If the familiar chorus of “Sweet Adeline” drifts into the quiet of Sheppard Memorial Library’s East Branch on a Monday evening, it’s because a “Brotherhood of Harmony” is singing barbershop behind the bookshelves again.

The choral group, consisting of 20-plus members, rehearses its lineup of barbershop lyrics in a small theater adjacent to the library. Enjoying steady growth over the last five years, the group has performed during numerous private and public events, including festivals, civic occasions and ball games from East Carolina University to Kinston.

Brotherhood of Harmony comprises the Greenville/Washington chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (Carolinas District), based in Nashville, Tenn. Membership is open to “men of goodwill who love to sing.”

“After an absence of a few years,” member Bartow Houston of Washington, N.C., says, “Brotherhood hopes to present an annual show, perhaps later (this year) or in 2011.”

Singing barbershop harmony is clearly a passion for members of Brotherhood. Their voices drift in and out, rising and falling under the energetic direction of Michael Vetrano, who serves by day as music director at St. Peter Catholic Church in Greenville.

The group performs standards like “Sweet Adeline” and “I’ll Fly Away” and gives a rousing rendition of “North Carolina is My Home,” penned by Charles Kuralt and Pitt County native Loonis McGlohon.

“This is a wonderful group,” Vetrano said. “There is a lot of fellowship and camaraderie to go along with the harmony.”

Barbershop singers always memorize their songs and sing a cappella. Performances are called “sing-outs” or “shows” instead of concerts.

Brotherhood member Danny Brew says barbershop groups are likely to sing anywhere, “whether you want to hear us or not.”

Brew and three sons-in-law traveled by train as a quartet a few years ago to attend an international competition for barbershop quartets and choruses in Salt Lake City, Utah. The group gave several impromptu performances on and off the train, one of which particularly echoes in Brew’s memory.

A woman on the train had been noticeably short with the attendants and other passengers, Brew said, until the quartet sang some songs for her mother.

“We sang a couple of hymns and barbershop songs,” he said, “and it absolutely turned this lady around. She was so nice the rest of the trip. ?EUR? It’s just one of those things where music does do something for the soul.”

Brotherhood of Harmony can be traced to the early 1960s. The group performed as Greenville Barbershop Chorus and the Pamilico Sound before changing its name to Brotherhood of Harmony.

Vetrano follows in the footsteps of earlier directors Charlie Stevens, Jim Vosburgh and Dr. Bob Hanrahan. He took over the position from Michael Stephenson of the Music Academy of Eastern Carolina.

Stephenson and Vetrano are credited with helping to grow the group’s membership after a few years of declining numbers.

Members Vetrano, Hanrahan, Jack Thornton and Don Wigent comprise the “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” quartet, which is preparing to support Brotherhood of Harmony’s major fundraiser: singing valentines.

“On Feb. 12 and 13, we will be delivering singing valentines,” Vetrano said. For a fee, the group will sing a few songs and deliver roses to sweethearts. Vetrano said the fundraiser provides a nice service while increasing the group’s visibility in the community.

For information about joining Brotherhood of Harmony, booking performances or hiring “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” for a singing valentine, call Michael Vetrano at 917-4021.

Contact Mark Rutledge at mrutledge@reflector.com.