The Boise Chordsmen is a chorus with over 50 men who love to sing barbershop harmony. Led by Director Rich Lapp, they have members who reside all over the Treasure Valley.
Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied singing with three voices harmonizing to the melody. The lead usually sings the melody, with the tenor harmonizing above the lead. The bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes and the baritone provides in-between notes, either above or below the lead to make chords that give barbershop its distinctive, "full" sound.
The Boise Chordsmen are members of the Barbershop Harmony Society and are Division V champions in the Evergreen District. They are dedicated to the promotion and development of Barbershop singing by entertaining people of all ages throughout the community.
Director Rich Lapp
Rich brings over 25 years of Barbershop experience to the stage as a chorus director and singer. He started singing Barbershop music with his dad and two brothers when he was in high school. While Rich prefers to sing the Bartione part in Barbershop harmony, he has also sung Lead and Tenor parts.
Rich has taught music in public schools for the past 27 years and has conducted choirs in Canada, Africa, and Europe. He has won numerous awards at both "Classical" and "Jazz" choir festivals throughout the United States. Rich is the Department Chairmen at Timberline High School, Boise Idaho. He teaches A Capella Choir, Cantor Bel, Encore, Simply Jazz and Music Theory. Rich is married and has four children.
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