So just who are these guys anyway?
We're glad you asked!
The Hartford Men in Harmony is made up men of all ages from all backgrounds. The ingredients we share are a love of harmony, fellowship, and curiosity to learn and continually develop our personal musical ability. Many of us entered this chorus not knowing how to read music, and some of us still don't know how to read music! And that's okay! We have found ways to learn together that anybody who enjoys singing can find accessible.
Our Vision:
To be an indispensable part of the greater Hartford performing arts community — artistically, educationally, and through our charitable efforts.
Our Mission:
The Hartford Men in Harmony is an all-male a cappella chorus serving the greater Hartford Area. We bring together men of all ages to share the joys of singing in barbershop harmony, to develop their musical ability, and provide entertainment and community service for audiences throughout the area.
Meet our team
Sebastian Massa, Director
Being the youngest member of the chorus has its perks, but Sebastian Massa brings plenty of vocal experience to the Music Team. A 2014 Fordham graduate in Music, Sebastian enjoys singing all styles of music. He directed a vocal jazz ensemble, The Fordham Hot Notes, from 2011 to 2014. Highlights from his tenure include being invited to sing with the New York Festival Chorus at the 2014 Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center. He also was a key figure in the Fordham University Choir and had the honor of singing at famed venues including Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, and many others.
Not to be overlooked, he’s been singing barbershop since 2009 (yes, since high school!) and attributes most of his vocal success to the barbershop art form. Sebby has competed with multiple quartets from Division level, all the way up to the International level. In 2012, his first quartet, the Timely Gents were among the top 20 youth quartets in the world. Currently, Sebby sings Lead in Greenlight Quartet. This foursome achieved a 7th place ranking at the International Youth Quartet Contest in 2018. Most recently, Greenlight won the Northeastern District championship with the fifth highest score in the history of District champions, which dates back to 1946. Finally, he has had the privilege of singing in prestigious venues with the quartet from Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA, to the AXIS Theater at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, NV, and even the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, UT.
Sebby’s main philosophy behind singing is that anyone who has the desire to sing and is willing to learn and work the craft can find success. He also believes we are much better people when we learn to sing together and that society is much better when all people learn that they have a voice and can/should participate!
Kevin Berstene, President
Kevin has been singing barbershop since 2016, thanks to the Director, who happened to be a section leader at the St. Mark the Evangelist church choir. As with most new singers in barbershop, Kevin got asked time and again to visit rehearsal until one day, he did! Turns out, he never left!
In addition to helping steer the Hartford Men in Harmony’s administrative efforts, Kevin also serves as the Bass Section Leader, and has sung in a couple Division level quartets, always with the aim of having fun, and learning something new in the process!
Outside of barbershop, Kevin is an IT wiz for the CREC schools in Connecticut and has a beautiful family with his wife Mary, and his two daughters.
George Burger, Director Emeritus (2007 - 2017)
After a decade of dedicated service to the Hartford Chapter, George hung up the pitch pipe as Musical Director in May, 2017. The Hartford Men in Harmony commend him for his leadership and thank him for his immense contributions to the artistic excellence of the chorus.