More than 650 men’s voices will join together for a Real Men Sing concert at Wartburg College Saturday, Oct. 6.

The concert, which begins at 5 p.m. in Neumann Auditorium, is open to the public as part of a one-day festival for male singers ranging from seventh graders through adults. Admission is $5, and doors will open at 4:30 p.m.

“The oldest participant is 80 years old,” said Dr. Lee Nelson, Wartburg choral director who organizes Real Men Sing, now in its third year. “We had about 150 singers our first year, 420 last year, and this year we are at 650-plus.”

Great Northern Union, an adult men’s chorus based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, is the festival’s guest artist group. Among the world’s top 10 barbershop choruses, Great Northern Union took second place in the 2011 Barbershop Harmony Society International Chorus Competition. Find samples of their harmony at http://www.youtube.com/user/GreatNorthernUnion12.

Guest high school ensemble is the Iowa City West Bass Choir, directed by Ryan Person.

The finale concert will feature a Grades 7–9/10 Festival Choir, directed by Bruce Phelps, and a Grades 9/10–Adult Festival Choir, directed by Nelson. Two Wartburg groups, Ritterchor, a men’s choir directed by Nelson, and Festeburg, a men’s a cappella group, also will perform. Dr. Brian Pfaltzgraff of the Wartburg voice faculty is a featured soloist on the program.

All festival participants will unite for the concert finale, Swing Down Chariot, arranged by The Vagabonds.