Guest essay: Robert E. Dimond ... Chorus of the Everglades, a joyful noise to lovers of barbershop singing.

There's a new sound in town, and the music emanating from the Chorus of the Everglades is a joyful noise indeed to lovers of barbershop singing.

And while the group itself was formed just last year, its members are almost all veterans of the warm and fuzzy barbershop sound, many as part of similar choruses up North. About half of the Everglades' members return to their singing groups in Michigan and Illinois and other such destinations as part of their snowbird rituals each summer.

But while here, they are part of the 30-plus member Chorus of the Everglades that represents a band of singing brothers who have racked up more than 700 years of barbershop. Each who has reached various milestones holds official recognition of these vocal efforts from the national headquarters for barbershop singing groups, the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Jack Dichter, who sought out Everglades to sing barbershop during his winter stay here in Naples, says there is much more to such groups than the songs. "While all of us who join barbershop choruses love the close harmony it offers," he says, "ask any member and I'm sure he'll tell you that the fellowship of this kind of group is just as important as the singing."

Bart Plescia, who contributes 50 of those 700-plus years of experience to Everglades, is director of the chorus. He confirms that the friendships and social life play special roles in barbershop. "They may all be hooked on chords," he says, "but they also are caught up in the warm, friendly atmosphere that these groups foster."

To emphasize that point, Plescia relates that two elderly members of the chorus, who have spent a lifetime in barbershop, still attend every rehearsal, even though they have long since lost their voices, because they cherish the friendship and fellowship of the other singers.

Plescia's impressive history in barbershop lends the group instant credibility. He has sung, directed, coached and judged numerous choruses and quartets. One of those foursomes, the Hallmarks, placed in the top 10 internationally for three consecutive years. He has also directed choruses to four top awards in regional and international competitions.

Plescia is quick to deflect the significance of his role in the success of the Everglades, emphasizing that the experience and dedication of its members make it a pleasure to conduct. "A pleasure," he adds, "that is sometimes mixed with frustration, but that's the life of a director."

Besides the singing and the fellowship it spawns, the Everglades considers its work for charitable causes as one of its key goals. Last month, for instance, the chorus divided itself into three groups, each including all four singing parts, and launched exhaustive "pub crawls" to earn money for charity.

In total, the three oversized "quartets" sang at a minimum of 10 different eating and drinking establishments, raising funds at each. At the end of the exercise, the chorus was able to donate more than $3,100 to the Salvation Army. The chorus has also taken part in individual charitable events at churches and other nonprofits in its maiden year and will continue to do so.

Currently, Plescia is preparing the Everglades for its premier annual event to be held March 3 at Naples High School Auditorium. Titled "Radio Daze," it will be staged as an old-fashioned radio show, reminiscent of the real-life hit show that took its listeners to Lake Woebegone. "Daze" features a script by Bob Rancilio, who also sings bass in the chorus.

Frank Bates, who sings lead, is show chairman. His job is to make sure all of the pieces come together to make the show happen. "It's a total team effort," Bates says. "The guys have to sing the right notes, but everyone involved in all of the details leading up to the event must do their job properly for a successful show."

It will all come together to offer a program that will include some of the most well-known and loved barbershop songs of all time. The audience will be treated to the likes of "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Wait 'Till the Sun Shines, Nellie" and a George M. Cohan medley, as well as the touching numbers "I Believe," "When There's Love at Home" and "Let There Be Peace on Earth," among others.

In addition to the Everglades, the concert will also present the Fakahatchee Dixieland Band and a quartet, the Chairmen of the Chord.

Two performances will be offered, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $14 apiece; for more information or for tickets, call 239-250-4057. Tickets will also be available at the door.