Welcome! We hope that you have enjoyed your taste of Barbershop Music and are pleased to see you back for another rehearsal. 

About Us

The Oceanaires are an a cappella chorus singing in the "barbershop" style. We are mixed men and women chorus and welcome new members who love to sing in harmony and to "Keep the Whole World Singing"!

We have been entertaining Southern California audiences for over 50 years with our unique style and barbershop harmony. We are mixed men and women chorus and welcome new members who love to sing harmonies!

Come have some fun and learn wonderful a cappella music. We rehearse every Monday night. Warm-ups and skill building begin at 7:00 pm at Grace Lutheran Church (Social Hall 2nd Floor), 4427 Overland Ave in Culver City, California.

Sample Barbershop Songs

We invite you to explore a sample of barbershop songs known as Barberpole Cats, or "Pole Cats" for short. There are two volumes of 12 songs each that form a collection that all members of the Society are expected to learn so that no matter where you go you might be able to join three others in song.

The “learning tracks” are “part-predominant” recordings where one of the four barbershop parts is on one track of the stereo recording and the other three parts are on the other track. By muting one side or the other you can practice either the dominant track or sing against the other three.

Joining the Oceanaires

Hopefully, you will find the same pleasure in singing these songs that we do and that this enjoyment of barbershop harmony may bring you to consider becoming a part of our chorus. Joining our organization will involve an audition in which you will be asked to sing one of the Polecat songs with three of our section leaders for one of our directors. The purpose of this audition is to determine if you are able to sing in tune and to carry your voice part in a mixed ensemble.After you have learned one of the songs, you can ask the membership chairman or another board member to arrange a practice session with the section leaders who will be happy to give you suggestions to guide you through the audition process.

Following one or more practice sessions, and when you feel that you are ready, the audition should be arranged through the music team leader or the director. If, on your first attempt, you are unsuccessful in meeting the standards set by the director and music team, they will inform you of areas that need improvement and will offer suggestions that will help you to be successful in your next attempt.

Once you have passed your audition, you are approved for membership, but you must be registered and pay annual dues to the Barbershop Harmony Society to become an active member of the Oceanaires. Other expenses that must be borne by each member include chorus uniforms and accessories and registration fees for competitions and conventions sponsored by the Barbershop Harmony Society. For members for whom these expenditures represent a burden, some financial assistance may be available.

When you are ready to register, consult with a Chorus Board member to guide you through the process.

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