Who We Are
The Nor'easters Barbershop Chorus received their Charter (to operate as a chorus) from the Barbershop Harmony Society in 1966; thus 58 years of singing in the midcoast area and entertaining the community. Norman Duggan, a dentist in the Navy, started the Nor'easters and became their first Director. Other 'Charter members" included Ford Ross, "Goldie" Goldsberry, Arthur "Artie" Kiernan, Forest Caswell, Gib Russell and Jerry Purinton. There were others, but we haven't find that information yet. Norm's wife Jane, at the same time, started a women's chorus named the "Cora-Bells." Both choruses thrived with about 40 members!
Other directors over these 57 years included (not in this order): Norman Duggan (twice) Horace Libby, Cameron Smith, Dr. Kirk Barnes, Wolcott Hokanson, Jr. Orville Ranger, Virgil Ward, Arthur Small, Tom Cogan, Dennis Drobinsky, Erin ?, Renae & Tom Misner, Robert Turner, Brad Mitchell, Jay Wiley, Robb Sorenson and current director Kathy Robitaille. Norm was called to serve as a dentist in the Navy in both Viet Nam and Iceland, returning in between being called up, to be Director again!
The Nor'easters have held annual shows, originally called Parade of Harmony in various places including:
Pickard Theater, Bowdoin Campus, one of which was a fundraiser to fight against cancer
Brunswick High School Auditorium
Augusta Armory with other groups, a fundraiser for the youth of the Maine Indian Association for schooling expenses
Cumston Hall, Monmouth
Longfellow School, fundraiser with the Downeaster's Chorus in Portland for the new intensive care unit at the Brunswick Regional Hospital.
Mt. Ararat High School, Topsham
United Methodist Church, Brunswick
Chocolate Church, Bath
and other locations in the area
The Nor'easters currently have a fall show each year with various groups performing, wonderful song repertoire and a different theme each year. They have 23 members currently, with a handful being "snowbirds" who are with the chorus seasonally.
The Nor'easters formed a mixed Barbershop Chorus in 2019 called FairWinds, and have several women members from the area, including members of the Mainely Harmony (Harmony Inc.) Chorus in Randolph. Fairwinds currently has 20 members, many of whom sing also with the Nor'easters!
TRIVIA:
There were 47 members in 1967! A highlight for sure! The members over the years were very involved with the community in many ways, raising money, having fun with variety shows, entertaining the way the current Noreasters love to do.
In 1973, seven Barbershop Choruses existed in Maine:
Nor'easters Chorus, Brunswick
Downeasters Chorus, Portland
Pine Tree statesmen, Presque Isle
Androscoggin County Chorus, Lewiston, formed by Dave Mann and directed by Bob Turner
Yankeeland Chorus, Kennebunk
Windjammer Chorus, Rockland/Camden
Kennebec Valley Chordsmen, Waterville
Slowly we lost the choruses in Presque Isle, Lewiston, Camden and Kennebunk. There also was a chorus for years in South Paris, which folded several years ago. Those that still exist, bringing barbershop music to audiences are the Nor'easters, Downeasters, Maine-ly Music chorus in Bangor and the Kennebec Valley Chordsmen.
