Bill’sBari Pie is a quartet whose
members all belong to the Barbershop Harmony Society. In addition to this quartet, the four
gentlemen are also members of the San Fernando Valley Chapter, Valley Harmony Singers Barbershop
Chorus, a larger group which also sings 4-part harmony. The 4 parts are Lead, Baritone, Tenor, and
Bass.
More than 10 years ago, 4
Valleyaires Chorus members decided to sing together as a quartet. Bill Cohen is the Bass and the other 3 were
singing Baritone in the Chorus at the time.
Therefore, the quartet was composed of Bill and his 3 Baritones or “Baris”. So the idea of a Bill’sBari (sounds like
Pillsbury) mixture evolved into the quartet’s name, Bill’sBari Pie!
Since a barbershop quartet has to
have all 4 parts, 2 of the Baritones have to sing the Lead & Tenor parts in
the quartet.
The 4 members of Bill’sBari Pie are
Mathew Schreiber (Lead), Bill Cohen (Bass), Kirk Prather (Baritone), and John
Wright (Tenor).
Barbershop singing is their
hobby. The quartet members are also busy
with other pursuits. Mathew is a piano
tuner with his own business, Aapex Piano Service. Bill retired two years ago, after 30 years as
Corporate Counsel for ValleyCrest Landscape Companies. John Wright attended Occidental College, is
also retired, and has been singing barbershop for more than 25 years. Kirk Prather has retired from a full-time
career as an engineer and has his own consulting firm.
That’s a little background about
the quartet, which has been entertaining audiences ever since its
formation. For several years, they
serenaded diners annually on Valentine’s Day at Cosmos Grill in Calabasas. They have performed at the Masonic Lodge in
Van Nuys, the Annual Chatsworth Dance Studio Show, the Valleyaires Barbershop
Chorus Annual Show, and the Annual Valleyaires Ice Cream Social. Most recently, they have performed for the La
Canada Leisure Club, at a 50th Anniversary Party at Shanghai Red’s
Restaurant, and at the Children’s Community School. Also, their performances include Singing
Valentines, private birthday parties, and
other events.
In 2012, they attended Harmony
College West at the University of Redlands, to perfect their quartet skills.
