Suncoast Statesmen About Us

WELCOME

Welcome to the website for the Suncoast Statesmen, Charlotte County’s barbershop Chorus. Officially, we are the P006 Charlotte County (Florida) chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, but to our friends, both old and new, we are the Suncoast Statesmen, and are delighted that you stopped by for a visit. The website is divided into four major sections; About Us, General Information, Events and Members Only. We hope that you will take some time to browse through our website. After doing so, should you have specific questions or need additional material, you will find an email link on the Home Page or at the bottom of this section where you can go to get your questions answered.

This About Us section of this website provides the reader with a letter of welcome from our President, a biography of our Director, and a list or our current officers. In addition to our chorus, the Suncoast Statesmen features three registered local quartets. These are also featured in this section. The Suncoast Statesmen are particularly proud of the Neil Plum Scholarship Program, which is featured prominently in this section. We are also delighted to highlight our local Barbershopper of the Year and Hall of Fame awards that recognize outstanding achievement. Finally, we publish a periodic newsletter which can be accessed by clicking the Suncoast Statesmen Newsletter.

The General Information section provides you with a description of our music program, and information on how to join our chapter. It concludes with a few samples of timeless barbershop music.

The Events section provides you with a list of upcoming sing outs, concerts, and other chapter activities. Finally, the Members Only section provides active members with a roster of current members along with access to all current music, including both sheet music and learning tracks to make the learning task easier.

Again, welcome to the Suncoast Statesmen!

A CORDIAL WELCOME FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Greetings!

Just a bit of background, I’ve been singing barbershop harmony for 17 years. Prior to singing barbershop, I was not aware that I was a good singer. Many of my fellow chorus members are surprised to learn, I don’t even read music! But with the help of other barbershoppers and several good directors, I’m now enjoying singing barbershop to the

fullest…and you can too! It’s not hard and you don’t need to be a great singer, you just need to be able to carry a tune and have a sense of pitch. Our director-Duane Fenn and others can work with you to develop your skills as a barbershop harmony singer. Although initially what interested me was the great close harmony sounds that we create, what really hooked me was the close relationships that are cultivated along the way with my fellow singers. I also learned that we can impact others around us through our unique style of music. I encourage you to come out on a Tuesday evening and give us a try, I think you will be glad you did!

It’s my pleasure to welcome you.

Curly (Jim Wilson)

Suncoast Statesmen President

Our Director

Chris Owens is a 16 year barbershopper who has directed "locally" the Lemon Bay Chord Company, Sarasota Chorus of the Keys, Venetian (Sweet Adeline) Chorus and 10 years ago was our Interim Director for about 7 months.

He brings to the position a wealth of musical knowledge and experience to the stage. Recently (January 15) Chris retired after 34 years of teaching Band, Chorus and Musical theatre in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Chris is also the “Principal Tubist” for the North Port Symphony”. He also proudly served our nation in the U.S. Navy for 4 years.

Chris lives in a “Barbershop Royalty family. The list is too long to mention here. Just ask him, he’ll be glad to tell you all about his family. Chris and Lana have 4 adult children, 2 beautiful grandchildren (Ellie & Ollie)and have been happily married for 29 years.

2026 Officers

Note: The 2026 Officers listed below were voted in early this year.

President - Jim (Curly) Wilson

Dave Weaver, Secretary	Art Lambert, Executive VP
Jim Ryan, Treasurer Judy Brnhill, Asst. Treasurer	Chris Owen, Musical Diretor Duane Fenn, VP Chapter Development, Webmaster
Jack Cronkwright, Music VP	Larry Nofziger, Member at Large Glenn Ferris, Member at Large
Tom Papp, VP Marketing	Kathy Cox, Member at Large

NEIL PLUM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

In 2012, the Suncoast Statesmen created the Neil Plum Scholarships to honor our long time Director, Mr. Neil Plum. These scholarships were designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying members of the Senior Class in either Charlotte High School or Port Charlotte High School who wish to continue their formal study of music and/or music education at the collegiate level.

A portion of all monies earned through either chorus or quartet performances is dedicated the scholarship fund, and substantial additional funding is provided by audiences who attend our performances and choose to donate to this worthy cause. The initial scholarship awards were for $500.00. In 2019, the individual award was raised to $600.00. Starting with the graduating class of 2020, the individual awards were raised to $1,000.00. Unfortunately, the COVID crisis forced the cancellation of the entire 2020-2022 season, and with it, each year's scholarship program. Hopefully, the Suncoast Statesmen, and the Neil Plum Scholarship Program, will return for the 2023-2024 season. We are pleased to be able to make this contribution to the youth of Charlotte County, and are proud of our recipients, who are listed below.

YEAR	CHARLOTTE HIGH SCHOOL	PORT CHARLOTTE HIGH SCHOOL
2012	Kayla Davis	Michelle Neal
2013	Elias Quintos	John Cwikowski
	Jonathon Rathburn
2014	Sara Hart	Christina Hishmeh
2015	Jordan Webecke	Kayla Andresino
2016	Dalton Lumsford	Rod Romulus
2017	Grace Helgemo	Johanna Villadarez
		Jason Cooper
2018	Taylor Wikoff	Bessie Conner-Switzer
2019		Zachary Catron
2020		Jennifer Peters
		Parker Williams

Barbershopper of the Year

The Suncoast Statesmen choose one of their members to receive the chapter’s prestigious Barbershopper of the Year award. The award recognizes the winner’s contributions to the chapter, contributions that go above and beyond simple membership. The award recipient is chosen by a three man committee made up of the chapter’s last three award winners. The award itself, a certificate mounted in/on a walnut plaque, is traditionally announced at the chapter’s annual installation dinner in January. Below is a list of award winners.

Congratulations to you all.

1990 Neil Plum

1991 None

1992 Bill Lucast

1993 None

1994 Paul Tiek

1995 Herb Liechty

1996 Dorsey Towner

1997 Herb Liechty

1998 New Newton

1999 None

2000 Alex Hughes

2001 Dick Wood

2002 Bud Gault

2003 Bud Gault

2004 Richard Cunningham

2005 Richard Lindsey

2006 Neil Plum

2007 Ken Pease

2008 Glenn Ferris

2009 Stu Pease

2010 Al Spencer

2011 Jack Cronkwright

2012 Rick Burns

2013 Gary Branch

2014 Chris Owens

2015 Glenn Ferris

2016 Richard Cunningham

2017 Jack Cronkwright

2018 Jack Fournier

2019 Ray Danley

Hall Of Fame

The Suncoast Statesmen Barbershop Hall of Fame was established by the action of the Suncoast Statesmen Board of Directors on January 8, 2012, as a means of bestowing recognition and honor to members for exceptional contributions that have enhanced the life blood of the Barbershop experience in Charlotte County, Florida.

Honorees are selected by majority vote of a three-man nominating committee selected by the current chapter President. Any living or deceased chapter member, with the exception of the current chapter President or member of the current nominating committee is eligible for nomination. There is no minimum or maximum limit on the number of inductees in any given year.

The award criteria used by the committee fall into general categories of music and administration/leadership. In music, judging, arranging, composing, chorus directing, coaching and singing are important. In administration/leadership. service as an officer, advisor and/or in planning, writing or editing are considered.

Below is a list of award winners. Congratulations to all our honorees.

Richard Lindsey

Lee Reser

Neil Plum

Bud Gault

Bill Lucast

Herb Liechty

Rick Burns

Frank Gracie

Ed Lewis

Gary Branch

Ray Danley

WELCOME

A CORDIAL WELCOME FROM OUR PRESIDENT

2026 Officers

Note: The 2026 Officers listed below were voted in early this year.

President - Jim (Curly) Wilson

Additional Board Members/Responsibilities

Quartets

Kathy's Klowns

Border Crossing

Due South

NEIL PLUM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

SUNCOAST STATESMEN
NEIL PLUM SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Barbershopper of the Year

Hall Of Fame

WELCOME

A CORDIAL WELCOME FROM OUR PRESIDENT

2026 Officers

Note: The 2026 Officers listed below were voted in early this year.

President - Jim (Curly) Wilson

Additional Board Members/Responsibilities

Quartets

Kathy's Klowns

Border Crossing

Due South

NEIL PLUM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

SUNCOAST STATESMENNEIL PLUM SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Barbershopper of the Year

Hall Of Fame

SUNCOAST STATESMEN
NEIL PLUM SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS