About Us
We are the MountainTown Family Chorus (MTFC), the thriving legacy of The Mountain Town Singers, a non-profit community group registered in the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). The mission of BHS is "to bring people together in harmony and fellowship to enrich lives through singing." -Barbershop Harmony Society
MTFC has a dedicated musical "tag", which is a short, vocal harmonization. Our Tag is called, "We Sing, Enjoy, Belong" -words by Kyle "Doc" Howard (MTFC Director) and Joe McDonald (MTFC President).
That is what this is all about. When we sing together, we enjoy being together, we feel that sense of belonging.
MTFC operates in a 8-week seasons basis. You commit to each new session as it comes along, as your schedule allows.
Our Family Chorus currently meets every Monday, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, locations are posted on the Events Calendar.
If you carry a tune and enjoy it, we invite you to sing with us in an upcoming season!
Want to learn more about Barbershop Harmony Society? We encourage you to spend some time at the website: www.barbershop.org
We also encourage you to read this awesome article written about our local group:
Mt. Pleasant group fosters friendships and fun through the power of music
Meet our Leaders
Kyle "Doc" Howard
Chorus Musical Director
For Doc, music is both a hobby and a career. In addition to his 33 years of classroom experience, from preschool to high school, Doc has also been involved in community bands, professional opera, barbershop choruses and quartets, pit orchestras, community theater, television, and has even appeared as a background extra for a major motion picture.
My parents were both musically gifted, and my older brother and sister are as well. It was only natural that I followed in the family footsteps. But when my sister was involved in a high school production of ‘Guys and Dolls’, I was hooked for life.
My first real barbershop experience came in college as part of a three school college event where barbershop quartets was one of the events. We won, but only because we were the only entrants. Sadly, it took me almost 35 years to find the BHS, and discover the real impact that this genre of music has to offer.
As the director of the MountainTown Family Chorus, I find the mixed joy of making great music with wonderful people, and also introducing first time barbershoppers to the craft. There’s no more rewarding experience than to watch a first time “shopper” ring their first chord.
Joe McDonald
Chapter President
Chorus Business Manager
Joe McDonald became a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society in 2005 and is a founding member of the Mt Pleasant Michigan Chapter. He has had a number of roles on the chapter leadership team since that time and has had a variety of district leadership roles as a director and executive positions.
He is currently a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society Board of Directors. He has served on city and township boards, been a school board president and a church leader. McDonald is self-employed as a residential design/build specialist.
He has been married to his wife Jennifer since 1978, has two adult children and five gran
Brenda Grettenberger
Chapter Secretary
Music is not part of my “day job”, other than to have it playing in the surgery room, or in the Jeep as I drive from farm to farm. However, music forms the backdrop of our lives. For me, it started with the radio playing in the barn as the cows were milked at the family farm. It continued through band in school and choir at church. It has influenced many years of dance classes in ballet, jazz and tap styles.
As a barbershop singer, I am a relative newcomer. My experience began at a concert in the summer of 2019 featuring barbershop quartets, the Mountain Town Singers and the newly formed Mountain Town Family Chorus.
As the concept of the Family Chorus was explained as a short time commitment (4-6 weeks) with 1-2 songs to learn, I felt it was something I could commit to doing. As I joined the Fall 2019 season of MTFC, I found something I didn’t even know I was searching for. I enjoy the friendship and comradery of the group, and the product we are able to produce and share with our audiences.