Phil DeBar is in his third tour a
s director of the Redwood Chordsmen having directed them from '92 to '94 and again from '97 to '99. A member of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) since 1975, he sang in his first quartet in a high school production of "The Music Man" in Syracuse, New York.
Phil graduated from Stanford University in 1978 with a BA in Political Science. While at Stanford, he directed the 14 man a cappella singing group The Mendicants. He also sang in the Stanford Chorale and Chapel Choir and played sax in Stanford's "marching?" band. After Stanford, he attended the University of Texas, graduating in 1980 with a MA in Public Affairs. While at UT, he was the assistant director of the BHS chorus Austin Chord Rangers. He also sang tenor for the division novice quartet champion Capitol City Statesmen. After college he directed and sang with numerous groups.
He was assistant director of the BHS Peninsulaires chorus from '81 to '87. The chorus won four division championships during that time and were 1982 international medalists. He sang baritone in 1984 with Chanticleer, a twelve man professional classical a cappella ensemble. In 1985 he sang baritone with Coast to Coast, BHS quartet, NorCal division champions.
Phil was the founder, producer, and host of The Human Voice, an a cappella vocal harmonies public radio program on KKUP-FM in San Jose, CA. from 1985 to 2004. During that time, he sang bass for the Foothill College Fanfairs vocal jazz sextet, three time winners of Downbeat Magazine's collegiate jazz ensemble awards from 1986 to 1988.
He was a founding music team member, assistant director, lead and baritone section leader, and auditioner for the BHS Pot 'O Gold chorus from 1988 to 1991 and later when they changed their name to Bay Area Metro chorus from 2002 to 2005. During that time, the chorus won eight division championships and was a four time international competitor.
Phil is a certified BHS judge in the singing category from 1992 to the present. He judges four division, district, or quartet prelim contests annually throughout the US, Canada, and New Zealand.
He has sung baritone with The Usual Suspects BHS quartet who were 1990, '91, and '92 NorCal division champions and Far Western District finalists. He also sang baritone with the Rad Dads BHS quartet, 1994 international quartet finalists and 1995 NorCal division champions.
Phil was co-founder, producer, and host of A Cappella Radio International, an hourly public radio program distributed by the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) from 1996 to 2004. He was the BHS International Contest audio/video internet webcast co-host from 2000 to 2004 and the SING! A Cappella Festival talent coordinator and associate producer in Nashville in 2001.
Phil was the founder, producer, and host of Human Voice Connections a cappella and vocal harmonies, a weekly public radio program from 1996 to 2002 on KRCB-FM. He sang baritone with Heirloom BHS quartet, 2003 NorCal Division champions. He was also the director of the Redwood Regionaires BHS chorus in 2004.
Phil currently resides in Santa Rosa, CA with his wife Jane and daughters Suzanna and Emily. He is a database editor, voice teacher, ensemble coach, and studio recording consultant and producer in his spare time.