But the club’s legacy will help a Warren Area High School graduate make her own melodies long into the future.

Often considered an American invention, Barbershop music had its roots in England. During the 1600s British barbers kept a guitar type instrument handy for their customers to strum while awaiting their shave and haircut. Customers became inventive and did things like fill candlesticks with coins to add percussive sounds to the mix. The resulting din was referred to as “barber’s music.”

A unique blend of these European and African-American musical styles, barbershop singing took hold in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. In 1938 the SPEBSQSA, more commonly known as the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) was formed and continues to preserve and extend the reach of what became a uniquely American close harmony musical art form.

Since its charter signing on June 28, 1947 the Warren, Pa., chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBQSA) was alive and well.

On behalf of the Conewango Clippers and in memory of 60 year member James Eldridge, Al Cappara presented Jadenne Fofana with a Music Scholarship marking both the end and a new beginning in music. Unable to attend the presentation was Gerald Knickerbocker, a 50 year Clipper member.

Following several years of dwindling numbers the difficult decision was made to dissolve Warren’s group, the Conewango Clippers, ending 78 years of a capella harmonies, shows and community involvement.

“Because the community has supported us all these years we would like to give back to the community, said Al Cappara, a Conewango Clippers’ member for 51 years,”

The few remaining members, not wanting to divide the chapter’s funds into small donations, collaborated and “kicked around some ideas” finally deciding it would be awarded as a music scholarship to a deserving Warren Area High School student entering college as a musical/musical educator major. Josh Vincent, Warren Area High School principal, was tasked with choosing the recipient.

Earlier this week Cappara presented Jadeene Fofana, a 2025 WAHS graduate, with the scholarship.

Fofana, a freshman at Houghton College in New York, will be majoring in vocal performance. Fofana, a singer/songwriter, said her love of music “began in the womb” and that she has been interested in music her whole life. Playing the guitar, solo and theatrical performances and participating in chorus at district and state levels are just a few of Fofana’s accomplishments to date. Aspirations of Broadway performing and independent singing and songwriting careers led to her decision to attend Houghton, which gave her a sense she would be afforded “expressive freedom” throughout her years in attendance.

The original framed paper charter of the Warren, Pennsylvania chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America dated June 28, 1947.