Order a Singing Valentine

Four unfamiliar guys dressed alike walk into your workplace. They’re on a mission, but their faces don’t look serious. They’re delivery men, of a sort, but they don’t have brown boxes. Instead, they’re equipped with a rose, a box of chocolates, and a pitch pipe. Even then these aren’t what they’re delivering. They’re delivering love.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and The Mainliners Chorus, like barbershop singers worldwide, are gearing up to deliver Singing Valentines across the area. It’s a classic scene - the arrival of the quartet, the surprise on the recipient’s face, and the crowding of interested coworkers - but one that’s still personal and heartfelt. “One time, we delivered one to a dental hygienist at my dentist’s office,” said Jeff Porter, president of The Mainliners Chorus, “She was just recently married. Once she was finished with the patient in the chair, we interrupted to do our thing. Everyone in the office rushed over to find out what was going on. They still talk about it every time I visit my dentist years later!”

For $75, the recipient receives a hand-delivered box of chocolates, a single rose, and a two-song serenade. “It’s so fantastic to be a part of delivering unforgettable experiences,” said Timar Quinn Shevlin, the director of The Mainliners Chorus, “People really cherish the memory of our performance forever, and that’s an incredible feeling.”

“The first reaction of a recipient is usually surprise and maybe embarrassment, but it is quickly followed by a smile, love, and appreciation for the friend or loved one who sent the Valentine, and for the barbershoppers for delivering it,” said Steve Haas, a member of The Mainliners Chorus for 58 years. “I have been doing Singing Valentines in quartets for over 25 years, and they are truly a blessing for both us in the quartets and the recipients.”

The Mainliners Chorus, a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, has been delivering Singing Valentines for the majority of the 62 years they’ve existed. Delivering Singing Valentines has been an annual tradition for most chapters of the Barbershop Harmony Society since its foundation in 1938.