Rich Lavene

Front-Line Director
2021 - Present
Sometimes in life the timing is just perfect, and you come across a guy whose experience, and passion are intersecting at exactly the right time.  This is our Director Ritchie Lavene.  You cannot be in a room with Ritchie for more than 5 minutes before you are sucked into his energetic vortex and are compelled to want to make the world a better place through Harmony and Song!

Ritchie comes to our chorus with over 40 years of Barbershop experience, having started Barbershop as a young child, he cannot remember his life without four-part harmony and the comradery of the men around him.  He has immersed himself in the culture, the music and the fellowship and exudes that with every stroke of his hand as he Directs.  He is also had the opportunity to travel around the Country and the World Coaching some of the highest-level groups and director’s spreading his joy and passion for the “hobby” (read: lifestyle)!

Ritchie has served on Barbershop schools, festivals, and competitions, around the country and the world, and participates in the leadership of our society.  He has judged at the international level multiple times.

Stephanie Brictson

2007 to 2021
Stephanie Brictson joined the chorus in 2007 as Assistant Director to her father, Chuck. Stephanie served as front line director from 2019 through 2021 and is now Director Emeritus. Successfully completing the Sweet Adeline Director Certification Program in 1999, Stephanie became a Master Director in 2012.

Music Education is high on her priority list and she does extensive coaching for both men's and women's barbershop quartets and choruses up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

She started her barbershop singing career in 1979, has sung in numerous quartets and choruses over the years, and is a four-time quartet champion tenor in Sweet Adelines Region 15.  Ask her the best part of her barbershop hobby and she'll tell you that it's sharing it with her father and two sons, the younger of whom is a member of The Bucks County Country Gentlemen.  Life doesn't get any better than that!

Chuck Lower

2004 to 2019
After over 35 years of directing and 11 years as director of Bucks County Country Gentlemen, Chuck Lower has retired from directing at the end of 2015. Chuck has led us on a campaign of singing well and improving our skill and craft, for which we are very grateful.

Chuck joined the Bucks County Country Gentlemen as Director in August 2004.  A Certified Director in the Barbershop Harmony Society, he previously directed the Lansdale and Abington choruses.  Chuck sang tenor in the 1998 District Champion quartet, Free Trade Agreement.

As a former singing judge, he served on the Singing Category Board of Review and sat twice on the International judging panel.  A member of the Barbershop Harmony Society since 1961, Chuck is a member of Delasusquehudmac, the Mid-Atlantic District honor chapter, and a member of the District Hall of Honor.  Currently, he serves the District as the Coaching Coordinator, as well as serving as a member of its Education Committee.  He is a retired college counselor and administrator.  Chuck's barbershop education continues every week, as he learns from his talented daughter Stephanie the finer points of coaching and directing.