Midwinter Winners • Preview of Toronto Competitors

INSIDE: One annual District convention? • Midwinter winners • Preview of Toronto competitors

May/June 2013 Dive into the competition… and the Pacific Ocean

Honolulu, Hawaii • november 4-9, 2013

Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tor Johnson

Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Kirk Lee Aeder Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tor Johnson Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tor Johnson

Experience timeless beauty blending with the modern luxuries of today. Swim in the warm waters of world-famous Waikiki one moment, then enjoy the dramatic mountain views of the Nuuanu Pali Lookout another. Come for Convention for the world’s best barbershop performances; stay for vacation with your best friends.

Watch for more information about the Honolulu 2013 International Convention and Competition in the coming months through our webpage www.sweetadelineintl.org > News & Events > Honolulu 2013 International Convention.

You can also join the party on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SweetAdelinesIntl/events May/June 2013 VOLUME LXXIII NUMBER 2

HOW WAS MIDWINTER? Some said it was their favorite convention of all time. A heavy percentage of at- tendees were in Orlando for the Youth Chorus Festival, such as The 505 from Albuquerque. Amidst all the tagging and sunshine, there were some fantastic contests and unforgettable shows. Get the scoop. 20

Features

Getting the music in your head Only one annual district convention? 10 From Visions of Excellence: 25 great chorus directors 18 One size does not fit each district, so each can choose talk about how singers can learn music more quickly either two conventions or one in the spring or fall Compiled by Joe Cerutti Kevin Keller, chairman of Contest & Judging 16 Get ready for Toronto’s Contests! Seniors and Youth Chorus Nobody knows what’s going to happen in Toronto, but 22 See who competed in Orlando, both the over age 55 here are some groups expected to make their mark quartetters and the under age 30 chorus singers

On the Cover Departments A Barbershopper’s brain COVER BY EDDIE HOLT (WITH A BIG ASSIST FROM THE INTERNET) 2 8 THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE HARMONY HOW-TO 23K will harness volunteer power Increase choral rehearsal effectiveness by 50% 3 31 STRAIGHT TALK STAY TUNED Outside our “windows,” many need our help Bride’s surprise turns tables on Barbershoppers 5 Wichita has seen enough of Storm Front TEMPO 34 April 11 launches 75th Anniversary festivities MEMBER SERVICE DIRECTORY Check out the new barbershop.org Where to find answers 36 THE TAG “How Can I Keep from Singing”

May/June 2013 • The HARMONIZER 1 THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE Shannon Elswick, Society President • [email protected] 23K will harness volunteer power

reetings, barbershop friends! I hope you are enjoy- rich mix of skills and talents represented across our ing our 75th anniversary year, celebrating barber- membership, the possibilities are practically end- shop harmony anywhere and anytime you can. I less. can’t wait for Toronto! G As many of you know, my day job for more than Just pick up the phone 35 years has been healthcare. I am a hospital guy. How many volunteers does it take to make 23,000 In our hospitals, we have many volunteers. We phone calls (each one lasting about 20 minutes)? value and appreciate those volunteers and couldn’t A lot more than we have right now! The good do what we do without them. The Barbershop news is that our callers are recruiting more callers. Harmony Society is the same, with one significant Eventually, we hope to have an army of more than exception. In a typical hospital, we are fortunate 200 reaching out and touching our members. to have one volunteer for every 10 paid employees. Some of our callers like calling from the ran- In barbershop, we have thousands of volunteers dom lists in their area codes to get to know more already and about 30 paid staff members. Barbershoppers, and some are more comfortable calling people they know. The entire process is The origins of the 23K Task Force automated on a dedicated website, with reports In his Midwinter keynote address in 2012, “Mon- easily filed by the click of a button. All callers will tana Jack” Fitzpatrick passed out some hand- receive individual training and assistance. There painted placards displaying “23,800”—the will be two drawings for a VIP seat at the 2014 number of members we had that month Las Vegas International convention for callers of January, 2012. He challenged the board completing 120 calls. To get started with your own to recognize the impact those 23,000 po- personal interview, simply contact Montana Jack tential volunteers could have and asked at [email protected]. us to consider creating an army of them If you are called by one of our dedicated volun- to propel our Society to greater levels of teer callers, please be ready to tell them what you success. When I became Society would like to see “added, changed, improved or The team began president, I asked the board and deleted.” If you are not available when they call, the district presidents to join me please help out by returning their call promptly. building a data- in sponsoring and endorsing the We pledge to make reports available to all mem- 23K Task Force and asked Jack bers of the Society and keep you updated on the base to catalog life to take command of recruiting teams that are formed and what they accomplish. skills and talents that army of volunteers he spoke of so passionately. A number riddle you can solve and to also allow The task force originally con- Keith Eckhardt posed this riddle recently: What do members to voice sisted of Jack, Keith Eckhardt, the numbers 23,000 and 779 and 1,238 and 1 have in Bud Laumann and Eric Herr, common? The answer is you because you have the their opinions. The and they are still steering the power to change them. If you bring a new member goal is to eventually ship. Now there are many more in we’ll have 23,001. If you start a new chapter, volunteers who are raising their we’ll have 780. If you register a new quartet, we’ll call everyone—and hands every day. The team began have 1,239. And if you do any of those things, you building a database to catalog will be the 1 helping to grow our society. that is why we need life skills and talents and to also So, won’t you consider being the next “1” who your help. allow members to voice their steps up and sends that email to mtjack@bresnan. opinions … and then they just net to say, “Yes, Commander Fitzpatrick, I want to started calling! The goal is to eventually call every- join the barbershop volunteer army?” one! Isn’t that kind of audacious, you may ask? Yes, ’Shop ‘til you drop! it certainly is—and that is why we need your help. When the project is completed, we will know which members are willing to volunteer and what skills they have. Our leaders will be able to form specific teams to tackle targeted projects. With the [email protected]

2 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 STRAIGHT TALK Marty Monson, CEO/ Executive Director • [email protected] Outside our “windows,” many need our help n the months to come, we hope to take you on a ments—what do you recommend?” For many cho- journey about how the Barbershop Harmony So- ral directors, selecting music is one of their biggest ciety (23,000+ members, 762 chapters and 17 dis- constant challenges. How can the Society make it tricts) can make a difference in our global society. easy for more and more directors to find and per- ILike I stated in my Orlando Keynote speech, are form great barbershop arrangements? you looking out your window? As I attended a class called “Female Conductors of Male What’s in Marty’s Daytimer? ACDA meets the Barbershop Harmony Society Choirs,” I began thinking • April 5, SLD lead- I’d already had many conversations with non-Bar- about how the Society can ership meeting, bershoppers who are highly interested in making help a female director. Does Nashville our music part of their musical experience. she need help identifying • April 10, Chorus This increased signifi- repertoire? Or is America meeting, Nash- cantly in March when there a need to ville we attended the Ameri- help provide a male • April 11, Society Birth- can Choral Dir choral role model day celebration, Nash- ectors Association Na- to help demonstrate ville and New York City • tional Convention in the changing voice? April 12, Manhattan Dallas. How can we help? Concert Productions meeting, New York City Let’s look Stopping by Among other ac- • April 14, Society Board our booth were complishments, we out the win- conference call all types of choral walked away with • April 21, District Presi- dow and help directors who sing the contact informa- dents conference call non-Barber- barbershop in their tion of more than 60 • April 25, KraftCPA audit schools, churches music educators or meeting, Nashville shoppers get and commu- future music educa- • April 26, Choral Arts nity choirs. Many Kirby Shaw, Music Educator tors interested or a taste of our Adam Scott and me at ACDA Link, Nashville asked, “What new already engaged in • May 2-8, BABS Na- National Convention music without music can we bring our art form that tional Convention, Bour- back?” A church choir director said, were not previously in our nemouth, UK any strings at- “I have two male quartets that fill in Society database. Is that a vic- • May 10, Nashville tached for the Sundays our adult choir has tory for the Society that can’t Downtown Partnership off. They are looking for new arrange- be measured in membership? meeting, Nashville How do we ensure we remain • May 13, Belmont Univer- visible to these music educa- sity meeting, Nashville tors that want help? • May 13-14, External ar- Our “best kept secret” ranger meeting, Nashville is our music, right? Let’s • May/June 2013 May 19, District Presi- Volume LXXIII Number 2 change that by looking out dents conference call Complete contact info: pages 34-35 the window and helping non- The Harmonizer (USPS No. 577700)(ISSN 0017-7849) is the official publication of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Barbershoppers get a taste What is Marty reading? Singing in America, Inc., dba Barbershop Harmony Society. It is published in Janu- of our music without any • Road to Rel- ary, March, May, July, September and November at 110 7th Ave N, Nashville TN 37203-3704. strings attached. If we all evance, by Har- Periodicals postage paid at Kenosha, Wisconsin, and at additional mailing offices. encouraged another choir rison Coerver and Editorial and advertising offices are at the Society headquarters. or quartet to sing one of our Mary Byers, CAE Advertising rates available upon request at [email protected]. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. 6,000+ arrangements, how Postmaster: send address changes to editorial offices of The Harmonizer, 110 7th would that make you feel? What is Marty listening to? Ave N, Nashville TN 37203-3704 at least 30 days before the next publication date. • (Publications Agreement No. 40886012. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses Cheers, Ringmasters to: Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor ON N9A 6J5. E-mail: [email protected]) • Great Northern A portion of each member’s dues is allocated to cover the magazine’s subscription Union – Live In price. Subscription price to non-members is $21 yearly or $3.50 per issue; foreign subscriptions are $31 yearly or $5 per issue (U.S. funds only). Concert © 2013 The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop • Lunch Break – Life Quartet Singing in America, Inc. dba The Barbershop Harmony Society. Printed in the USA on the Farm (DVD)

May/June 2013 • The HARMONIZER 3 4 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 Music presses keep getting hotter Music Publications Editor Adam Scott doesn’t sleep much. When he’s not hunched over Finale working on the latest chart, he’s figuring out ways to get more barbershop sheet music into the hands of Barbershop- pers and more non-Barbershoppers. A few of his latest projects: • First-page preview: Now you can peek at the first page of almost every published arrangement in our catalog, so you can get a taste of what the chart looks and sounds like. Browse www.harmonymarketplace. com/sheetmusic and try a few measures for yourself. A Mighty Wind quartet performs in #1 • More timely music: Right now, while the new screen adaptation of Les Miserables is the hot ticket, put selling video game in North America these two crowd-pleasing arrangements from the show Technically, it’s the #1 and #2 video game in North Ameri- in your repertoire: “Bring Him Home,” a poignant ca (counting Xbox and PS3 titles separately), with a bigger prayer, and the show-stopping “Do You Hear the Peo- budget and bigger audience than many movie blockbusters. ple Sing?” Order today and add these songs to your fall And the makers of BioShock Infinite decided that nothing show. sets the stage for fantasy violence like good old barbershop harmony. The recently-released video game is an extensive, plot-heavy mystery/action drama that is set in a floating cloud city in an alternate-history America. Early on in the game’s plot, a flying barge floats past a picturesque, luminous city park while a quartet onboard (voiced by 2012 international medalist A Mighty Wind) clad in stripes and straw skimmers (sigh) billed as “Tomorrow’s music today” sings the Beach Boys’ hit “God Only Knows.” The anachronism of a 21st century quartet singing a 1960s song in a 1912 setting is intentional, part of the time-twisting storyline of this bloody first-person shooter. Get the game for your kids • Reaching out to top arrangers. The cream of a cappella only if they’re ready for decapitation, disembowelment, arranging met at Harmony Hall in Nashville on May and morally-dubious gameplay choices. Otherwise, just fol- 13-14. Pictured above: David Wright, Kirby Shaw, low the link http://bit.ly/mightywindvideogame to watch the Marshall Webb, Deke Sharon and Adam Scott. Top of quartet on YouTube. the agenda: How to get more non-barbershop groups singing more barbershop arrangements! KENOSHA HISTORY CENTER REMEMBERS 75 YEARS OF BAR- Now, if we could just get Adam back into a quartet ... BERSHOP HARMONY. The New Image Chorus of the Kenosha, Wis., chapter recently took advantage of the Society’s 75th anniversary to 23K army growing, needs your help create a showcase The 23K army still needs more callers. If your wife says of the Society and you’re a good listener, you’ll be great at this. Make a few chapter heritage phone calls to gather ideas from your fellow Barbershop- that includes origi- pers, and help make your Society stronger and more nal sheet music, responsive. chapter chorus and Volunteer callers can work at their own pace but must quartet photos, make a minimum of 2 calls per week. The length of barbershop memo- each call varies, with the average being 20 to 25 min- rabilia, books, lo- utes. Callers will work from questionnaire on a dedicat- gos, mugs, news- ed website, completing and filing each report on line paper clippings, Contact “Montana Jack” Fitzpatrick at mtjack@ show programs, bresnan.net for logon information and complete instruc- their chapter char- tions. Callers who successfully complete 120 calls with- ter, the history of in the first six months of the program will be entered Harmony Hall and into a drawing for a VIP registration at the Las Vegas even an old pitch pipe. The exhibit runs through June 2013; International convention. stop by while travelling to Toronto. n

May/June 2013 • The HARMONIZER 7 Getting the music into your head

The practices of 25 acclaimed directors*, from Chapter 7 of Visions of Excellence

out their effort over the whole song just yet. Each Describe how your chorus learns week one of the excerpts is to be learned—off the paper, contest-ready level of preparation. On the last new music and what techniques week, the whole song is distributed and the rest is usually learned very quickly and easily. This requires and technologies you might em- a little more advance planning, but has proven to be ploy to assist your members. a very effective technique for us. Dr. Ben Ayling (Ohio Northern Univer- Steve Armstrong (Toronto Northern sity). I focus on teaching all of my Lights). We always use high-quality choruses to read music. It just isn’t that learning tracks. The music and tracks difficult to do. A little time to learn are distributed usually two or three the basics will give one a lifetime of weeks in advance of when the chorus understanding and musicianship. You know the old will start rehearsing them, and the guys are expected adage: give a man a fish vs. teach a man to fish. At to have done a reasonable amount of preparation be- the same time, when we have wildly diverse levels of forehand. We don’t spend time at rehearsal teaching reading ability, the great equalizer is to have learning notes, but of course time is spent correcting notes and media available for individual practice or study. In rhythms that haven’t been learned quite right. For some instances, I’ll create midi files with the parts complicated contest songs, we will often identify four being played for the member to learn his notes on his or five of the most challenging excerpts (8-12 bars own. Other times I’ve used a variety of learning media each) and distribute the music and tracks (slowed providers including TimTracks, Gary Lewis Press, down) for just these excerpts when introducing and Deej Productions. I most often work toward the the song. We’ll play the whole song for the chorus very best in singing models for my singers with high at rehearsal so they know what the final product quality learning tracks being my highest priority. sounds like, but we don’t distribute it until after we’ve learned the excerpts as we don’t want guys spreading * Not all currently direct the listed chorus for which they may be best known

10 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 Jim Bagby (Heart of America Chorus). three quarters of our membership have a song learned in With today’s technology, one would be those first two weeks. There are the stragglers who trail foolish not to provide members with along to the last minute, but in general there’s a lot of quality learning media. In the “old days,” peer pressure to learn the song. There are a lot of quartet I thought nothing could beat the teaching and octet and VLQ activities in our chapter meetings us- quartet method. Then I’d mix in a sight-reading experi- ing the repertoire songs or Polecats to reinforce learning ence and a rote-reading (Bob Johnson “tu-tu-tu”) method notes and being able to perform in a smaller ensemble. for variety. Then came cassettes, and our section leaders stood in a square and made their own part-predominant Joe Cerutti (Alexandria Harmonizers). We tapes that we dubbed and distributed to the chorus— have learned music in many different probably illegally. Then we got the machinery to make ways, depending on how much time we quality CDs in the studio of one of our chapter quartet have to learn a song and what technol- members (Mark Fortino of 12th Street Rag). I (or the ogy we have available to us. I would say director of the song) would stand in the middle of four that fewer than 50% of our chorus can read music, so microphones and direct the real/intended interpretation learning tracks are vital to our progress. We also use an while the section leaders not only sang the parts, but overhead projector to project the music during the first got to go back and fix all the boo-boos. Voilà, perfect few weeks of the learning process. We have utilized CD part-predominant CDs that we could send as mp3 files players and split into sections and listened to a track a to the members! Suddenly, we had 80-year-olds sitting at few times with the goal to come back into the room and their computers, delighted to be learning their music at be able to sing it. We have utilized the quartet method home at their own pace, holding the spots and listening of teaching a new song. to their part—or singing their part while listening to the I also developed a 5-week method of learning a song other three, or whatever combination they chose. Guys that caters to a chorus with accomplished singers who like me learned ALL their music driving. Wow. And, learn quickly and new singers who take more time to of course, for our contest tunes, we could order Society learn a song. This process has been proven successful by tracks from any of the wizards who do it. Or we could many chapters of varying qualities. It is as follows: contract with one of them for a special arrangement, as • Week 1: (Note: Prior to week one, all sheet music and we do on occasion. analysis thereof, learning tracks, and licenses have been acquired.) An announcement is made that the music Peter Benson (Great Northern Union). and learning tracks for “Song” are available electroni- Here’s a summary of our latest procedure cally and, for those who request it from the librarian that seems to be working: in hard copy, at rehearsal. 1. Week 1-2: receive music and learning • Week 2: Nothing is done during this week. This tracks for private learning. week is offered as extra time, for those who need it, 2. Week 3-4: introduce song to the chorus and have to become more acquainted with the music on their regular sectionals. own time. This allows your slower learners more time 3. Week 5-6: memory tests during sectionals (groups of to spend on their own with the learning tracks and three or four perform the song for section leaders and your faster learners the luxury of not having to drag the rest of the section to qualify for riser readiness). though the run-through 4. From that point on, only “passed” guys stand on the of the song in rehearsal. risers during work on that song. Others are welcome • Week 3: We sing the to sing, standing on the sides. song through three times This has worked well for us. There has been a healthy in a row with music and sense of peer pressure to get music learned without any pencil in hand without kind of intimidation. any stopping, comment-

Ron Black (Heart of Texas Chorus). I use When he was 2010-11 learning tracks almost exclusively and chairman of the Society’s we use a method similar, if not almost Chorus Director Develop- exactly, to what Jay Giallombardo uses ment Committee, Joe to learn music; the repetition of note Cerutti (above) inter- learning and word learning in separate segments is a viewed 25 distinguished tried-and-true method of learning. We try to learn a barbershop directors on new song every two months, six songs a year, and we 20 topics. The results are spend an hour the first time that song is introduced to now available in this new allow a high degree of original learning. The learning book, Visions of Excel- tracks and chart may have been published several weeks lence. Purchase it for before that, but we will still go through it in detail. We’ll $19.99 at harmonmarket- use that learning method for 30 minutes on that song place.com (item #206726) the next rehearsal. We find that, in general, well over or call 800-876-7464.

May/June 2013 • The HARMONIZER 11 PHOTOS THIS PAGE: LORIN MAY L-R: Musical Island Boys have two silvers and the highest qualifying score. The Northern Lights are keeping mum about possible big surprises on their home turf—but will anything be enough to surpass record-scoring Westminster Chorus?

Quarterfinals order of appearance 1. The Real McCoy 2. Lemon Squeezy Get ready for Toronto’s contests! 3. Via Voice 4. Vocal Edition 5. On Air Anybody’s guess in quartet contest. Just a little Vocal Project (chartered in 2012!). 6. Momma’s Boys more than two percentage points separate the Past medalists who skipped 2012 are back. Back 7. Bravo! four quartets with the highest qualifying scores in the hunt this year after sitting out 2012 are 8. Velvet Hammer (Musical Island Boys, Masterpiece, A Mighty the Alexandria Harmonizers, The Northern 9. Sterling Wind, Main Street). Perhaps most sur- Lights, and Sound of the Rockies. All placing 10. Chameleon prising to the top mix is Da Capo. in the top five in 2011, they will no doubt 11. Majestyx Last year’s 15th-place finishers cur- bring a high-powered performance to the 12. Vocality rently have the fifth highest qualify- stage. And returning to competition this 13. Q-Tones ing score going into Toronto. year after the champ hiatus are those young 14. Surround Sound The top ten may see dudes from Westminster, Calif., 15. Quantum If you can’t be there, catch the the return of groups like the Westminster Chorus. Want 16. BoomTown webcast at www.barbershop.org 17. Ebb N’ Flow Via Voce, Forefront, and to see what they’ve been up to 18. Premium Blend Throwback, while other quartets like The since winning in 2010? Just go to youtube.com and 19. 4.0 Crush, Lemon Squeezy, ’Round Midnight, watch their videos. In fact, watch any of these fine 20. Instant Classic Artistic License, and The Allies choruses’ videos. Then come to Toronto 21. County Line are all vying to make the Masterpiece ready to cheer on more than 1,500 com- 22. ½ Ton Pickup jump into the ten. And we petitors as they cross the stage! 23. Musical Island Boys can’t wait to welcome back College contest will be a shootout. 24. Common Core to the stage a sorely-missed- Even more wide open is the college con- 25. Frank the Dog in-2012 Lunch Break. test, with fewer than 2% points separat- 26. Artistic License They for sure are looking to ing SNOBS front-runner Lallerstedts 27. GQ give up their annual owner- (Just in: The New- 28. The Crush ship of 11th-place mic tester fangled Four from 29. Shaken, Not Stirred for a jump into the 10. Will FWD just took over 30. Main Street this be their year? As far as we’re with a 78.3%) from 31. Da Capo concerned, it’s year! the seventh highest 32. Full Effect anybody’s qualified, CSD new- 33. Decades A lot of new choruses. 34. 95 North The chorus competition A Mighty Wind comer The Brover- 35. The Party will welcome some fresh tones. Throw in the 36. The Society faces to the stage this fact that you have your 37. The Con Men year, starting with the current JAD Champion The Con 38. Masterpiece mic tester from German- Men and current ONT Champion 39. A Mighty Wind town, Tenn., RSVP. ’Shoptimus Prime (both competed 40. Steel These guys just char- Main Street in last year’s international contest as 41. Up All Night tered in 2011 and have well), and this contest could 42. Hot Air Buffoons their first appearance on the be the most nail-biting one 43. Throwback big stage just two years later. Also we’ve seen in the 22 years 44. After Hours new to the stage this year, or back of the collegiate contest! 45. Rubicon after a long hiatus, are the Voices Don’t miss Tuesday night in 46. ‘Round Midnight of California (formerly American Toronto, as the best of our 47. Forefront River Chorus), Duke City Sound, youth show that they can 48. Lunch Break Men of Independence, Great Da Capo ring chords just as well as 49. The Allies Plains Harmony, and Palmetto any of the “big boys”! n

16 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 2.25 x 2.375

‐Feeling vocally fatigued? ‐Seeking that extra edge? Swipes ‘n’ Swaps ‐Time to sharpen the singing saw? ‐Ready for lessons with results? “New director” ads are free in The Harmonizer (first 50 words) to Society chap- Take lessons from ters. Send to [email protected]. vocal pedagogue Steve Scott ‐ melding DIRECTOR WANTED SCIENCE and ART in The Heart of Carolina Chorus is search- concise, fun voice ing for a new director. If interested and in the lessons with results. Raleigh/Durham area contact Matt Gorman at [email protected]. Lessons taught via Skype or FaceTime The Upper Canada Chordsmen Chorus www.singwithscience.com (Sharon, Ontario) is looking for a Music Director and an Assistant Director. We are a 20-year-old growing chorus that is the only men’s barbershop harmony chorus in York Region, which has a huge casualuniforms.com population within a short drive. We enjoy doing regular performances, assisting at community events, the fellowship of friends 1-800-591-7063 and having fun together. We would prefer www.casualuniforms.com an experienced director that knows the barbershop style but will provide training opportunities for someone that is willing to learn. Compensation is negotiable. Join us and help us grow our dynamic chorus. Con- tact: 289-648-6300 or www.uccchorus.com

May/June 2013 • The HARMONIZER 17 One size does not fit all Districts now have the option to host only one annual convention, spring or fall

Basis for expanded options later approved by the Society Board in March, 2013. For many decades, each Society district has hosted, It is effective immediately. at minimum, both a spring and fall convention. To qualify for our International contests, choruses have Districts now have the option of one convention competed in the fall and quartets in the spring. If a district desires to continue hosting two conven- If you have been around the Society for a while, tions a year, there is no change. For those districts you have seen participation and attendance in these that are struggling to have two successful conven- contests and conventions decline. Compared to 10 tions a year, District leadership may elect to conduct years ago, 20% fewer choruses are participating in one convention a year, either in the fall or spring. fall contests, for a total of 33% fewer men on stage. The district’s participants at the International and Those are sobering numbers. With less attendance Midwinter contests will be determined from that F(and less revenue) in addition to rising costs to host single contest. A district can change its mind annu- a convention, the ability for many districts to host ally about whether to have one or two conventions financially successful conventions becomes more and and whether it is in the Spring or Fall. See the table more challenging, especially for smaller districts. Dif- for details on how all International qualifiers will be ferent solutions have surfaced that amount to “one determined. size fits all.” However, what works for one district may not work well for another, so none of these past Addressing real-world implications proposed solutions have been adopted. Now, lest there be an uprising, this proposal also ad- In Nov., 2012, the Society Board asked the Con- dresses many of the aspects we enjoy about the dual test & Judging (C&J) committee and the Society contest set-up. Operations Team to investigate potential changes District quartet championship. In districts that to our current convention model. Earlier that year, choose to host only one annual contest, quartets Kevin Keller C&J had studied a variety of potential changes in competing for the district championship would ap- 2012-2013 Society anticipation of being directed to propose changes. pear on the same competitive stage as past district Contest & Judging Committee Chair A plan was developed, presented and discussed. It champion quartets who are competing for an interna- [email protected] was approved by the District President’s Council and tional qualifying score. Some question whether this

18 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 OYA! is a year-round youth chorus from Ontario Best ever? A picture is worth a thousand words

Doubletake

What was this year’s Midwinter convention in Orlando like? An international champion quartetter called it “quite possibly my favorite convention ever” during an online discussion. Many agreed and exchanged their Faces for Radio favorite memories—and hardly a single story involved something that happened on stage! Besides the casual pace and the tagging that went late into the night every night, January’s Midwinter Convention in Orlando featured full show sets from all of the 2012 international medalist quartets and collegiate champ, a whole chorus of past seniors Wchampions, and the first performance from The Gas House Gang in years. Some of the action even involved judges! We got a new Senior champion as well as an all-day festival featuring 19 choruses that had an average age well south of 25. There were simply too many stories to tell, either under the bright lights or on one of the Joe Liles leads the Association of International Stacked Deck massive facility’s endless stairwells. If a picture’s worth Seniors Quartet Champions Chorus a thousand words, here’s a book.

TMI In a one-time show, fellow performers Crossroads and The Buzz applaud The Gas House Gang in their first show in seven years

Trade Secret

Background Photo: Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, luxuri- ous site of the 2013 Midwinter Convention.

Seniors competitor photos by All the quartetters who won hardware in Portland last summer Miller Photography. Other pho- performed full show sets over the course of two evenings tos page 20-21 by Lorin May

20 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 2013 International Seniors Competitors

1. Border Patrol (ONT) Ron Mason (Br), Bob Fuest (L), Al Baker (Bs), Bobby Gibson (T) Contact Al: 289-768-0257, [email protected]

2. Faces 4 Radio (MAD) 3. Doubletake (FWD) Bob Bristow (T), Brad Brooks (L), Jeff Winik (Bs), Mark Sanders (Br) Chuck Landback (Br), Gary Bolles (L), Bruce Morgan (Bs), Les Dergan (T) Contact Mark: 610-385-7166, [email protected] Contact Gary: 702-998-0656, [email protected]

4. The Matinee Idols (JAD) 5. Stacked Deck Rod Nixon (Br), Dan Trakas (T), Al Downey (Bs), Kirk Roose (L) Freddie Braswell (T), Ron Montgomery (L), Tom Cain (Bs), Jim Cain (Br) Contact Rod: 440-320-8557, [email protected] Contact Tom: 205-871-9989, [email protected]

22 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 2013 Youth Chorus Festival Participants (By order of appearance)

1. Die Heart Acafellas • Rocky Mountain District • Directed by Chelsea Asmus

2. Savannah Storm • Savannah Arts Academy, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Ga. • Jeremy Conover

3. Boom Town Chorus • Far Western District, Santa Fe Springs 16. HeartChapter, of America Westminster • Kansas Chapter, City, MO CA (CSD) • Joey • David Buss Krause

4. The Foothills17. Central Sound Standard Powell • MetroHigh School, Kansas Tenn. City, •MO Jim (CSD) Kennedy • Mike & NeffLee Franks

18.5. G2OChorus Chorus of Chesapeake • Fall River •Chapter, Dundalk, Mass. MD (MAD) • Tony • RickBenevides Taylor

May/June 2013 • The HARMONIZER 27 2013 Youth Chorus Festival Participants (By order of appearance)

Plateau A champ • Superior rating

6. Ontario Youth a Cappella Chorus • Ontario District • Jordan Travis & Shawn Oakes

7. Citrus County, FL Youth Chorus • Crystal River High School and Citrus High School, Fla. • Fran Donohoe

8. Cleveland Heights16. Heart Barbershoppers of America • Kansas • Cleveland City, MOHeights (CSD) H.S., • David Ohio Krause • Craig McGaughey

9. Georgia17. Central Spirit Standard • Atlanta • MetroMetro Chapter,Kansas City, Ga. •MO Clay (CSD) Hine • &Mike Tim Neff Brooks

10. 52eighty18. • Chorus Denver of Mile Chesapeake High Chapter, • Dundalk, Colo. • MD Jay (MAD) Dougherty • Rick & Taylor Andy Jaramillo

28 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 2013 Youth Chorus Festival Participants (By order of appearance)

Superior rating

11. The Young Guns • Southwestern District • Manny Lopez

12. Harmony 2 Go • Land O’Lakes & Evergreen Districts • Joshua Ulriksen

13. Tri-Star • Mid-Atlantic District, 16. HeartDapper of AmericaDans of Harmony• Kansas ChapterCity, MO • (CSD) Dave •Ammirata David Krause

14. University Blue • Florida State College at 17.Jacksonville, Central Standard Fla.; •Darton Metro College,Kansas City, Ga. •MO Dr. (CSD)Tim Workman • Mike Neff

Plateau AA champ • Superior rating

18.15. Chorus The Recruits of Chesapeake • Central • Dundalk,States District MD (MAD) • Jonny • Rick Moroni Taylor

May/June 2013 • The HARMONIZER 29 2013 Youth Chorus Festival Participants (By order of appearance)

Superior rating

16. Mountain West Voices • Brigham Young University • Stephen Dugdale

Plateau AAA champ • Superior rating

17. HD Chorus • Sunshine District • Alex Rubin

18.16. Capital Heart ofForce America • Alexandria • Kansas Chapter, City, MO Va. (CSD) • Anthony • David Colosimo Krause

Superior rating

17.19. Central The 505 Standard • Bernalillo • Metro County Kansas Chapter, City, MON.M. (CSD) • Tony • Mike Sparks Neff

Plateau A = average age less than 19 Plateau AA = average age 19-21.99 Plateau AAA = average age 22-24.99

30 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 BASEBALL SEASON MEANS NA- TIONAL ANTHEM SEASON, and most stadiums, arenas, hippodromes, amphitheaters (you name it) are looking for groups to sing the National Anthem. Many slots are taken up before the season starts (get started on next year, too), but many gigs may still be available. Get a group of guys together (prefer- ably with singing skills) record 90 seconds of the National Anthem (you’ll be a shoo-in if you know both the U.S. and Canada anthems), re- search baseball stadiums, arenas, The Pretzel City Chorus (MAD) of Reading, Pa. performs the National etc. and send it to the appropriate Anthem at the Philadelphia Phillies vs. the St. Louis Cardinals baseball party. Read the Nov/Dec 2003 issue game on Aug. 10, 2012. of The Harmonizer for more tips at www.barbershop.org/harmonizer. n CHAPTER ETERNAL Society members reported as deceased between Jan. 1and April 15, 2013. E-mail updates to [email protected]. Cardinal Alex Williams Frank Thorne Hills, PA Chip Proshek Natick, MA Pioneer eral, FL Terry Graham Greater Knox- Ernest Smith William Carlson Minnetonka, MN Francis Heiligmann Dale Bekker Bud Casey Seymour, IN ville, TN Frank Thorne Pittsburgh Metro Boston, MA Holland, MI Martin - St Lucie, FL James Spurling Charles Carr Mid-Atlantic Fernand Labrie Willard Borton Walter Costello Central Evergreen Tucson, AZ Marion, OH Manuel Brahen Springfield, MA Rochester, MI Central Florida, FL States Richard Bennett Kenneth Taylor Don Fultz Abington-Levit- Mitchell Paradis Dennis Dakin Robert Durgin John Boehm Victoria, BC San Luis Obispo, Lima Beane, OH town, PA Kentville, NS Rochester, MI Sarasota, FL St Louis Suburban James Buller CA Steve Hanrahan Ronald Hoke David Parsons Dan Davey Darryl Emmel Jay Bond Spokane, WA Eliot Wirt Greater Kanawha Hanover, PA Kentville, NS Detroit-Oakland, MI Polk County, FL Wichita, KS Jack Ellis San Francisco Valley, WV R. David Mittelstadt Hershel Pesner John Essenburg Harold Fratz Myron Haines Spruce Grove, AB Bay Cities, CA Huntington Tri- Montclair, NJ Burlington, VT Holland, MI Naples/Fort My- Kearney, NE Lorne Fuller State, WV Ocean County, NJ South Shore, QC Jerry Hammond ers, FL Jan Jandebeur Victoria, BC Illinois Ken Hinchee Morris County, NJ Gwyn Phillips Saginaw Bay, MI Raymond Harrington Mason City, IA Art Hammond John Boland Akron, OH William Norris Kentville, NS Flint, MI Polk County, FL Dan Kelley Victoria, BC Sterling Rock Spike Hudson Patapsco Valley, MD Peter Polan Austin Quinn Sebring, FL New London, IA Harald Haynes Falls, IL Akron, OH Terence Porter South Shore, QC Detroit-Oakland, MI Edward Moran Muscatine, IA Seattle, WA James Crane III Richard Little District of Columbia Robert Ranno Pontiac- Sarasota, FL Clifford Knox Gerald Hovland Northbrook, IL Newark, OH Harry Taylor Central, CT Waterford, MI Richard Potts Overland Park, KS Bozeman, MT Stewart Crockett Jesse McGee Wilkes Barre, PA Manchester, CT Merle Schultz, Jr. Frank Thorne Bill Loewen William Johner Elgin, IL Pittsburgh North Urban Weiss Rochester, MI Bob Romaine Central Kansas, KS Victoria, BC Dick Johnson Hills, PA Rahway Valley, NJ Carolinas Pensacola, FL Joe Millspaugh Roger Latreille Northbrook, IL Gerald Ransom Robert Garver Rocky Francis Valenti Frank Thorne Victoria, BC Will-Cook, IL Greater Kanawha Northeastern Hilton Head Mountain Martin - St Lucie, FL Richard O ‘Dell Hugh Watson James Kraatz Valley, WV Rodney Allen Island, SC Stan Back Harry Williamson Kansas City, MO Victoria, BC Champaign Ur- Don Spurlin Hartford, CT Ronald Hettinger Albuquerque, NM Frank Thorne John Ostermeyer bana, IL Maumee Valley, OH Springfield, MA Spartanburg, SC Leslie Sayles William Zern, Jr. St Charles, MO Frank Thorne Coles County, IL Robert Williamson Manchester, CT Chuck Norberg Albuquerque, NM Palm Beach Leslie Sayles Jacob Eckhardt Emil Marcotte Middletown, OH Donald Beinema Pinehurst, NC Jules Selano County, FL Kearney, NE Frank Thorne Will-Cook, IL Providence, RI Paul Parker Denver Mile Edgar Walter Ruettiger Land O’ Lakes Raymond Benoit Wilmington, NC High, CO Southwestern Sundermeyer Far Western Will-Cook, IL Russell Foris Schenectady, NY William Barton Kansas City, MO James Davis Charles Schuetz Greendale, WI Bruce Chevalier Ontario Seneca Land New Braunfels, TX Las Vegas, NV Northbrook, IL Wayne Greenlee Natick, MA Darryl Emmel Plummer Collins Danny Colgrove Dixie Paul Ivanick Robert Williamson Polk County, WI Robert Chieffo Sarnia, ON Warren, PA Dallas Metro, TX George Booth South Bay, CA Chicago Metro Jerome Hick Poughkeepsie, NY Robert Pyper Gerald Danaher Norman Fischer North East Ten- Long Beach, CA St Cloud, MN Joseph Cottreau Grimsby, ON Mohawk Valley, NY Liberal, OK nessee Jack McPhillips Johnny Carl Jacobson Dartmouth, NS Toronto, ON John Maracle Paul Sprehe Gary Hunter Sacramento, CA Appleseed Willmar, MN Robert Davies Jules Selano Rochester, NY Oklahoma City, OK Roswell, GA Nevada-Placer, CA Stanley Allenby Frank Kujawa New Haven, CT Greater Toronto Bud Oden Central Cities, OK Kenneth Martin Jack McPhillips Northcoast, OH Windom, MN Peter Delehanty Toronto, ON Grove City, PA Don Spurlin Central Alabama Folsom, CA Donald Boyd Roger Peterman Troy, NY Kenneth Wignall Houston, TX Charlie Rittenhouse Robert Neiman Lima Beane, OH Wausau, WI John Donovan St Catharines, ON Sunshine Douglas Welch Marietta, GA Frank Thorne William Carlson Russell Pettis Beverly, MA Bruce Bashford Houston, TX Roswell, GA Mitchell Paradis Pittsburgh North Minneapolis, MN Lee Duval Greater Canav-

May/June 2013 • The HARMONIZER 33 MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTORY How can we help you barbershop today? Get answers from your staff Society Headquarters 110 7th Ave N • Nashville, TN 37203-3704 • 800-876-7464 (SING) 615-823-3993 • fax: 615-313-7615 • [email protected] Office hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central or any time atwww.barbershop.org  Executive Offices Rick Spencer Marty Monson Director of Operations/COO Executive Director/CEO 4123 • [email protected] Board of Directors [email protected] President Patty Leveille Membership Service Center/ Shannon Elswick • Clermont, FL Executive Assistant/HR/Office Manager Harmony Marketplace 407-948-9599 2630 • [email protected] Charters, licensing, dues, fees, renewals, [email protected] Harmony Marketplace orders Ashley Torroll Administrative/Finance Assistant Caki Watson Executive Vice President 4118 • [email protected] Service Center Manager Don Fuson • Leawood, KS 4137 • [email protected] 913-897-0625 Lorraine Seta [email protected] Office Support & Receptionist Jennifer Lockhart Service Center Representative 4114 • [email protected] 4144 • [email protected] Treasurer Douglas Gordon Michelle Hankins Dwayne Cooper • Austin, TX Office Support & Receptionist Service Center Representative 512-288-2851 4114 • [email protected] 4145• [email protected] [email protected] Education and Services Jacqueline Robinson Mike O’Neill Service Center Representative Immediate Past President Music Educator & Harmony University 4113 • [email protected] Alan Lamson • Manchester, CT 4126 • [email protected] Michele Anderson 860-647-9523 [email protected] James Estes Service Center Representative Music Educator & Youth in Harmony 4129 • [email protected] 4124 • [email protected] Executive Director/ Events Board Secretary Adam Scott Dusty Schleier Marty Monson Music Educator & Music Publications Meetings & Conventions Manager 800-876-7464 4125 • [email protected] 4116 • [email protected] Sherry Lewis Clarke Caldwell • Nashville, TN Education Coordinator Communications (Ex Officio, Harmony Foundation) 4122 • [email protected] Lorin May [email protected] Marketing Team Lead Finance and Administration Editor The Harmonizer Heather Verble 4132 • [email protected] Director, Finance/CFO Board Members at Large Becca Grimmer 4133 • [email protected] Social Media & Communication Specialist Rick Ashby • Lititz, PA Jama Clinard 4120 • [email protected] 717-625-2945 Finance Controller/Accountant [email protected] Eddie Holt 4134 • [email protected] Website & Social Media Web Developer Gerry Borden • Abbotsford, BC Nick Fotopoulos 4140 • [email protected] Information Technology Programmer 604-850-0789 4141 • [email protected] Aaron Johnson [email protected] Producer - Audio/Video Sam Hoover 4139 • [email protected] David Calland • Worthington, OH Information Technology PC & Server support 614-859-2554 4142 • [email protected] Brian Lynch 75th Anniversary/Public Relations [email protected] Copy Center 4131 • [email protected] Justin Gray Joe Cerutti • Alexandria, VA Office Support & Copy Center Merchandise Operations 703-401-7114 4147 • [email protected] Nancy Carver [email protected] Merchandise Manager Joe Rau 4117 • [email protected] Office Support & Copy Center John Miller • Westport, CT 4147 • [email protected] Pam Cervantez 203-254-9594 Shipping/Receiving [email protected] 4143 • [email protected] Society Historian Gary Plaag • Montclair, VA Grady Kerr Music Library 703-868-5152 [email protected] Janice Bane [email protected] Copyright & Licensing Manager 4127 • [email protected]

34 The HARMONIZER • May/June 2013 110 Seventh Avenue North, Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37203 866-706-8021 (toll free), 615-823-5611 Fax: 615-823-5612, [email protected] Official Affiliates Clarke Caldwell K.J. McAleesejergins Barbershop Harmony Australia President/CEO National Development Officer www.barbershop.org.au 3044 • [email protected] 3043 • [email protected] Michael Donnelly: [email protected] Carolyn Faulkenberry Jim Clark Chief Financial Officer Director of Development BABS (British Association of Barbershop Singers) 3041 • [email protected] 3042 • [email protected] www.singbarbershop.com Sean Devine Dixie Semich Derek Parmmenter: [email protected] Director of Development Donor Relations Manager BinG! (Barbershop in Germany) 3048 • [email protected] 3047 • [email protected] www.barbershop-in-germany.de Ryan Killeen Jennifer Otto Senior Director of Development Finance Administrator Roberta Damm: [email protected] 3051 • [email protected] 3040 • [email protected] DABS (Dutch Association of Barbershop Singers) www.dabs.nl Harmony Foundation Board of Trustees Wim van der Meer: [email protected] Peter Feeney – Chairman Chuck Harner FABS (Finnish Association of Barbershop Singers) 702-655-9064 703-938-3001 www.fabs.fi [email protected] [email protected] Juha Aunola: [email protected] Bob Brutsman – Imm. Past Chairman Lynn Weaver 612-865-7371 616-485-3392 IABS (Irish Association of Barbershop Singers) [email protected] [email protected] www.irishbarbershop.org Mike Deputy – Vice Chairman Clarke A. Caldwell Micheál Mac Giolla Ri: [email protected] 801-733-0562 Harmony Foundation President/CEO** NZABS (New Zealand Association of [email protected] Marty Monson, Society Executive Barbershop Singers) www.nzabs.org.nz Sharon Miller – Secretary Director/CEO 203-254-9594 Andy Hutson: [email protected] [email protected] James C. Warner, General Counsel* SABS (Spanish Association of Barbershop Singers) 901-522-9000 Don Laursen – Treasurer [email protected] www.sabs.es 559-733-1496 Gail Grainger: [email protected] [email protected] Ex-officio ** Not board member * SNOBS (Society of Nordic Barbershop Singers) Fred Farrell 239-590-0498 www.snobs.org [email protected] Henrick Rosenberg: [email protected] SPATS (Southern Part of Africa Tonsorial Singers) Sing Canada Harmony Simon Barff: [email protected] Board of Directors Chairman and CEO Secretary / J. R. Digger MacDougall (ONT) President’s Council Sharon Towner (SAI #16) Vice Chair I. Murray Phillips (NED) Treasurer James Thexton (EVG) Directors-at-Large General correspondence/editorial: Gordon Billows (LOL) Awards Chair Trinda Ernst (HI) Gerry Borden (EVG) [email protected] Judy McAlpine (SAI #26) Legal Counsel Editorial Board: Rick Spencer, Eddie Holt, Doran McTaggart (PIO) Ted Manthorp (ONT) David Pearce (LOL) Becca Grimmer, Brian Lynch, Lorin May David Smith (ONT) Founder’s Club Charles and Karen Metzger Copy Editing: Jim Stahly (Bloomington, IL), John Wilkie (ONT) Bob Davenport (Nashville, TN) www.SingCanadaHarmony.ca • 613-446-2734 • [email protected] Lorin May, Editor Society Subsidiaries (partial list) Association of Barbershop Quartet International Champions Preservation Association The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement www.AICGold.com www.bqpa.com of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (DBA Association of International Ancient Harmonious Seniors Quartet Champions Society of Woodshedders Barbershop Harmony Society) is a non-profit organi- www.seniorsgold.com www.ahsow.org zation operating in the United States and Canada. Harmony Brigade Public Relations Officers and www.harmonybrigade.org Bulletin Editors (PROBE) Mission www.harmonize.com/probe The Barbershop Harmony Society brings men Allied organizations together in harmony and fellowship to enrich lives Sweet Adelines International Harmony, Incorporated through singing. www.sweetadelineintl.org www.harmonyinc.org National Association American Choral Vision for Music Education Directors Association To be the premier membership organization for men www.nafme.org www.acdaonline.org who love to sing. Chorus America Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia www.chorusamerica.org www.sinfonia.org

May/June 2013 • The HARMONIZER 35 PaST ChaMPiOn PerFOrManCeS and The MighTy aiC ChOruS under The direCTiOn OF Jay giallOMbardO

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