Merilyn Bryan - Baritone

Since I grew up in a family where some sort of music was always present, it should be no surprise that a pitch pipe was my teething ring. Of course I didn’t know about barbershop harmony until a tad bit later, but it makes a good lead-in story! My father was a charter member of the Elgin Minute Men with the men’s society so it was a natural transition for me to go from singing with my older sister around our piano, to having my first quartet in high school (and seven more to follow over the years) with the novel name of Teen-Tones, and joining my first of 13 Sweet Adeline chapters as I moved around the country over time. I guess I was a real Barbershop Brat. Harmony was a natural thing to me so it still comes as a surprise when people snicker if I sing my bari part alone. Hey, it sounds like a melody to me!

I have been involved in many facets of the organization over time, including quartet singer, certified director, founder of 2 choruses, coach for quartets and choruses, and Education Coordinator for Region #2 to name a few. In between I found time to continue my career as a sculptor, raise two children, Lisbet and Bill, work as an Interior Designer and design and draw up the architectural plans for our two homes.

I first met Sashay when they all joined Grand Traverse Chapter while I was the director and immediately recognized their talents. Little did I know what the future would hold. When asked to sing with Sashay, my husband Bill urged me to accept and has become our ardent supporter. So – here I am singing baritone with these other three Yahoos and loving every minute of it. I’d love to say I taught them everything they know but there are three of them and only one of me and I don’t lie well anyway.

I can’t imagine what wondrous things await us in our future, so get a move on Father Time!!