbes in “Four Fifteen.” My personal highlight was singing with them on the Whittier Choralaires show in 2008.

When I first entered the barbershop world, I was a truck driver and I drove both cross-country and local runs. I now work at Boeing Satellite Development Center in El Segundo where I set up and run environmental tests on satellites.

My motto is that I work so I can barbershop.

(back to top)

Secretary - John Gaston

My first exposure to barbershop was at La Serna High School in Whittier during a production of “The Music Man.” Back in 1989, I was walking around Uptown Whittier during the summer Uptown Festival and heard this great sound coming from one of the booths. The guys at the booth were selling hot dogs and drinks to raise funds for the Whittier Barbershop Chapter. They also had an authentic old-fashioned barber chair that someone could sit in while a quartet sang a few songs. I got to talking to one of the men and he passed me an invitation card and a map. I was at the very next rehearsal and have been involved with the Society ever since.

I am one of the six founding fathers of the Brea Chapter. The founding group of us started the chapter in 2002, at least that is when we conceived the idea of actually starting a new chapter and got our charter from the Society.

When I’m not singing barbershop, I work for a construction management/engineering firm named Arcadis. I have functioned as a project manager, construction claims analyst, project controls manager, and cost and schedule analyst.

Before I started singing barbershop, I sang in the choir during my high school years. I have also been involved in the choir at my church. When I’m not singing or working, I enjoy exercise and weight lifting, photography, motorcycle riding, going on wine-tasting tours, and reading (mostly non-fiction).

(back to top)

Treasurer - Bryan Forbes

I heard about barbershop harmony from a co-worker. I joined the Society in 1997 via the Whittier Chapter. I was an active member and I participated in the chapter’s operation as a board member. My only other musical experience is playing trumpet in high school, which means my first singing experience was when I joined the Whittier Chapter singing barbershop.

I am one of the founders of the Brea Chapter and have been it’s treasurer, show chairman, and general go-to guy since then.

I am currently the president for a construction management company called Primus Building Solutions. We specialize in development and construction management and construction claims consulting.

When I’m not working or singing, I enjoy golf and art.

(back to top)