Barbershop quartet 4 On Demand to sing at York Community Choir Festival

Members Peter Bryant, Nick Bryant, Calvin Laverick and Jamie Braham are all aged under 22, have strong ties to York and three out of four sing with the Spirit Of Harmony chorus.

Lead singer Peter Bryant grew up in Sheffield, studied Computer Science at the University of York and on graduating in 2016 he now lives and works in York. He discovered barbershop through his stepfather, an influential member of the British Barbershop Guild of Judges, and began his barbershop life with Hallmark Of Harmony in Sheffield before joining Spirit Of Harmony in 2013.

Baritone Nick Bryant, Peter’s younger brother, is in the final year of his A-levels and hopes to study Mathematics at the University of York from September. Like Peter, he started barbershop with Hallmark Of Harmony in Sheffield; he now sings with the Grand Central Chorus in Long Eaton and if he comes to York this autumn, he wants to join Spirit Of Harmony.

Bass singer Calvin Laverick grew up in the York area and is in the second year of his Politics and Social Anthropology degree at the University of Manchester. He found barbershop singing through his mother, Lisa, who encouraged him to join the National Barbershop Youth Chorus and later Spirit of Harmony. "His dedication is such that sometimes he travels to York just for an important rehearsal and he works as a cocktail master to fund his beloved hobby of barbershop," reveals Lisa.

Tenor Jamie Braham is the youngest member of one of the most illustrious families on the British barbershop scene. He lives in Normanton, near Wakefield, is studying for his GCSEs and has been a member of Spirit Of Harmony since 2012.

Formed in Summer 2015, 4 On Demand received the Novice Quartet Award in the national quartet championship in May 2016 when finishing fifth overall. Last October they won the silver medal in the quartet contest of the Irish national barbershop convention in Cork; in November they were crowned the youngest ever National Youth Quartet champions on their return to the national championships. "We're now planning our trip to Bournemouth at the end of May to compete in the national semi-finals and, should we qualify, the national finals," says Peter.

On April 1, 4 On Demand will be singing alongside representatives from Spirit Of Harmony at the York Community Choir Festival at 2pm, when Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate Choir, Jubilate Ladies Choir and Boroughbridge Community Choir will perform too.

Looking ahead, Spirit Of Harmony, an award-winning 60-man barbershop chorus from Boston Spa, near Wetherby, plans to move its base to York to attract new singers and form strong ties with the community. Before then, the York Community Choir Festival runs from March 29 to April 1.

The full festival programme and ticket details can be found at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk/events/