INSIDE: Your best Singing Valentines ever Bel Canto methods made easy Conquer Stage Fright
November/December 2010 THE ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS PRESENTS WITHOUT A SONG
Featuring Eight Champion Quartets
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&EATURES
2EADY 3ET 3ING BOOSTS $ENVER 10 How Sound of the Rockies are getting great results with their adaptation of a long-proven Sweet Adelines recruiting program KEITH KAUFFMAN, PETE HYLAND,MIKE DAVIDSON 3INGING 6ALENTINES DONE RIGHT 14 Some of the best moments from the 2010 chapter program, and tips to make 2011 your best ever PRETENDING TO MELANIE CHAPMAN,SOCIETY MANAGER OF PR & MARKETING BE AN OPERA STAR? No, but 3ING LIKE AN )TALIAN PART he’ll sing like 16 Your English language vocal habits are tripping one after this you up—this crash course in Bel Canto methods exercise teach- will help you make immediate improvements es his muscles DEBRA LYNN to breathe like Enrico Caruso. The Bel Canto
7ELCOME NEW MEMBERS SNELHAMPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 19 Thank you, new members and the men who recruited singing meth- them—and welcome the newest 50-year members! ods on page 16 will instantly make you a bet- ter singer, too.
/N THE #OVER 2OCKY -OUNTAIN (IGH Group photo by Pete Hyland $EPARTMENTS
2 8 4(% 02%3)$%.43 0!'% (!2-/.9 (/7 4/ Retention is as important as recruiting Conquer stage fright ... but only if you want to! 3 23 342!)'(4 4!,+ 34!9 45.%$ Midwinter, 2-year rotation follow-up, Bill’s wisdom Westchester rings chords in Beijing 4 Heart of Texas keeps “United We Sing” alive ,%44%23 26 Remember Jim Miller, Joe Wise, our art form -%-"%2 3%26)#% $)2%#4/29 5 Where to find answers 4%-0/ 28 You don’t know this Kansas City 4(% 4!' Bill Biffle’s “aha” moment set for national television “I Never Meant to Fall in Love” A Joe Liles original
November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 1 THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE "ILL "IFmE 3OCIETY 0RESIDENT s bbiffl[email protected] Member retention is as important as recruiting ell, ladies and gents, this is my last chance to ad- name—either attract or repel every new and veteran dress you as Society president. As Lillian and I member. have traveled across this great Society, we have Those of us who have a history in this organiza- been privileged to meet many of you whom we tion—a rich memory of old times, good and bad, but 7can now call “friend” and “brother.” Being warmly mostly good—tend to stick it out even when what welcomed by hundreds of barbershoppers and their happens behind closed doors isn’t all that it could be. families at dozens of events all across the globe is, But new guys, who haven’t yet gotten fully “bitten by quite simply, the best part of the job. We thank the barbershop bug,” won’t hang around if they’re not you for your unfailing good humor, generous hospital- getting real value for their investment of time and ity, and, yes, your constructive criticisms, too! money. I don’t have space to list all of the folks who’ve helped us over the past two years and, if I tried, I’d What you—not the other guy—can do forget someone. So, I’ll just thank you all—staff, of- What can you and I do about it? We can take owner- ficers, board members, district and chapter leaders, ship, that’s what. We can start doing our part—every barbershoppers, wives, family members—who have week—to keep the meetings fun, productive, and made this two of the most wonderful years exciting. It’s easy to think that this is someone else’s of my life! job: the music director, the program guy, the mem- Of course, I can’t sign off without a part- bership man, the president—anyone but you and me. ing shot on (you guessed it) membership! But I submit that the only way out of this hole is for The wonderful folks who are working on the all of us—you and me—to change what we’re doing crucial problem of our declining numbers now. To change into a person who shows clearly and have done, are doing, and will continue to positively the wonderful effects that this extraordi- do, marvelous work. And we’re nary hobby has on our life. To show everyone every- If we could keep beginning—just beginning—to where—but especially in our see results. In this last column, I meetings together—how half of the men want to talk about just one very much we love what we do. we’re now losing important solution among many: We can quit letting oth- Retention. ers be the guys who greet over their first three each man—new and old—ev- years, our member- Why do they leave? ery week. Who sing with three others in the Consider these startling statis- corner when there’s a break in the action. We—you ship problem could tics: and I—can help the new guys learn all the little possibly disappear. s !T THE END OF THEIR lRST YEAR ways in which our chapter culture manifests itself. of membership, 37% of new mem- We—you and I—can be the guys who talk to the bers do not renew. new men at the break. Who notice when a man is s /NE YEAR LATER AN ADDITIONAL FAIL TO RENEW missing. Who ask about him. Who call him to see s )N THE THIRD YEAR ANOTHER DRIFT AWAY if he’s all right. Who offer to pick him up and drive Folks, that means that 56%—over half—of the him to the next meeting. Men, let’s get involved men who join our organization are not barbershop- and stay involved. Together we can turn this thing pers three years later! Think about that. Perhaps around. By caring for each other and showing it. All recruiting, for all its importance, is not the most the time. To everyone. important part of the equation. If we could keep just In January, I turn the reins over to my good friend half of the men we’re now losing over their first three Alan Lamson, secure in the knowledge that you’ll years as barbershoppers, our membership problem give him the same kind of help, support, and encour- would shrink significantly—maybe even disappear agement that you’ve given me. Thanks, again, for altogether. your many kindnesses over the past two years. I hope What are we doing (or not doing) in our chapters to see you on the trail somewhere. Be well. Keep to either drive them off or let them drift away? Exit singing. Stay in touch. And be a positive part of our surveys and common sense tell us that it’s the qual- inevitable future growth. If you’ll do it, I will! ity of life at every meeting that attracts and keeps members. The quality of the music, the fellowship, the energy, the “fun factor,” the sense of purpose and organization, the variety in our meetings, the way we treat each other, all these—and other factors you can EELIÀH#EDUEHUVKRSRUJ
2 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 STRAIGHT TALK %D 7ATSON %XECUTIVE $IRECTOR s EWATSON BARBERSHOPORG Midwinter, 2-year rotation, and Bill’s wisdom gh! It is 4 p.m. on a Monday and the darkness is en- as well. If nothing else comes of this study other than croaching on Nashville. Soon we’ll be coming to work the feedback we received, the whole exercise will have in the morning and going home in the evening in to- been well worth everybody’s efforts. tal darkness. It almost feels like time to hibernate! As I said in the original article, “Such a substantial U This demonstrates one reason why Barbershop is so change to the Society’s chorus contest structure should good for people: it gives you something constructive not be entered into lightly, andLWLVE\QRPHDQVFHUWDLQ to do all winter long. WKDWWKHSURSRVHGFKDQJHZLOOJRIRUZDUG´ That sen- By the time you read this, your holiday shows should tence remains as true as it was before you shared your be wrapped up—a good way to pass a few weeks (or views. I presented the results to date to the Society more), wasn’t it? And Jan. 25-30, we’ll have a Mid- Board by way of information, but they have not yet winter convention to beat all Midwinters. I know we considered a formal vote on the matter. The bottom say that every year, but it really does get better each line is that there is currently no pending announce- year. Then it won’t be long for choruses and quartets ment and no pending Board vote—and there is no to polish a few songs for the division and spring prelim hurry to make a decision. We’re taking your feedback contests in March/April/May. Annual shows, very seriously and we’ll keep the Society membership Singing Valentines, performances for the com- informed in all aspects of this study as it continues. munity. Next thing you know, spring brings Give the gift of American Harmony. Our Harmony thoughts of summer, which means the 4th of Marketplace employees are staying incredibly busy July and our annual International Convention. filling your Christmas orders for barbershop clothes Always preparing for the next event—that’s one and music, convention DVDs—and for the movie reason barbershoppers live so long. that will explain your barbershop addiction to friends Midwinter is the best of both worlds. and family: $PHULFDQ+DUPRQ\ Even total barbershop If nothing else A recent Harmonet thread asked: If you novices rave about this fast-paced, full-length docu- comes from this could only go to Midwinter, International, mentary that tells the barbershop story like nothing or Harmony University in a given year, else. I’m giving a copy to each of my five children! other than your which would be the ultimate barbershop Thank you, Bill. This is the final issue with words feedback, it will experience? International attendees love of wisdom from our outgoing President, Bill Biffle. the singing and camaraderie, but the I want to thank him for his focused effort to reverse have been well OLVWHQLQJ is out of this world. Harmony the Society’s membership decline. Bill often speaks of worth every- University is for GRLQJ: learning, singing, preserving Barbershop Harmony for his, your, and my tagging, and immersion in the barbershop kids and grandkids. He has not only preached, but has body’s efforts. style. I think Midwinter is the best of both provided proven ideas, pointers, tips, and general pro- worlds: Some learning, some singing, motional activities to help you do something about it. some listening. The five best quartets in the world in As this year draws to a close, it appears we’ll lose less two shows, Friday and Saturday night. A great Senior than half (in absolute numbers) of the members we Quartet Contest and an out-of-this-world Youth Cho- lost in 2009. Bill’s fierce dedication to membership is rus Festival, all in a leisurely atmosphere of tag singing a large part of the reason why. Thank you, Bill, for all and fun. I’m glad I get to go to all our big events— you have done and continue to do for the Society we working, yes, but I’ll sing one with you if you’re there. both love so well. I look forward to more years of your Midwinter is the gift that will never be re-gifted! service as you become the Immediate Past President. 2-year rotation proposal update. About 3,250 mem- I don’t have to butter up Alan Lamson, the incoming bers and Associates participated in the survey regard- President, until the next issue. ing the 2-year international chorus rotation proposal, So, to my dear, good, and much appreciated bar- which I outlined in the July/August issue. We now bershop friends, keep your spirits up, your resonating know far more than before about what you like/don’t chambers open, and I’ll see you at Midwinter. Wishing like about the idea, and which pro and con arguments you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and the you see as valid and which ones you don’t. Even more best barbershopping New Year ever. enlightening were your open-ended comments, which To all Barbershop Harmony Society members, how added up to the length of a couple of good novels. Yes, am I doing? there was a lot of repetition in those 178,000 words, but also a lot pros and cons no one had brought up before, and some very insightful analysis and original thinking about the contest system in general. Many of you offered intriguing alternatives to the proposal HZDWVRQ#EDUEHUVKRSRUJ
November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 3 LETTERS HARMONIZER BARBERSHOPORG Remember Jim Miller, Joe Wise, our art form
Miller Time: Don’t forget the first Jim of the songs we had to endure during this year’s ust finished relishing your Philly convention issue. contest, have pushed me over the edge. Another outstanding job! Having folks contribute PAUL SHANNON off-the-wall cutlines was an entertaining sidelight. Zanesville, Ohio I do suggest you got a little carried away when you J crowned Jim Clancy the “most beloved Society Justin Miller the youngest, but not “by far” director of all time.” No one has more respect than In reference to Westminster Chorus director Justin I for Jim; he is arguably the most accomplished Miller being referred to as “... by far the youngest gold Society director of all time and a truly inspiring medal director in Society history,” we all appreciate leader. The VM’s golden success is unlikely ever to his youth and accomplishment, but we may disagree be rivaled. mildly on what constitutes “by far.” Justin But I suspect even was certainly the youngest director, but brother Clancy might he achieved that status by a whole 11 days agree that the standards over the previous record-holder, the late he and the VM estab- Joe Wise of the 1966 Louisville Thor- lished were inspired oughbreds chorus. Both were 26 at the by the humble and, time of their championships. although it’s a subjec- Wise was born August 19, 1939, leav- tive call, beloved Jim ing him 41 days short of his 27th birth- Miller. Other names day when he co-directed the Thorough- that come to mind breds to gold (along with Jim Miller). with the two Jims if we Justin was all of 52 days short of his 27th had to vote: Freddie birthday when he directed Westminster King, Earl Moon ... this year. Interestingly, the schedules for well, if you start a list, the two contests helped Justin’s case, as someone’s bound to be the 2010 chorus contest was July 2nd, left out. while the 1966 contest was July 9th. Had Keep producing +DUPRQL]HUV that make us the competition schedules been reversed cheer and think. (the earlier week in 1966; the later week for 2010), JIM BAGBY, DIRECTOR EMERITUS Justin would have been second by three days. ■ Heart of America Chorus, Kansas City BOB SUTTON Alexandria, Va. (Society Archives Committee) Barbershop champs should sing more barbershop The joke about the lack of barbershop songs sung by the champs in Philly is no laughing matter. Starting with the Mid-States Four, the Society’s top quartets have been my heroes for more than .OVEMBER$ECEMBER 60 years. Sadly, some of my heroes let me down 6OLUME ,88 .UMBER big time at the AIC Show in Philly. Our five most Complete contact info: pages 26-27 The Harmonizer (USPS No. 577700)(ISSN 0017-7849) is the official publication recent champs sang 18 songs; according to my ear, of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet only four were in the barbershop style. When I pay Singing in America, Inc., dba Barbershop Harmony Society. It is published in Janu- ary, March, May, July, September and November at 110 7th Ave N, Nashville TN a healthy fee to be entertained by the heroes of my 37203-3704. hobby, I expect to hear more of my favorite kind of Periodicals postage paid at Kenosha, Wisconsin, and at additional mailing offices. music. Adding to my distress and disappointment Editorial and advertising offices are at the Society headquarters. Advertising rates available upon request at KDUPRQL]HU#EDUEHUVKRSRUJ. Publisher were the so-called “barbershop lovers” in the audi- assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. ence who cheered enthusiastically for what I con- Postmaster: send address changes to editorial offices of The Harmonizer, 110 7th Ave N, Nashville TN 37203-3704 at least 30 days before the next publication date. sider to be nothing more than irritating “noise.” (Publications Agreement No. 40886012. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses Sorry, but as a lover of the barbershop sound, be- to: Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor ON N9A 6J5. E-mail: [email protected]) A portion of each member’s dues is allocated to cover the magazine’s subscription bop just doesn’t ring for me. price. Subscription price to non-members is $21 yearly or $3.50 per issue; foreign Until recently, I have been tolerant and under- subscriptions are $31 yearly or $5 per issue (U.S. funds only). © 2010 The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop standing of the folks who insist on pushing the Quartet Singing in America, Inc. dba The Barbershop Harmony Society. envelope. But that AIC show, coupled with some Printed in the USA
4 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 TEMPO 4IMELY NEWS If you liked Philly, you’ll love the new K.C.! olks raved about Philly, despite a venue only mar- Chorus order of appearance ginally suited for perfor- 1. Perth, Australia mances. Thanks to its new 2. Salem, OR FELOOLRQ new Power & 3. Bellevue, WA Light district, Kansas City 4. Providence, RI will feature the relaxed 5. Bristol, England schedule and easy walk- 6. Greater Phoenix ability of Philly, with one 7. Fremont, NE of our best-ever contest You won’t recognize Kansas City’s new 8. Greater Central Ohio venues. downtown—$5 billion goes a long way! 9. Jacksonville, FL The new Sprint Cen- 10. Santa Fe Springs, CA ter Arena was 11. Denver, CO designed from the The all-new venue 12. Bloomington, IL ground up to be a they can make 13. Hamilton Square, NJ state-of-the art per- a run at gold on 14. Greater Indianapolis formance facility— their first try! 15. Research Triangle Park, NC and it’s right next We also won’t 16. Wellington, NZ see the Vo- to the the Power 17. Bay Area, CA & Light District’s cal Majority 18. San Marcos, TX great restaurants and entertainment, and (a year off for recording) take on the 19. Elizabethtown, KY within easy walking distance of most of Masters of Harmony, but the 7-time the Society hotels. Watch for maps and champs will still have all they can han- 20. Houston, TX more details in the January/February issue dle if they hope to repeat. The Sound 21. Alexandria, VA of 7KH+DUPRQL]HU of the Rockies, Northern Light 22. Metro Kansas City, MO In 2000, the last time we were in K.C., Chorus and Great Northern Union 23. Hilltop, MN Joe Connelly won his record third gold keep closing the gap, and 2011 presents 24. Tampa, FL medal with PLATINUM while setting itself as one one of the most competi- 25. Mount Pleasant, MI a quartet scoring record that’s yet to be tive chorus fields in many years. 26. Nashville, TN broken. Watch him try to top it with Father/Son/Grandson Chorus to make 27. Atlanta Metro, GA Old School! But even if Sean Devine encore. The Father/Son/Grandson 28. Toronto, ONT were to start coaching Ringmasters (he Chorus will make an encore appear- 29. Batavia, NY never has, if you didn’t get the “closed ance in Kansas City. In 2000, about 30. Heart of America eye” joke in the prior issue), they can’t 300 proud singers participated. The Mic Tester-Hells Kitchen, NY win in 2011. They’re skipping K.C. for 2011 reprise will be directed by father/ an extended cruise ship gig and one-time son duo Mike and Jack Slamka (2003 schooling commitments. But Old School champ Power Play.) The chorus will knows they can’t mail it in against a surg- be singing two songs from the contest ing field from 2010 that will be joined by stage. Watch for details in future issues some exciting new quartets who think of 7KH+DUPRQL]HU and on/LYH:LUH Bill Biffle’s “aha moment” and some hustle snag a national TV plug for barbershop This September, outgoing at the chance to share with the website. With the help of barbershop Society President Bill Biffle world the defining moment fans (to say nothing of Bill’s own natural was just taking care of business when he realized that barber- charm and winning smile), he made it to when he heard that Mutual of shop was LW the Top 25, then on to another round of Omaha was in town seeking He recorded his entry in voting to become one of 10 selected for entrants to share their life- Mutual of Omaha’s mobile a national spot to air next summer. Way changing “Aha! Moments” truck and his entry was one to go, Bill, for seizing this fabulous, free for their national TV spots of 75 (out of 1,000) put up for plug for barbershop! See the completed for next summer. Bill jumped vote on Mutual of Omaha’s spot at ZZZDKDPRPHQWFRPSJYRWLQJ.
November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 5 TEMPO Dozens of Harmony University scholarships available for 2011—don’t delay! The following scholarships are available for Harmony University, all thanks to your generous support of Harmony Foundation. All scholarships include full tuition and board; none include travel costs. To those interested in applying, please first read the full rules for each scholarship at KWWS WLQ\XUOFRP+8VFKRODUV.
Director’s College. For front-line di- limited: Inquire immediately! Contact at ZZZEDUEHUVKRSRUJMail completed rectors, assistant directors or aspiring the Society Education department at applications to the Education Depart- directors who have not received a Soci- VOHZLV#EDUEHUVKRSRUJ or 800-876- ment, Attn. Larry Ajer Scholarship, 110 ety/Harmony Foundation Scholarship SING x4122. 7th N, Nashville, TN 37203. For more within the last ¿YH years. Applications information, call 800-876-SING x4122 must be post-marked no earlier than Earl Moon. Sponsored by the Whittier, or e-mail VOHZLV#EDUEHUVKRSRUJ March 1, 2011 and no later than April Calif., Chapter, pays tuition 1. Download applications at www. for first-time barbershop- Lou Perry. Goes to the creator of barbershop.org and send to Education per attendees who might the best original arrangement, as Department, Attn. Director’s College not otherwise have the evaluated by Rob Campbell, Don Scholarship, 110 7th N, Nashville, opportunity to attend. Gray and Joe Liles. Songs from TN 37203. (Please do not e-mail.) Download an application any era qualify as long as they are For more info, contact Mike O’Neill at ZZZFKRUDODLUHVRUJBy arranged in the barbershop style, at PRQHLOO#EDUEHUVKRSRUJ or 800-876- May 1, 2011, submit your something that might be heard on SING x4126. application to Jeff Pulice, 9938 a chapter show. Young arranging talent Mina Ave., Whittier, CA 90605 or MHI- especially welcome to apply. Deadline: Bring your baritone free. If you sign up ISXOLFH#JPDLOFRP March 15, 2011. Send electronic files for the quartet track at Harmony U, by e-mail (preferred, Finale or PDF) to it’s four for the price of three courtesy Larry Ajer. For a successful, active, com- 5RE&DPSEHOO#D\D\DOHHGX or by regu- of Harmony Foundation and the Larry peting quartet wanting to reach the lar mail to Dr. Rob Campbell, PO Box Ajer endowment. Scholarships are next level. Get rules and applications 9335, San Diego, CA 92169.
PATTY LEVEILLE PROBE Outstanding Achievement Awards The following were recognized by PROBE (PR Officers and Bulletin Editors) in Philadelphia for outstanding contributions to barbershop harmony’s image. For PR, newsletter and website tips, join PROBE at www.harmonize.com/probe. American Harmony and Producer Aengus James for this award-winning docu- mentary that has reached a new audience and impacted the public perception of our hobby %DUEHUVKRS+4FRP, the new “official” blog of the Society, a.k.a. “Nashville’s Water Cooler” -RKQ´0RQWDQD-DFNµ)LW]SDWULFN for single-handedly creating the “Youth En- richment Program” outreach to high school music educators 6FLSLR*DUOLQJ for using social networking tools to strengthen and re-energize his chapter’s membership (GGLH+ROW for his outstanding improvements in the design and functionality of the new Society website /RULQ0D\ for publishing his 50th issue of The Harmonizer in January 2010, a NOTE FROM ED WATSON: Throughout the Society, many, milestone previously achieved by only three men many men and women volunteer their time, effort, 0LNH0F*HH for creating, promoting and maintaining YouBarbershop.com, and money to make our Society stronger and better. offering up-to-date online news, videos and information on barbershopping Recently Headquarters held a volunteer luncheon for 7KH7RQLJKW6KRZZLWK&RQDQ2·%ULHQ for unique coverage of the 2009 Anaheim those who come regularly to Harmony Hall throughout convention, giving us almost six minutes of national TV exposure to 2.5 million the year to make things better for all our members. We viewers thank them and all of you who mean so much to us. -HII8OULFK for publishing a top-notch Spring 2010 Issue of the JAD Cider Press and, TOP: Wayne Jackson, Bridget Wietlisbach, Barbara in this electronic age, printing and mailing to the entire district membership for winning the “Choir of the World” Luciano Pavarotti DeBusman, Barbara Belden, Jim DeBusman. :HVWPLQVWHU&KRUXV trophy in Llangollen, Wales, raising awareness of Barbershop Harmony to a BOTTOM: Cliff Hinson, Mel Joesten, Freeman Groat, new and unique audience Cathy Watson.
6 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 CONVENTIONS 2011 KANSAS CITY Scotsdale Chorus July 3–10 2012 PORTLAND,ORE. July 1–8 Congratulations to the other North American barbershop champions 2013 TORONTO Sweet Adelines 2011 champ Maxx Factor is Chorus scored a record 3077 under the baton June 30–July 7 2014 Molly Plummer, Leslie Wodday, Kim Hudson of life-long music educator Lori Lyford. The LAS VEGAS and Valeree Hadfield-Rasnake, all from the Rising Star quartet winner was Royal Blush, June 29–July 6 Maryland/Delaware area. Arizona’s 116-mem- with Elizabeth Bearss, Heather-Jade Pase, Lexi 2015 ber Scottsdale Moroni, and Jenny Allen. PITTSBURGH June 28–July 5 2016 NASHVILLE July 3–10 2017 MINNEAPOLIS July 2-9 2018 ORLANDO July 1-8 Ringtones! 2019 SALT LAKE CITY June 30-July 7 HISTORICAL FIRST? This MIDWINTER fall’s Harmony, Inc. ZZZEDUEHUVKRSRUJ PLGZLQWHU International Conven- Maxx Factor 2011 tion saw Northern Blend LAS VEGAS win the chorus contest Jan. 25-30 2012 and Ringtones! win the TUCSON quartet championship. In a Jan. 17-22 BEST BETS PHOTOGRAPHY possible first for barber- HARMONY shop, when Ringtones! was crowned by the outgoing UNIVERSITY 2011 2009 champion Showcase, bari Julia Bosari happened to St. Joseph, Mo. Northern Blend July 31-Aug. 7, 2011 received her crown from bari Debbie Bosari—her mother!
Call 800-876-SING if your long- draw quartet contest Friday night, a three-day Harmony College. Air- distance isn’t free, 615-823-3993 if it organized quartet show Saturday. fare from L.A. is half of what it was is. The Society pays a fee every time Embassy Suites, 4400 South Rural three years ago, so now’s the time to you use our 800#, so if calling from Road, Tempe, AZ 85282, www. book your vacation in this subtropi- a cell phone or unlimited long-dis- embassysuitestempe.com, (480) cal tourist paradise’s driest month! tance land line, please dial 615-823- 897-7444. Tell them you are with Details at ZZZSDQSDFFRPDX 3993, the Society’s local Nashville the Barbershoppers. Get more info number. The 800# fee is no longer at ZZZETSDFRP. Read the newest Preservation is- paid by chapters, so each call comes sue. The Society’s history magazine out of the Society’s limited operating The Pan Pacific Convention is back! includes a tribute to arranger and expenses. Held every three years for barber- woodshedder Jack Baird, a history shoppers around the Pacific Rim, of the pitch pipe, traces the term Join the Spring BQPA Convention. book Sept. 28-Oct. 5, 2011 for Bris- “barbershop” to its 100-year-old The Barbershop Quartet Preserva- bane, Australia (population 2 mil- origin, and discusses which cham- tion Association (BQPA) Quartet lion). Storm Front is the featured pion quartet helped record a Johnny Festival will be April 7-10, 2011. quartet and registration is $325 for Cash hit. ZZZEDUEHUVKRSRUJSUHV- Golf Friday morning, random the five-day convention followed by HUYDWLRQKWPO■
November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 7 HARMONY HOW-TO Conquer stage fright … but only if you want to! arbra Streisand couldn’t perform live for 27 years after trance or a loss of balance. That triggers a bit of she once forgot some lyrics; John Lennon was known anxiety, which kicks off your overblown fear of to throw up before going on stage. Stage fright is the anxiety, which causes a few more mistakes, and so feeling of nervousness that comes from the belief that on until you faint or have a coronary. Recognizing Byou are being evaluated and that it isn’t going to go this cycle may help it stop. well. Early in my singing career, I had serious anxiety Frame the issue differently. Yes, stage fright makes issues. Fortunately, I have since learned many strategies you uncomfortable, but are you VXUH it’s negatively that work ... perhaps even too well! (I’ve overcom- affecting your performance? A lack of energy can pensated, so now I’m fighting the opposite problem be every bit as bad if you’re shooting for passion backstage, as I fight yawns and do push-ups to get my and impact. A lot of performers actually relish the energy level high enough.) Following are some stage adrenaline rush that comes along with butterflies in fright solutions discussed on my blog, RZQLQJWKHVWDJH the stomach. Some studies indicate that the perfor- FRPwhere you can find extensive research and advice mances audiences enjoy most are those during which on many performance-related topics. the performer reported feeling most nervous! (Don’t the audience’s needs count for something ... or is ev- Identify and eliminate anxiety’s “payoffs” erything always about you?) So you’re sweating and The first question you must ask is, “Do I really ZDQW to your heart is beating fast? Re-frame that as “fuel for fix my anxiety?” “Of course!” you reply. an exciting performance” and be cured. Dig a little deeper. It’s possible that you Fight fire with fire. Your innermost in- are getting psychological payoffs from securities come out at the most awkward your performance anxiety: moments, like that voice that whispers, s !RE YOU A BIT OF AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE “You are a fraud, and they will know it.” Do you fear that performing will be Fortunately, you only have one audio less exciting and rewarding without track in your brain, and it’s just as easy all that drama and challenge? (Maybe to fill it up with “I am a great performer” skydiving is more your thing?) and “They’re going to love me.” Think s $EEP DOWN DO YOU QRW really want to you can’t fool yourself that easily? be a performer? Do you feel pushed The truth is, you already have—your into it by friends or family? What bet- negative self-talk is all a fantasy, too! ter ticket out than crippling anxiety? If you’ve successfully deluded yourself s $OES PART OF YOU ENJOY ALL THE ATTENTION Read additional stage into believing your worst fears, you’re you’re getting for being nervous? Have fright suggestions from capable of doing the same with your you always been a drama queen? Gary Plaag in the Jan-Feb best hopes. You’re already an expert at s $O YOU FEAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU 2007 issue of The Harmo- fooling your brain, so why not instead gave your very best and it still didn’t nizer. All back issues are choose some self-fulfilling fantasies that measure up? Anxiety can subconscious- available at www.barber- make you a better performer? ly serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy that shop.org/harmonizer. Identify and replace fear-provoking provides a credible excuse for a sub-par thoughts. The thought “If I make a performance. It ensures you never have to face the mistake, it will ruin the performance and everyone fear that you simply lack talent. (Ouch!) The irony will think I’m a hack” can be replaced with “If I make is that your fear may be completely off base, but a mistake, I’ll just carry on and people will hardly no- you’ll never know until you throw away your anxiety tice.” In 5DWLRQDO(PRWLYH7KHUDS\, Albert Ellis suggests crutch and explore your real potential. you can control fear-provoking thoughts by answering these questions for yourself in writing: Good news: It’s only in your mind 1.What is the fear-provoking thought? Even if stage fright isn’t giving you any known pay- 2.Why do you believe this? offs, the problem still exists only in your mind and in 3.What’s the worst thing that could happen? How your own perceptions. It might be painful, but it’s not likely is it? How might you cope with it if it did like a poke in the eye. It’s purely an inner struggle. happen? Tom Metzger Lose the fear of fear. One of the most common 4.Do you notice any logical flaws? Some examples: Bass of 2005 causes of stage fright is the international IHDURIJHWWLQJVWDJH s /VERGENERALIZING h) ALWAYS xv OR h) NEVER xv champ Realtime IULJKWWe’re not talking about rational, logical s !LL OR NOTHING THINKING h) AM EITHER A STAR OR tmetzger@ thoughts here. It starts with a little mistake, like a loser”) gmail.com a slightly out-of-tune note, or a badly-timed en- s $ISQUALIFYING THE POSITIVE h4HEY LIKED MY PRE-
8 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 and you’ll see an persona permission to pull out all the Having lost their original lead and tenor, 2005 international champ Realtime is entirely different stops. retired according to Society rules; however, replacement lead Doug Broesrma and person. To the per- Learn to relax. A relaxed body and original bari and bass Mark and Tom Metzger will keep singing together under a former, he is not mind before going on stage often car- new name. They have found a new to-be-announced tenor and will be competing putting KLPVHOI at ries over to the performance as well. in the to-be-determined future under a new, to-be-decided quartet name. risk, he’s inhabit- Practice muscle relaxation techniques sentation, but they are dumb”) ing a character, that you can draw upon just before a s -ENTAL lLTER h7HATEVER IS SAID adopting the attributes of whatever performance, learning how to tense and about the presentation is about persona is needed for the performance. untense every muscle while breathing me”) When you put on your singing uni- deeply. Practice meditation, so you can s 3UPERSTITION h)F ) DONT WORRY form, put on a confident performer’s learn to empty your mind and be at everything will go wrong”) persona along with it—and give that peace even before the big show. ■ 5. Rate the reasonableness of the fear on a scale from 1 to 10. (By now, the fear should be less intimidating.)
Other common issues and strategies Still not cured? Let’s address some other common causes of anxiety and their possible cures. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When your heart is pounding, what is your head saying? If it’s along the lines of, “Why didn’t I learn this song more thoroughly?” or “Am I really going to attempt some- thing on stage that I’ve never pulled off in rehearsal?” then listen! Practice, practice, practice, and see if the voices in your head change their tone. As the saying goes, amateurs rehearse until they get it right; professionals rehearse until they can’t get it wrong. (Even when their hearts are pounding!) Stay in peak health. Exercise enough to keep your body supple and your mind clear. Get enough sleep to keep your mind sharp, especially the night before an important performance. You owe it to yourself, and to your performing ca- reer, to give yourself this advantage. Visualize in advance. In the days and weeks before performances, visualize yourself performing in an unstressful scenario until you’re comfortable with it. Mentally, you can slowly ratchet up the expected stress levels of your mental scenarios and learn how you best allevi- ate the stress during these visualizations. At some important level, your brain can’t tell the difference between real life and visualizations, so it all counts as experience. Take on a persona. Performing can be frightening because we perceive our per- sonal reputation is at risk of a negative judgment. Professional performers are often quiet or even shy in private— but put them in front of an audience
November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 9 These 46 guests were the Graduating Class out of a total of 83 attendees during the 6-week program. Guests had the option to perform on the chapter’s Christmas show with- out auditioning or joining the chapter, and at least 24 accepted the offer.
Ready, Set, Sing! a successful recruiting tool Denver Mile High chapter hosts free 6-week voice lessons; 45 guests graduate
As members of Denver’s Sound of the Rockies, we Peter Waldheim of Highlands Ranch joined Dan are thankful for the fellowship of men who love to in the 2009 voice lessons. “I had never sung formally sing and promote the spirit of the barbershop harmony prior to this,” he said. “We participants were made to “way of life.” But we’ve shared the same question as feel quite welcome by all members of the Sound of the all concerned Society members: How can we preserve Rockies. I never felt any pressure to join the chorus. this way of life for future generations when our own Rather, I was simply encouraged to sing—something chapter membership is stagnant or diminishing? We that is life-enriching.” Waldheim’s 12-year old son, have found a viable solution in the Mile High chapter. Keith, also completed the program and is one of the Over the past two years, we have introduced 133 men chapter’s newest members. to barbershop harmony. Other men participated simply for the fun of it and had a great experience even if they didn’t chose to AReady, Set, Sing works in 2009 join the chapter. Greg Thiel of Centennial states, “I In October 2009, we adapted the Sweet Adelines’ was looking for opportunities to develop my personal Ready, Set, Grow program of six free one-hour voice interests, and to give my wife a few hours of peace and lessons to men of all ages and singing experience lev- quiet.” David Balicki of Arvada said. “I used to karaoke els—no strings attached. The only requirement was a with my friends weekly at a local establishment. The desire to improve the singing experience. Nearly 50 voice lessons were great, especially for those with limited men from the Denver-metro area participated in our vocal experience and knowledge.” renamed 2009 5HDG\6HW6LQJprogram, exceeding Keith all expectations. Participants were warmly and en- Lessons from 2009 make 2010 even better Kauffman thusiastically welcomed by the singers in the chorus, The success of last year’s program prompted a repeat kjkauffman@ and 15 of the 2009 RSS graduates became members of Ready, Set, Sing! in October, 2010. The primary sbcglobal.net of the Sound of the Rockies chorus. goal with this year’s program was to make it better. Dan George of Castle Rock was an experienced Better voice lessons, better organization, better Pete Hyland prhyland@ church choir vocalist who was looking to broaden his preparation, more effective marketing and a more comcast.net musical experience. The 2009 RSS program graduate positive experience for our RSS guests. We focused is now an enthusiastic chapter member. on several areas of improvement from our experience Mike “Although I had sung in church choirs for 50 years, in 2009. Davidson the fundamentals covered in the classes represented to For example, in 2009 we were not prepared for the Chapter VP Marketing & PR me a more concentrated focus on the basics of singing, high number of last-minute registrants—in cramped madmiked1@ in addition to vocal performance,” Dan said. “I learned quarters—as our rehearsal was about to begin. Although gmail.com to improve my singing in immeasurable ways.” SoR members were asked to help welcome and guide
10 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 ALL PHOTOS PAGES 10-12 BY PETER HYLAND PHOTOGRAPHIY
the guests, a more formal and structured greeting and mentoring program was needed. Further, the RSS guests themselves expressed some confusion as to what was expected of them and their interaction with a fully rehearsing chorus. Better communication to the guests Director Darin Drown led guests in weekly voice lessons while was needed all around. It was obvious to this year’s team Assistant Director Chris Vaughn directed the chorus until the that we had to approach the issues on several fronts. two groups combined each week on the risers. Last year, 15 men Real voice lessons mixed with clearer expectations. joined the chapter as a result of the six-week singing lessons, and This year’s free voice lessons were led by SoR director the pool of participants was even bigger in 2010. and Storm Front bari Darin Drown, while our first- year Associate Director, Gotcha! lead Chris Vaughn, Print and personal contact. This year we expanded directed our current members in a separate room. on last year’s printed display ads in the neighbor- “Having Chris on board was a tremendous hood newsletters and regional Colorado Commu- help to me as I was able to focus my atten- nity Newspapers. We also contacted local school tion on the lessons themselves,” Darin said. and church music department heads, and included “Chris allowed me to leave the chorus in his capable Craigslist and Facebook postings. hands to prepare for our Christmas show.” Effective press releases get picked up. Possibly the Topics in the program included posture, breath most effective form of advertising were press releases control, resonance and use of the soft palate. Darin’s which ran on all regional 'HQYHU3RVW- November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 11 guide RSS guests through the program Focused follow-up. and to follow up with them each week Once the program got between rehearsals. Written guidelines underway, we made a were prepared and sent to all volunteers particularly focused to help in the mentoring effort. The effort to keep the lines entire chapter membership was asked of communication to serve as a “riser buddy” to welcome open with the RSS the RSS guests onto the risers for warm- class. Mentors made ups and singing through the Christmas one-on-one personal The guests stretching and relaxing before sing- repertoire. telephone calls or sent ing. After the lessons there were cookies and Logistics greatly improved. This year’s e-mails, while group treats and a chance for mingling with the chorus. first night sign-in process was a model e-mail communica- of logistical efficiency—a far cry from tions kept the excitement level high guests on the first night, and averaged last year. When it was clear that we had from week to week. We have received 53 guests per session through the first exceeded last year’s total registration, we several unsolicited comments from our five weeks. A total of 83 individual moved the initial sign-in process into a guests on what a terrific job we’ve done guests have participated for at least larger room to allow for a more efficient overall, how friendly the chorus mem- one evening. We have welcomed first workflow. Tables were set up for each step bers have been and that the program time guests every week of the program, in the sign in process, and a virtual army has been received in a very positive including some who were invited by of chorus volunteers kept things moving manner. RSS guests already enrolled in the free swiftly from the greeting and registration voice lessons. We have certainly met areas into the rehearsal hall. Members 2010 results so far our target to increase visibility of the helped direct automobile traffic in the The numbers alone speak for them- program throughout the metro area. parking lot. As soon as the guest had selves. In 2009, we averaged 20-25 After the formal program concluded, finished signing in, his name badge, folder guests per week including a total indi- our RSS guests were invited to sing in and water bottle were presented to him vidual guest count during the six weeks our annual Christmas show, without on the spot. approaching 50. This year, we had 59 an audition requirement. More than 25 decided to do that. The core ingredient of the Ready, Set, Sing program continues to be the quality of the vocal lessons themselves, expertly taught by Darin Drown to a large group of men with varied sing- ing backgrounds. Special thanks go to: RSS team leader Keith Kauffman and the RSS Team - Dan George, Peter Waldheim, Greg Thiel, Bege Martin, Alma Weaver and George Davidson. Also thanks to Mike Davidson for mar- keting, Pete Hyland for photography, RSS guest mentors and all members who volunteered as “riser buddies.” If your chapter is ready to imple- ment the basic ideas of the Sound of the Rockies Ready, Set, Sing program, please feel free to contact our RSS Team for assistance at VLQJ#VRXQG- RIWKHURFNLHVFRP, where there is also a listing of our chapter officers if you’d like to call for more information. We plan to develop a manual over the next couple of months, which will include more details of the program. We plan to make available electronically. Stay tuned via Facebook (shortcut: KWWS WLQ\XUOFRPD ]\J) and ZZZVRXQG- RIWKHURFNLHVFRPfor details! ■ 12 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 Watch the exciting way that Sweet Adelines caught the rhythm in Seattle. Hundreds of Sweet Adelines gathered in Seattle for a spectacular Mass Sing - with a twist! The Key Arena Plaza erupted in harmony as Chris Noteware, with help from 2010 International Champion Rich-Tone Chorus, directed the crowd in a fantastic version of Conga/Rhythm Is Gonna Get You. Go to http://www.youtube.com/sweetadelineintl to watch it now and forward it, share it, link it and post it. www.sweetadelineintl.org • 918.622.1444 or 800.992.SING (7464) Say it boldly. It is time for preparation for pro- moting Singing Valen- tines. So the Hunter- don Harmonizers had a photo shoot to get ready. Our theme for the year is “LOVE” so we used those four let- ters and had huge cut- outs made, and posed them with a quartet for our promotional postcards and flyers. We hope to get better results and coverage this year than ever. ±/HH5RWK +XQWHUGRQ1- Art Cole, Jr., Brian Gallacher, Erhan Ber- ber, David Holzwarth All you need is love, a song and a plan he season of love is just around the corner, and right and the classier your program, the greater your PR on the heels of Santa Claus and the elves comes Cu- as a result. It can lead to repeat orders for next year, pid, with his quiver full of arrows. Cupid, like Santa, increased attendance at your shows, and maybe even is always willing for a little help, and we barbershop- attract some new members! pers are only too happy to join in the fun with Singing Valentines. And we’re sure he doesn’t mind that it’s I just called to say I love you. We offered free tele- also a great opportunity for us to increase awareness of phone Singing Valentines for deployed National our craft and do some fund-raising too! After all, we share the love all year long, don’t we? Through Singing Valentines, Tyou have the chance to touch hearts in a way that only music can, and it can be as moving for the singers as it is for the recipi- ents! There will be laughter, there Jerry Orloff (second from left), the Society’s all-time will be goose bumps, and there top recruiter with 200 Men of Note, suffered a stroke on may be tears too—of joy! We’re Oct. 7. It destroyed his short-term memory, but when talking Kodak moments that will given the name of the song and the first word, he can be cherished for a lifetime! perform error-free. Another of the wonders of music! Plan to make it great! THE POWER OF PUBLICITY. 7KH*ROG6WDQGDUG·V 6DQWD&UX]&DOLI&KDSWHU ORQJWLPH93RI Melanie Start planning now! Check out PR and Marketing got some great support from his long-cultivated contacts with local newspa- Chapman ZZZEDUEHUVKRSRUJYDOHQWLQHV, pers and radio stations. We got a photo-article in several papers, a 15-minute radio shot and Asst. editor, The and download the Successful Sing- another great article in the Saturday paper. Within a few hours, we had every available slot filled Harmonizer, ing Valentines manual from there. for Saturday evening and all day Sunday. Pictured here are mixed quartet Lara Pacheco, Jerry Manager of We’ve also included here a check- Marketing & PR Orloff, Bill Raney, and Nancie Barker, delivering a rose to Kim Orloff during rehearsal. mchapman@ list of helpful tips. The better your –Kim Orloff, Santa Cruz, Calif. barbershop.org plan, the classier your program, 14 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 Honoring our troops with love. As a kick-off to our Singing Valentines weekend, Worcester’s Men of Song of presented “A Tribute to Spouses of National Guard Service Members Currently Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.” The performance was video-recorded, with the camera slowly panning the audience to record every single participant singing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” We then produced a DVD and pro- vided copies for the National Guard to deliver to every service member overseas whose sweetheart was in the audience. With the help of many sponsors, each guest was given a long-stemmed rose and a “Valentine Teddy Bear,” and door prizes were given, including two “Romantic Getaways” to be redeemed when the deployed service member returns. ±%RE&KLVKROP:RUFHVWHU0DVV Double the pleasure. A wife booked a Singing Valentine with a quartet POPPING THE QUESTION. Performing singing Valentines is from the St. Catharine’s Chapter (The Long and the Short of always a blast, but sometimes a situation goes way beyond fun It) at a restaurant at 7:30 sharp, not knowing that her husband had booked to downright ecstatic. The quartet Then & Now was singing for a the Niagara Falls Chapter (Forward Motion) for the same night—at party at a restaurant when the owner informed them that there 7:15! All’s well that ends well—they were doubly blessed! ■ ZDVDQHQJDJHPHQWDERXWWRWDNHSODFHWKHUH6RZHVDQJ´6ZHHW ±5RE7ULSH6W&DWKDULQH¶V2QW DQG/RYHO\µWRWKHP:KHQWKHVRQJFDPHWRWKHZRUGV´VRRQ ZH·OOPDUU\\RX·OOEHP\EOXVKLQJEULGHµWKHSURVSHFWLYHJURRP Chase English, deftly pulled out a small box from his pants pocket, Tips for Singing Valentines Success dropped to one knee and popped the question to Casey Thomas. 'RZQORDGDFRS\RIWKH6LQJLQJ9DOHQWLQHV0DQXDO ZHEVKRUWFXW tiny.cc/vz8oh) Somehow the guys kept singing and the couple was making out by 5HJLVWHU\RXUFKDSWHUDWwww.singingvalentines.com the time the tag had begun! What a privilege to be a part of such &RQWDFWDOOSUHYLRXVJLYHUVDQGUHFLSLHQWVDVZHOODVSDWURQVRI\RXUDQQXDOVKRZVYLDIO\HUV a wonderful experience. Chase and Casey are pictured with Then e-mails, and phone calls. Think about the other clubs and groups your members belong to, 1RZ6WDQ%RUXP 7 :LOVRQ5HQIURH / %RE$UEXFNOH %V DQG and have them take flyers to meetings. Ask to get on the schedule at Rotary, Lions and other -RKQ&DYDQDXJK %U such clubs at least two weeks in advance, offering a free Valentine as a door prize –Wilson Renfroe, Tyler, Texas &RQWDFWUDGLRDQG79VWDWLRQVDQGERRNTXDUWHWVWRDSSHDUJLYHWKHPSOHQW\RIOHDGWLPH Guard soldiers and got 42 requests, which we and offer the station a free Valentine to their listeners—first caller wins! assigned to our North Georgia Gentlemen and $OHUWWKHPHGLDLQDGYDQFHLIRQHRI\RXUUHFLSLHQWVLVDSURPLQHQWFLWL]HQRUVRPHRQH Sound Decision quartets. With the exception of with a “back story” that would spark additional interest a couple, all recipients were thrilled and surprised, &RQWDFWIORULVWVFDQG\VXSSOLHUVZLQHULHV&RQWDFWSRSXODUUHVWDXUDQWV³SHUKDSVWKH\ and could not understand how their loved one fight- could offer the Singing Valentine as an add-on to Valentines packages ing the war so far away could pull this off. &RQWDFWORFDOKRWHOV³WKH\RIWHQRIIHU9DOHQWLQH·VSDFNDJHV -DFN0DUWLQ/DNH/DQLHU*HRUJLD 2UGHUVXSSOLHVQHHGHG³IORZHUVFDUGVFDQG\HWF $UUDQJHIRUDVSHFLDOSKRQHOLQHIRURUGHUVLIQHHGHG Love is in the air. The Tale Draggers of the Ta- &RPPXQLFDWLRQLVYLWDORQGHOLYHU\GD\%HVXUHWRKDYHDFHOOSKRQHQXPEHUIRUHDFK coma, Wash. Chapter (EVG) had sung Christmas quartet, and ensure that each phone is on and charged all day, set to vibrate so that no carols at the Seattle airport last year, and the Presi- performance is interrupted dent of Alaska Airlines thought it was so much fun 'HWHUPLQHLQDGYDQFHZKRZLOOGULYHDQGUHLPEXUVHPHQWSODQVIRUWUDYHOFRVWV that he invited us to perform Singing Valentines $XGLWLRQTXDUWHWV³VSHQGWLPHPL[LQJDQGPDWFKLQJYRLFHVIRUWKHEHVWEOHQGDQG for the crews in the Seattle and Portland airports, make sure they attain the standard by a pre-determined January date. Those who providing air travel between the cities, as well as don’t sing in quartets can help with scheduling and communications, etc. additional fun opportunities to sing for passengers $VWKHVD\LQJJRHV´3UHVHQWDWLRQLVHYHU\WKLQJµ'UHVVDVIRUPDOO\DVSRVVLEOHLQ and crew. Of course it didn’t hurt that our bass is a matching costume; smile for the entire performance and be just as lively for the last one senior captain with Alaska Airlines! as you were for the first They provided several employees to accompany 5HKHDUVHWKH´VKRZµIURPVWDUWWRILQLVKDW\RXUFKDSWHUPHHWLQJ³KRZWRHQWHU us with baskets of Hershey’s Kisses and cards with what to say and do, how to leave. Lingering too long is a no-no—leave them want- our photo on one side and a Happy Valentines Day message from the airlines on the other. We sang ing more instead of less, especially if it’s in the work place over the phone to another captain’s wife in Hawaii, %HUHDG\WRWDNHRUGHUVDWWKHGURSRIDKDW³KDYHFRQWDFWFDUGVUHDG\WRKDQGRXWDW and even to another captain’s wife’s dog, Daisy, each stop as requested which attracted a lot of attention and laughter as *HWD3RODURLGFDPHUDDQGOHDYHDSKRWRZLWKWKHUHFLSLHQWDVDPHPHQWR Daisy, a pit bull attired in pink, lay down and rolled ,QFOXGHFKDSWHUEXVLQHVVFDUGVZLWKHDFKGHOLYHU\RIURVHVDQGEULQJH[WUDVWRKDQGWR over on her back as we rang out the last chord. Arf! inquiring onlookers You know you can’t compete with animal acts! ±-LP%ORN]\O6HDWWOH:DVK . November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 15 Sing like an Italian &DUXVRDQG3DYDURWWL·VELJDGYDQWDJH" They spoke Italian—a language that, unlike North American English, can serve as the foundation for excellent vocal habits You’ll sing brighter and with more ease as you apply these essential Bel Canto methods— and your intonation issues may vanish, too! Part 1 of 2 The great Enrico Caruso, circa 1908 If you think Swedish singers are making waves, wait loosening of the vibrato at ends of phrases. until Italy discovers barbershop harmony. Most North American singers must unlearn a lot of poor vocal Beautiful singing, no accent required habits before we can sing well. Italians, simply because The good news is that the superior results of pure Italian they speak Italian, can have an edge in the habits that diction can be applied in any language. Every minute contribute to excellent vocal technique. Fortunately, you invest to overcome your unconscious language- we English speakers can learn to sing like Italians, and related issues will pay huge dividends—many vocal is- without adopting a Mediterranean accent! sues you were never able to fix before may simply vanish! I believe many of our vocal challenges are directly Native Italian speakers are noted for using forward, related to the pitfalls of our spoken language. It can be pure vowels (no diphthongs), combined with wonder- Iespecially difficult for native English speakers to naturally ful, rounded resonance attained by a sustained optimal create a well-placed, open, clear tone that stays in tune. muscular position. Together these form the essence of Our infamous diphthongs (double-sounded vowels), the %HO&DQWR school of singing. combined with our propensity to inflect down at the Bel Canto (Italian for “beautiful singing”) methods end of our sentences, can inadvertently create vocal were formalized between 1800 to 1840 to handle the problems. Add in dialect regionalisms, inconsistent rigors of early 19th Century opera. While new com- support and jaw and/or tongue tension, and you have positions have pushed some opera styles toward wider a recipe for throat constriction and ineffective singing. vibrato and more dramatic vocal color, the ageless These pitfalls tend to manifest as poor pitch and dull Bel Canto methods are still widely taught throughout sound, along with fatigue, breath control weakness and the world as WKH classical vocal foundation. These 16 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 Italian vowels dramatically improve tuning and vocal brilliance You can actually be singing on the correct tone but, no thanks to the varied English vowel placement and speech patterns among quartet or chorus members, still sound out of tune to the audience. Vowel blending issues affect more than the audience’s perception of pitch—English vowels help individuals (and then the group) literally lose pitch. Just think- methods are also perfect for barbershoppers due to ing about the end of many English words can cause a singer’s mind to start deteriorating their unsurpassed ability to generate: the tone. This problem can potentially repeat itself on every new note or syllable. s IMPECCABLY SMOOTH AND ENERGETICALLY CONNECTED You’ll change this only when you change your vowel habits, when you stop inflecting singing down or drop at the end of sentences, and change the way you produce diphthongs. Pure s VOCAL AGILITY Italian vowels offer a pathway to better overall intonation and complete vocal ease, for s WELL FOCUSED TIMBRE groups and individual singers. s CLEAN ATTACKS Italians naturally produce forward, ringing vowel sounds while North Americans do s GRACEFUL PHRASING not. Prove it to yourself. Say “A,” “E,” “I,” “O,” “U” very slowly while over-enunciating and s FULL MASTERY OF BREATH CONTROL breathing between each vowel. Notice these English vowels actually consist of two sounds, s AVOIDANCE OF LOOSE VIBRATO and that you drop pitch on the second half of each vowel, whether or not that vowel is s SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS BETWEEN THE CHEST MIDDLE HEAD officially a diphthong. Now, maintain your inner smile, with teeth showing, while quickly and falsetto voices articulating the same vowel sounds. Immediately you will notice a brighter quality to the When incorporated into barbershop harmony, Bel sound. This is essentially how an Italian feels while saying each of his vowels, as he natu- Canto methods greatly improve a singer’s vocal tone rally resonates each in the front of his face. and agility, while generating clear, accent-free diction 7KHUHDUHILYHSXUHYRZHOVLQ,WDOLDQ ´$(,28µDUHUHVSHFWLYHO\SURQRXQFHG´$Kµ “Eh” “Ee” “Oh” “Oo.” When sustained, Italian vowels feel “unfinished” to the English in both ballads and patter songs. It can take patience speaker’s ear, as if the vowel has been cut off after the first half. Italian vowels are “pure” and focus to integrate all the techniques, so this article because there is no second part to the vowel sound and therefore no diphthong. The sound focuses on principles that can produce immediate results. you make at the start of the vowel is the only sound you make, so the attack and release of each vowel is naturally precise. Breathe with perfect ease When Italians sing mixed vowels within a single word, you’ll generally hear each vowel You will not sing your best until you learn to breathe in a separately and independently. An “Ah” yields to the “Ee” without blending the two, similar manner that removes pressure from your throat, SUHYHQW- to how barbershoppers try for an open sound until the turn of the diphthong. With a little LQJLWIURPWDNLQJUHVSRQVLELOLW\WRPDNHWKHVRXQGGetting practice, singers can blend these five Italian vowel sounds to form any English vowel sound in air “into the tank” is not enough. Your rib cage must a way that sounds completely natural to the North American ear. work in concert with your abdominal muscles so that That said, don’t worry about how to make Italian vowels sound good in English until your entire torso works as a breath-support mechanism. you’ve had time to internalize the dramatic difference you can hear and feel when you stick Engage the ribs. Stand in front of a mirror in good pos- exclusively to these five pure vowels. You’ll find that words are automatically and instantly ture while clasping both hands in front of the sternum. tuned, the sound is brighter and more natural, and chords ring far better. If your “forward lift” While you inhale, pull the hands in opposition, as shown muscles are maintained (discussed in part 2), it is almost impossible to recreate your problem in the photo on page 1 of this issue. This maneuver, an sounds (also discussed in part 2); all your vowels will come forward almost automatically. old iconic image for pretentious-looking opera divas, is Only after these Italian vowels are an engrained habit should you refine your ability to actually an exercise to strengthen and energize the ribs in blend them into natural-sounding English. It won’t be difficult, and you’ll never want to return an open, expanded position. You should feel this engage- to your North American vowels! ment in the lower rib muscles of the back. (Some find it helpful to create a mental picture of only the bottom As you learn to use your rib cage in the breath-support of the ribs expanding to take in the breath, with the air mechanism, you’ll find you can make a very big sound coming in through two small, imaginary holes in your while very little air passes over your vocal chords. A back, just below the rib cage.) trained Bel Canto singer requires such a small stream of Focusing the inhalation via the lower ribs elimi- air that, were he to sing with a candle an inch nates tension in the upper chest and neck, while or two from his mouth, the flame would engaging muscles that have always been invol- barely flicker. The key is to maintain a untarily directed by the lungs. Strengthen- constant, natural air pressure. ing these back muscles takes some focused practice, but as you learn to stabilize the Find your inner smile ribs in the expanded position while singing The internal musculature of your a difficult phrase, you will begin to notice mouth is your acoustical “amphithe- that WKHSUHVVXUHLVWDNHQRII\RXUWKURDWWR ater.” Open it up properly and you’ll VXVWDLQVRXQGDQGVWUDLJKWWRQH greatly improve your tone, diction, and ability to maintain pitch—even The author demonstrates the musculature for on descending musical lines. the “inner smile,” which expands the When you yawn, you can singer’s “acoustical amphitheater.” SNELHAMPHOTOGRAPHY.COM feel your cheeks and the soft November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 17 palate at the back of your throat rise How an operatic soprano up. Now raise your cheeks and soft SNELHAMPHOTOGRAPHY.COM became a barbershop vocal coach palate without yawning while keep- Less than a month after the author A “barbershop brat” as ing your lower jaw in its relaxed natu- started coaching Connecticut’s Silk a child, Debra Lynn’s ral position, the teeth slightly apart City Chorus together and in indi- earliest musical heroes and your tongue gently touching vidual break-out sessions, members included Suntones legends the back of your bottom-front teeth. reported a dramatic increase in +DUODQ:LOVRQDQG*HQH (The lower jaw, neck and tongue re- group singing cohesion and a sharp Cokeroft, who directed her main relaxed.) This energized upper decrease in individual vocal issues. IDWKHU*HRUJH0RXQWLQ jaw and palate orientation, combined the Coastmen in the early with the engaged ribs noted above, breathe either by opening your throat, 1960s. Following a long is your new default singing position. lifting your chest or by extending your career as a prominent professional singer and vocal coach in To quickly pull this muscular un- abdomen, stop those habits. Instead, Hawaii, Debra found her way back to the mainland and the derstanding together, use what I call a simply lift the “inner smile” muscles barbershop world only last year. “breath prep,” which helps engage the into place on each inhalation and allow “In early 2009, Sweet Adeline Lindi Bortney (current director of Maiden Vermont) had read a Bel Canto article frontal lift, inner smile and energized the breath to effortlessly fill your lungs just before she went on vacation in Maui, where I was living rib cage in one thoughtful movement. quickly and quietly. You’ll discover that at the time,” Debra recalls. “She accompanied one of her Each time you breathe through your without any conscious effort to inhale, leads to a private voice lesson in my studio. As she listened mouth, think “ah” as you fully stretch your lungs still have more than enough and watched the rapid transformation of this gal’s voice with the muscles back in your throat and air—and with time, some of your vocal Bel Canto principles, Lindi looked at me and said, ‘I wish you lift the soft palate into high position. fatigue issues may vanish as well! could work with my chorus of women in Vermont.’ This creates what I call the internal Inhale your coming vowel. When “That one conversation started a collaborative relation- ear-to-ear “Cheshire Cat grin.” attacking a phrase that begins with ship that began a year ago, dovetailing two seemingly Inhale each time with this smile, a vowel sound, some vocal coaches unrelated musical realms in a serendipitous and potentially which is easier to maintain than the encourage adding a near-silent “H” unprecedented way,” she continued. “My move to Connecticut yawn, in the back of your mouth ahead of the vowel so that you don’t led to my vocal production work with Silk City Chorus—a throughout each phrase. If you do begin the phrase with a glottal attack group my dad also sang with in the 1970s—and with SAI’s this properly, you’ll naturally direct at the back of the throat. Avoiding Millennium Magic and several com- resonant vowels right under your nose. glottal attacks is a worthy goal, but that peting BHS and SAI quartets, includ- You’ll then direct the vowels forward, extra air for the “H” can destabilize the ing Men in Black.” rather than farther back in your throat sound for a few notes. In Bel Canto, Debra Lynn has a bachelor’s (where intonation becomes problem- you instead simply WKLQN of the coming degree in voice performance and atic) while using pure vowel while received four years of post-graduate lips and tip of the you inhale, which training in Bel Canto methods in San 3DUWZLOOGLVFXVV tongue for quicker +RZ´IRUZDUGOLIWµJHQHUDWHVJUHDWHUULQJ- naturally readies )UDQFLVFR$XVWULDDQG*HUPDQ\6LQFH articulation. your vocal mus- 1993, she has maintained a private ing and vocal freedom in every phrase “Smile” instead culature in the vocal studio, sung as principle soprano +RZWRIL[WKHPRVWSUREOHPDWLF(QJOLVK of “tanking up.” proper position. with the Maui Symphony and Pops vowels and consonants, virtually eliminat- Orchestras, and worked as a profes- Barbershop songs ing all of your group’s prior intonation Then the vowel sional singer in the Hawaiian conven- feature many long challenges is attacked with tion industry. She was founder of Maui phrases and quick :K\WKHVLQJLQJDGYDQWDJHVRI\RXWK a gentle, crisp ac- Civic Light Opera and her original breaths. “Tanking enjoyed by Westminster Chorus are over- tion that may be CD “Heaven in Your Heart” was a Na up,” or quickly stated—and why older men actually have felt slightly at the Hoku Hanohano Award finalist for Inspirational Album of the sucking in air be- the upper hand in certain areas top upper back Year in 2009. Once Maui’s best known voice coach, she devel- tween phrases, can portion of the oped the ability to distill the essential Bel Canto methods to constrict the neck and back of the throat, where the pharynx is located. their essence, helping singers of all abilities enjoy rapid and throat, reducing vocal quality. Once If your group consciously breathes dramatic improvement. you get used to Bel Canto breath together like they sing together, group debralynnmusic.com support and inner smile methods, articulation becomes much cleaner 18 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 Welcome new members! Thank you recruiters! New members who joined between July 1 and Dec. 1, 2010. Each recruiter’s name follows in italics. Cardinal Chance Irvine Eyal Lantzman -HUU\6KRUWW Jerry Taylor 5REHUW:RRGUXII Spencer Flegel David Jackson Brad Branam 5RQ)ORFN ++DUODQG5DJOH Jerry Shortt 'XDQH+XQWHU Jim Cameron 0HUWRQ7KRUQWRQ .HYLQ5DGHVK 6FRWW%HDUG Dave Jobe Bill Liles &KHVWHU%XUGLFN Logan Varnell 0DF'DOOPDQ Ed Folkwein Jonathan Kay Trevor Brown -RKQ(UZLQH 'LFN5RFNZHOO Riley Shull &KDG*X\WRQ Benjamin Davis :HVOH\7LQWLQJHU 5REHUW/RQJVWURWK $DURQ.HHOLQJ Spencer Jones Darren Malcolm &KDG*X\WRQ Andrew Whitlow 7HUU\0DQQ Rob Garcelon Jack Lehman Kevin Crouch %UXFH%HUJVWHQ -DPHV6QRGJUDVV Beau Sims -HUHP\&RQRYHU Patrick Donnelly 'DYLG2VERUQ )UDQNOLQ6PLWK 'DYLG=LPPHU- Cody Jorgensen Barry Myers, Sr. &O\GH5RJHUV -RKQ6KHSSDUG Butch Goodwin, David MacDon- PDQ .HQQ\.DQW -RVHSK3RRUH Dan Sullivan Evergreen Patrick English Jr. ald Jessie David Larry Kjeldseth Bill Neils -HUU\)UDQN Jim Anderson )UHG(QJOLVK 5REHUW:HEHU 5R\5REHUWVRQ -DPHV%HLQLQJ (OGRQ6DXJVWDG Thomas E. Davis Tony Knollhoff *RUGRQ+RKHLPHU -DPHV5DVSEHUU\ Peter Delevett Don Medlen *HRUJH.RULQHN &OLQWRQ.HJHO Jon Haley Michael Meier *HRUJH&RNHU *HUDOG0HLHU Aaron Hutchin- Jaylen Morren son 5LF0RUUHQ -HUHPH\-RKQVRQ Nick Oswald Aaron Keeling 'DQ:DUVFKDXHU -DPHV)DUUHOO,, Nathan Spilker Steve Lanier 6FRWW6SLONHU &KULV%DWHVRQ Robert {Bob} Brandon Metts Stinson -RKQ6WHJQHU 0LFKDHO'XQQ Zahir Omar-Cobb S. Rapheal Tate .\OH*RRGH &ODUNH3HWHUVRQ John Pfaff Alex Thompson -HUHPH\-RKQVRQ &XUWLV+DOOEHUJ Matthew Sim- Scott Towers mons &KDUOHV&DUULHU -DPHV*LOFKULVW Tyler VanDyke Steve Sudduth &KDUOHV&DUULHU 6WHYH%URGHUVHQ Mark Wolff Paul Vondrasek $QGUHZ%DUEHU $EHOLQH%URZQ Jordan Zimmer- Jacob Wagner man %DUW/RYLQV -RQ3HWHUVRQ Jared Wells 5LFKDUG+XJKHV Dixie Peyton Wood Graham Bannister &KULVWRSKHU:RRG 7RQ\%RZPDQ Harris Beau- Central champ States $QGUHZ%HDX- Twink Adler FKDPS %U\FH6FKDIHU Frank Biscardi Jim Adler 'RQ-DFNVRQ %U\FH6FKDIHU David Collao Ryan Ask :DOWHU(GPRQG- 7KRPDV+DU- VRQ ULQJWRQ David Crenshaw Jerry Brehmer 6WDQOH\:RROH\ 7RUUH\0LWFKHOO Jeffrey Crews Kirk Brown 'RXJ)LHOGV :LOOLDP%URZQ Cameron Druyor, D.J. Cameron Jr 5REHUW6DEDWD :DOWHU(GPRQG- Van Carrier VRQ &KDUOHV&DUULHU Noah Dutton Alex Clement -RKQ'XWWRQ &KDUOHV&DUULHU Logan Green Larry Decker $QGUHZ%HDX- )UDQ:LOVRQ FKDPS Dale French Gary Groot 3DXO2JOH 5LFKDUG0XUSK\ Roger Gramly Colin Harrison -HUU\-RE -HUHP\&RQRYHU Dan Harre Patrick Lampert 5D\PRQG+DUUH 6WDQOH\:RROH\ November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 19 Welcome our newest 50-year members PATTY LEVEILLE New members: We’ll save you a spot here in 2060! Alex Andrews Jack Drennan Darrell Harting Charles Lower Roger Perkins C.R. Bame Gayle Edmondson Dwight Hatton Marvin Maurer Randy Peters James Beutel John Essenburg Robert Henshaw Andy McCann Daniel Place Bill Hamilton of Monroeville, Norman Blakely Robert Fangert William Herrmann James McDonnell Harry Plows Pa. received his 70-YEAR pin William Boll Robert Fedel William Hoerr James McDougall Don Pyper Weldon Borgaard Don Ferris Phil Hoffman Gerald McElfresh James Ramsey from Society CEO Ed Watson in Ralph Brandt Theodore Fijak Earle Holt Thomas McQuee- Charles Rein Philly. Gene Gillam, of Sagi- Lynn Brittan Louis Fraass Marcus Hyre ney Roy Rhoades naw, Mich. also reached 70 Robert Brown Gordon Gardiner John Johansen James Merritt Leslie Rich- Don Burton John Gaug Paul Kelley John Mitchell mond years in 2010. Bill Cates Robert Geil Curt Kimball James Moon Frank Rosano Fred Clark Walter Gilbertson Joseph Klockner Robert Moorehead Richard Ro- Merrill Spahlinger Richard Wepking Kent Cornwell Elvin Goertzen 5DQGDO.ORSÀHLVFK Jack Nash thermel C.S. Spencer Richard White John Cosley Howard Gollnick Thomas Knoebber Rollin Neal William Schreiner Cal Squires Philip Wilding Anthony D’Angelo Carl Grahn Alton Kohn Bernard Newland Gerry Selkirk Richard Staedt Norman Wolfe Ronald Davis Spencer Graves William Kruse Paul Ogle Alfred Shawcross Earl Sterling Gordon Wolter Douglas Davis Albert Haggard Vincent Lacasella Brian O’Leary Philip Singer Jack Stevens Glen Woods Richard deMont- Dick Hamilton Duane Larsen Francis Page Neal Sisson Michael Strianese Richard Woodworth mollin Edward Hanrahan Robert Lau Larry Palomino Gale Smith Frank Szente Bill Woolsey Tony Di Lanni Robert Hansen William Lean John Patricia Henry Smothers Ted Tarr Robert Young John Donohoe Gerald Hansen Roger Lewis Ray Patsko Robert Sockett Kermit Taylor William Zdance- John Donovan Dale Hanson Donald Lockwood David Patterson Barnett Solomon John Tyler wicz Matthew Ma- )UHG(QJOH Bruce Klein John Wagner 7RPP\&DVWOH Chuck Strawser )UDQN+DDWDMD $ODQ'XULFN cLaren Frank Atkin 6WHSKHQ+DJ- $OEHUW3DROLQL Craig Cairns 1DWKDQLHO:DOWHUV Steven Hein Keith Allen )UHG-DQ]HQ 'RQ%DUWRQ HUGRQ Matthew Whitaker 5REHUW3ULFH Robert Thompson 7KRPDV$UQHEHUJ +DUU\.HOODP Bruce Mathewson Clark Baker John LeFever 3KLO'H%DU George Caraway %LOO3\OH Jon Heusser Bob Andrus %LOO0DWKHZVRQ %HQ/RZH 5REHUW6WHPHQ Mark Wolf -D\=LQQ Calvin Thompson -RKQ.RHSFNH -DPHV0F&RQQHOO Michael McCay Jerry Baldwin Brian Makely %UXFH3RHKOPDQ Evan Chevalier $ODQ*UHHQ Taylor Irwin Timothy Arma- %LOO0F&D\ 5REHUW5REHUWV :LOOLDP+ROGHQ Larry Womac 1RUPDQ-DYHQV J.C. Ward -HII,UZLQ cose Tom Melberg David Bousselot Peter Mellencamp -RVHSK6DPRUD Mike Collins 'DQ1LFKROV Lee Jackson 5REHUW)RJOH %UXFH)RUHPDQ 5D\6WDVNR %HQ/RZH Sidney Wright 'RQ7RPOLQVRQ Eugene {Granpa} 'DOH6FKXHIIQHU John Beam Paul Millius Ben Brandt Manic Moran %UXFH&KXUFK Jarvis Cotton Williams Thomas Kuntz %DUU\/LQWKLFXP *HRUJH/HGHUHU %DUU\%UDQGW 3DXO6FKPLGW 'RQDOG'UHVVOHU 'DYLG%ODLQH .HQ6OLQGH Stephen Bell Spencer Milner Chris Breaux Stan Musick Illinois Chuck Firkaly David Wills Jeff McCracken 0LOHV'RROH\ $O/RYLN 'DQ+HFNHUPDQ 2OOLH%ULOKDQWH Harold Brockway 3DWULFN)DURQH :LOOLDP'HFNHU *UHJ+D\HV Adam Bradley Brian Morris Duncan Campbell Kyle O’Neill -XOHV.DVWHQV Graham Johnson Jeff Milam &KULV%XHFKOHU 5REHUW6FKPLWW 9DQQ6KXWWOH- 5RQDOG0XUUD\ Gery Conlin 7RGG%R\OH Land O’ *HQH1HOVRQ Joey Candrilli Jon Murphy ZRUWK Zander Pansulla &UDLJ%OXFNHU Aaron Kitzmiller Lakes Denny Nelson -HUU\&DQGULOOL 0DUVKDOO7KRPS- Robert Duplantier 6WHYH3DQVXOOD Jacob Cox 5RJHU&DLQ Dylan Ahmann 6WDQOH\+HOG John Cape VRQ -RVHSK6DPRUD Jesse Patino $OODQ+HGHPDQ Wyatt Kitzmiller 7\OHU6DXWWHU Luke Ogren 1HPR$VKRQJ David Rohrer Bruce Elkind 0DUN'DYLGVRQ David Frerker 5RJHU&DLQ Robert Booker +DUROG2JUHQ James Charest 'DYLG0XUDOW 5LFKDUG/OHZHO\Q John Reveles 5RGQH\:HUW Dan Krackhardt 6WHYH=RUQ Neil Opstad 6WHYH)UHHPDQ Tyler Salvage Steven Ewert 5LFKDUG%XUFK Donald Gorder -RVHSK1RYHOO\ Gary Brenner 7RQ\5RJQHVV Clark Chesser *DU\$FNHUPDQ 5LFKDUG1LHOVHQ Ed Rodgers 5LFKDUG$OOHQ David Krackhardt (GZDUG*UHHQ- Eric Renz $ODQ:LOH Chris Schmidt Big Joe Ferrante 0DUYLQ5RWHU Fred Jaicks -RVHSK1RYHOO\ KDOJK 5RJHU%XOO Chris Clark 5RQ%RRWKH (GZDUG$O- Sean Samitt -D\%HQW] Wayne Krenn Dale Buttschau Tyler Sautter %LOO&ODUN Liessman Stur- EDQRVNL 5LFKDUG3DWWRQ Kirk Ongman *HRUJH0F*HH 5D\PRQG%XWW- 'DQ6FKURHGHU Joseph Conte laugson Derek Foster Bob Sickler -D\%HQW] Scott Lammers VFKDX Jim Scorgie 5DOSK-HIIHUV 6KDQH6WUDVVHU 1HLO3HQQ\ZLWW 5REHUW%DUU\ Alfredo Rodri- -RQDWKDQ&OXQLHV Nathan Chastek 0D\QDUG/LVFXP Michael Elliott Brice Todd Phil Gruenhagen Jim Skinner guez Tom McClure $O6WRFNHU Kaleb Smith 7KRPDV*XWHU- -RKQ5RELQVRQ 5DQG\*XHUULHUL -RVHSK/D%DUJH *HRUJH6WLYHU )UDQN5LGGLFN Joseph Dingel- 5RJHU%XOO ERFN Nolann Williams David Hawks Aaron Smith Karlin Schelker Jim McIntire dein Eric Sorenson Scott Friend -HII0DUNLOOLH $UWKXU+D]OHWW 3UHVWRQ.LQJVOH\ 0LFKDHO.DDV -RKQ9HOEHFN 5RJHU&KULVWLDQV $UOHQ9HUZLHEH 6FRWW.DKOHU Jim Young Jerry Hirsch Takayoshi Soto Kevin D. Smith Bruce Moore Chris Dreier Gregory Strike David Garcia -HIIUH\+RXVWRQ -HURPH:DONHU %HQ/RZH .HYLQ6ZDUW] 5REHUW3UDHW]HO %LOO:HW]HO -RKQ6FKHUHU (GULV4DUJKDK Justin Holgersen Maurice Souza Marvin Strom Tyler Myers Danny Fallon Jonathan Van- Shawn Geller Far Western 0DWWKHZ:KLWDNHU 3DXO6FKPLGW -RKQ:DEHO 'HQQLV3XUG\ .HQ6OLQGH Bruggen 6WHYH6WRMRZVNL Patrick Abbott Michael House Ralph Spencer John Woodyatt Phil Neiswander John Gethers .HQ0HWWOHU James Goode :D\QH.QLJKW 5REHUW3DWWHUVRQ 5LFKDUG2DNHV -D\%HQW] -RH'RYH (GZDUG&KULVWR- Chris Vander Pas &KXFN6KDUSH Kevin Akin Fred Johnson Timothy Stiff JD Price SKHUVRQ .HQQHWK)HOWRQ Josh Haberle -RVHSK6DPRUD (3KLO$\GRQ %ULDQ+RHUQLQJ Johnny .\OH3DXO Allen Grohn Kyle Weaver 7KRPDV0R\HU Samuel Alex- Paul Kennard Thomas Stolick Appleseed David Purkey )UDQN+DDWDMD -D\)DKO Don Harkey ander -DPHV*DVNLOO *HUDOG6WRQH Joseph Amstutz -DPHV%XWOHU Dan Gronberg John Yeo %DUU\%XUNH 3DXO6FKPLGW Dave Kirby Kimball Stucki, Jr *UHJ%DWFKHORU Brian Roller :LOOLDP*DXVORZ 'HQQLV*HOOHUW Shane Helbig John Andrews %HQ0DUGHU 'DYLG6WXFNL Cameron Bible 7HG5RVH Damon Gruen .HQQHWK+DOY- 0LFKDHO)UD]HU Turner Kirk Joseph Sutherland &RU\5LFKPRQG Terry Saylor 'RQ%HWWV Mid-Atlantic HUVRQ Verne Arnold 'DYLG&RZDQ 7KRPDV/RZHUUH Todd Brown -DQ6PLWK Karl Haataja Hal Aalestad Michael Hittie 20 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 .HQQHWK+DOY- Lee Markham Terry Roof .XUW%RXWLQ 6HWK2UHQVWHLQ Donny Dunn Ontario *DU\0RQURH HUVRQ 'DQ6FRWW 3DXO:DJQHU Joe Civita Jason Oyola 5XVVHOO(UZLQ Rob Arbuckle Derek Herman Rich Hurley Richard May David Roush $UPDQG/DUR- 9LFWRU6DIIULQ John Freeman, Jr. ,DQ5R\ %DUU\*HRUJH *Z\Q:LOOLDPV )UDQN6KLSS (ULF(QJHOKDUGW FKHOOH Noble Scheepers 5XVV-RKQVWRQ Dan Austin James Jimenez Steven Jarowski Ryan McDonnell Pete Sanden Jay Cram -RKQ^-DFN` Mark Haskell .HQ5)LVKHU 'HQQLV0F1D- )UDQFLV6LJZDUW $QWKRQ\'H6RX]D 5RQDOG6KXH\ 6HWK2UHQVWHLQ &RULVK &KULV6ODFNH Rod Haney PDUD Paul Johnston Arthur {Art} Terry Schmal- Ian Doyle Joe Sperry Butch King 'DYLG&KDSOLQ Robert {Bob} :LOOLDP&ROH Medici zried .HYLQ2UUHOO (G&RQQRU 5REHUW/HH Jeff Hibberd Martin Andrew Jorquera $DURQ:DWWV +HUEHUW9DQ1RWH William Duncan Terry Topka Kier Klepzig -RKQ&DPSEHOO 5REHUW.UDPE 6WHYH6WRMRZVNL Robert Mersereau Rodger Smith $QGUH:HOODQG &KDUOHV(DNHU &ODXGH.D\OHU Terrence Lynch Dave Massie Jay Kapila &KDUOH\$EUD- :LOOLDP0LOOHU Marc Emmerich Robert Trombi Warren Levister %RE)HOORZV 'DYLG&]XSLQVNL 6\OYHVWHU%XV]WD FKLQVN\ Thomas Spreer 0DUN6FKXOGHQ- 'DYLG6HNXOD 5REHUW&OXHWW Sam Steep Errol Moerdyk Jim Kirkland Thomas Mextorf $O2VHNDYDJH IUHL Steve Verbil Chuck Maury :LOOLDP&DPSEHOO &KXFN0RHUG\N -RKQ73ULFH 'RXJ5KRGHV Gerald Tabao- David Huang 0LFKDHO5XGROSK %UDQWO\&R[ Fred Vander Edward Newman Garrett Kline John Meyer sares *DU\%UXFH Richard Went- (XJHQH3¿VWHU Heide /DZUHQFH/HDFK -RKQ+XEEDUG +XJK'HYLQH 6WHYH6WRMRZVNL Brian Jones worth 0LFKDHO0DVWHUV 5DQG\&DUWHU Terry Ruedger Dave Kohls Samuel Miles Ronald Thomas &KULVWRSKHU.XO- 0LFKDHO.OHLQ Greg Piazza Hank Winters 'HQQ\:LVVLQJHU 3KLO)HUJXVRQ 0LNH'RXJKHUW\ 3DXO%DUUHWW PDQQ Harry Willis .ULV+XWVHOO 'RXJ3URFWHU Eric Spry Gil Lawrence Alan Milne Jerry Timmons Brian Kelley :DOW/DQH Dick Price .HYLQ&ROODU 5RQ.OLQH /DQH6SHFN 3DXO%RULV $QWKRQ\3DOPLHUL -RKQ7KRPSVRQ Pioneer Drew Turrisi Harry Levin Kevin Monte- Paul Vander David Ladner Carolinas Steve Skinner James Atwood 0DWWKHZ3LXV -RH0F&R\ virgen Aarde 'DQQ\0DUNV Kenneth Baldwin -DPHV0F$EHH *DU\0RQURH Scott Verlinde David Lloyd 6WHYH6WRMRZVNL :DOODFH5H\QROGV Woody Leach /DZUHQFH6DXHU Brennan Slacke Charles Baxter -RHO7RGG $QGHUVRQ6KX- Pedro Morales Jeff Woerner 3DXO*ULPP Steve Banks &KULV6ODFNH 5RQ&KDIIHH Paul Wargo PDWH .HQQHWK(KUOLFK &KULVWLDQ+XQWHU Donald Mac- 5REHUW/HH Isaac Stewart Roger Brook 6WHUOLQJ%HUU\ George Loulis Chris Pascucci Neal Woodard Gregor Ken Blamble 5REHUW-RKQV %LOO/HH -HUH5LFKDUGVRQ 7-%DUUDQJHU 'XDQH)HXHUKHOP *HRII7XFNHU +DUULVRQ0F- Mark Stomski Dylan Broome Rocky Kyle Lucchesi Keith Poss Butch Yon Charlie Meyer &DQQ -RH6LPSVRQ 'DYH%HFKDUG Mountain 5XVW\:LOOLDPV -RQDWKDQ%D\OLV +DUU\%DLORU :LOOLDP)LW]JHU- Jimmy Cooper Dave Wecht Dennis DePalma Ronald Alexander Rob Lucchesi, Sr Rob Richards DOG %LOO0\HUV -HUU\3LFDUG 'DQ/DWXOLSSH 6WHSKHQ/XQVIRUG 5XVW\:LOOLDPV 7RP1LVEHW Northeast- Paul Norman Willard Cottrell Bob Welborn Michael Doherty Pete Baston Moe Maglinger Paul Richtmyer ern )*LOOLV -RH6LPSVRQ 7LPRWK\0F*UDWK 7HG0F.LQQH\ :LOOLDP*LEVRQ :LOOLDP:HQJHU &KULVWRSKHU3DSD Dan Balint David Orenstein Wayland Crutch- Wayne Workman Hans Fink Jake Butler Tom Manzo Richard Rogers 7RGG/DPVRQ 6HWK2UHQVWHLQ ¿HOG *UHJ=LQNH 'DQ%H]DLUH -RHO*LOOHVSLH :LOOLDP5LSOH\ &DUO/XQG Jonathan Boutin Ben Orenstein &KXFN0LOOHU Daniel Flanagan Chip Chipman Drama on Stage RED TUX JACKET $59 Fully-Lined Handsomely Tailored TUX COAT & PANTS $79 TAILS COAT & PANTS $110 ETONS $37 SLACKS $17 BLAZERS $49 BUY DIRECT! AmericanFormalMart.com 1.800.7.TUXEDO November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 21 :RRG\:RRGV Wes Robbins Tuck Wilson Andrew Lujan %URRNV+DUNH\ (GZDUG+ROPHV Austin Moore 'RQ5HHYHV Brad Clement 5R\&DUVRQ %RE:LOVRQ &KULVWLDQ'LD] Wayne Barry Evan Jenks .HQQHWK0\HUV Brad Schellhaas %LOO%LIÀH Brendan Shafer Joe Marszal 5REHUW(XEDQN 'RQ+HDWRQ Ryan Nienstadt $OEHUW6FKHOOKDDV Joseph Dunn (GZDUG6LPRQV Sunshine :DOWHU3KLOOLSV Henry Bean Parker Kidder *UHJ+DUJLV Michael Skutt 'DOH:HH Thomas Swore Rex Agler Kevin Mendez 'DYH+HUG :D\QH:LVH Buster Page 0DQQ\/RSH] Cecil Garrison %ULDQ)RVWHU *RUGRQ/HQFL $OH[5XELQ Jon Brame John Klepzig %XG/HYLWW Thad Smith 1RUPDQ*DUULVRQ Kenneth Tennant John Allaire John Mostoller 5LFN%URZHU -DPHV.OHS]LJ Paul Pfeiffer 'DURQ+DVOH\ George Gomoll 7RQ\&KULVWHQVHQ -RVHSK6KHDUHU 5LFKDUG3DXOVRQ Bill Brandenburg Koty Kozak :D\QH0H\HQEHUJ Jay Swindle %RE&DXOH\ Camren Thomas Paul Brewer Russ Pascoe :HQGHOO*ODVV )UDQN/DYHUSRRO Vincent Powell *LO&DUULFN David Green 5DLVKD4XLQQ *HUDOG$QGHUVRQ 3KLOOLS3HWHUVRQ Brian Brown John Lake :LOVRQ5HQIURH Taylor Thomas &XUW.LPEDOO Larry Walters John Collins Thomas Peck 3KLO5RWK 5RE/DNH Will Renfroe 0LFKDHO7KRPDV Nicholas Larmer 'DOH:HH $QGUH3DSLQHDX 5D\PRQG&RGQHU David DeYoung John Livingston :LOVRQ5HQIURH Bob Walker 7RQ\6FKURHU Jose Contreras Andrew Pickrell :D\QH:LVH 5'DYLG*UXQGLVK Gary Rothen- +DUYH\&URVV Bob Martinson Seneca Land .HYLQ0HQGH] 'RQDOG0LOOV Terry Duffy, Sr Tim Mallien berger Doug Worthington 6WHSKHQ/XQVIRUG Ian Babb Donald Dearing Ed Planeta 5D\PRQG$GDPV -RKQ%HFN 'RQ5HHYHV +XJK'DYLGVRQ Mark Mayerstein 'DQ:UKHQ %LOO1RUWRQ 'RQDOG0DVHOOL Joel Edwards David McElroy Reagan Rothen- 5RODQG%ODX- Martin Coe Francis Derocher Eli Qureshi :LOVRQ5HQIURH *LO&DUULFN berger ZNDPS 'DQ:UKHQ 3KLO:LOGLQJ -RVHSK6KHDUHU Bill Falbaum Mac McWilliams Daniel Hopkins Blake Doner Eddie Ramirez (UQHVW7XUQHU 1HLO5RZHU 5RE+RSNLQV 'DQLHO:XQGHUOLQ *LQHV&UX] Jeffrey Fretland Jess Moonen Hutch Hutchison Timothy Downs Doug Rives )UDQN/DYHUSRRO 0DUN*URWKH %UDGOH\%DELDFN 7KRPDV'RZQV 5D\PRQG*D- David Gast Brenden Moran Ian Lampe Randall Escalona URIDOR -RKQ/DNH 1RUPDQ:LQJDUG %ULDQ3UDHW]HO (GGLH0HMLD Matt Sullivan Nick Gilley Ammon Nelson -RKQ/DQJ¿WW Chris Fauer %XUWRQ6XOOLYDQ :LOVRQ5HQIURH -D\GHQ1HOVRQ &KDUOHV3LFNKDUGW *HRUJH:LOOLDPVRQ George Sunny Steven Graham Bill Patterson Doug Latch Fabian Guerra (GZDUG6LPSVRQ 5LFKDUG0RUULVRQ 'HQQLV2OPVWHDG .HLWK/DQJGRQ :LOO5RGULJXH] Patrick Taylor Ryan Haggerty Matt Peterson Edwin Lindsay William Hendricks :HVOH\7XUQHU /DUU\7KRPDVRQ -RVK3HWHUVRQ -RKQ%URZQ $QGUH3DSLQHDX Dave Urschel Gil Hayhurst James Price Adam Lukasik Gregg Hunsberger -DPHV(XVWLFH -RH-RKQVRQ 'HQQLV%XVKDZ 5LFKDUG.HQQH\ 'DQLHO:XQGHUOLQ Gregory Wade Samuel Heaton Loren Regan Larry Nageotte Kent Joachim -RKQQ\0F'RQDOG $GDP6DOHV 5RJHU0F&OHOODQG (DUO3LIHU 5RQDOG*RUH Tyler Heilaman Jared Rigby Stephen Smith William Lovett Southwestern 5REHUW5LFKDUGVRQ 6FRWW5LJE\ 'DYLG:LQWHUV &KULV2ZHQV David Ashmore Edward Holmes The The Happiness GOOD Emporium & News! casualuniforms.com 1-800-591-7063 www.casualuniforms.com WHAT’S NEW: Order CDs online and listen to sound clips – visit our web site! www.HappinessEmporium.com 22 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 STAY TUNED 3UCCESS 2EADERS REPORT WHAT WORKS United We Sing program going strong in Texas fter the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Heart of Texas Chorus (HOT) Avowed, like many other Society chap- ters at the time, to honor the nation’s military and first The United We Sing concert gets responders with a bigger and better every year, and patriotic concert has become a local tradition draw- based on the Soci- ing many outside groups. ety’s “United We Sing.” HOT is one of the few Society chapters that For helping bring the community has continued doing so every together in harmony, San Marcos, year, and many in the commu- Texas mayor Susan Narvaiz be- nity say that the 2010 event was stowed the key to the city upon the best yet. Sam Tweedy and the Heart of Texas The Heart of Texas was Chorus. She also declared Sept. 12, joined in a two-hour concert 2010 as Heart of Texas Chorus Day. this year by many groups, in- cluding The Marcsmen chorus, was introduced to the audience as the Sweet Adelines Austin an honored guest, and the chorus Harmony chorus, choral groups presented her with a bouquet of from Texas State University, flowers; she received a standing Sterling and Varsity quartets, ovation. the Hill Country Youth Chorus, a 100-member The chorus has partnered each year with the community chorus and several other local groups Texas State University Friends of Fine Arts and and soloists, all performing patriotic, uplifting Communication in what has become a labor of love numbers. VIPs from government, media, education for long-time barbershopper and HOT founding and business were in attendance. member Sam Tweedy. Tweedy has lined up varied This year’s concert was especially meaningful as it musical groups and individuals each year to aug- paid tribute one of San Marcos’ own, Army Captain ment the HOT. While it takes a great deal of effort Paul Pena, who was killed in combat in Afghani- to organize this concert with the many diverse stan. Captain Pena’s mother, Mrs. Cecelia Pena, groups and individuals involved, HOT is commit- ted to continue the tradition. “We have a number of veterans, including me, and retired military members in HOT who will never for- get the events of 9/11,” says Tweedy, ”When everything comes together and we get such a positive response from the active military, veterans and first responders in the audience, it makes it all worthwhile and brings us back for This spring, the Blue And Gray Chorus of Inwood, W.V. presented $1,000 another year. It’s what we do.” each to the band, drama and choral departments at Musselman High Download a copy of the United We School. In the eight years since chartering, they have given more than Sing script written by Ev Nau (including $24,000 via their “Music In The Schools” service project. a Canadian version co-written by Elie Sovoie) at KWWS WLQ\XUOFRPXQLWHG:6 November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 23 STAY TUNED Hanky time: Quartet is catalyst for miracle in Alzheimer’s unit Beach MusicTXDUWHWIURPWKHWilmington, N.C. All this time the unit nurses had stopped ChapterJRWDPHQWLRQLQWKHODVWHGLWLRQRIThe what they were doing and had run for cameras, Harmonizer,DQGWKH\¶OOJHWRQHQH[WPRQWKWRR taking pictures as fast as they could. After all LIWKH\NHHSVXEPLWWLQJVWRULHVOLNHWKLV7KHIRO- the commotion settled, the head nurse called ORZLQJLVDGDSWHGIURPDQRWHE\'U$QGUH5 us over to explain that this patient was in the %ULOODXWKHTXDUWHW¶VOHDG advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and had sat in Other than entertaining an audience for a the same chair, in the same position we had short period, do quartets have a lasting effect seen earlier, for almost three years. Neither on anyone? The answer is GH¿QLWHO\\HV Beach nursing staff nor relatives had ever gotten DQ\ Music (Richard Millard, Lou Leiner, Thomas reaction from this patient. That song was the Head and me) was at one of our regular gigs at first time he had either walked on his own voli- a health care center that had a rather large Al- tion or responded to DQ\WKLQJ. (It was also the zheimer’s unit. We are always asked to sing in first time Beach Music ever cried together!) the unit’s day room, which we always do will- We, the performers, are always confident ingly but with trepidation, as there has always that we are in control of how we entertain the been little reaction from the 50 or so patients audience. This experience indicates that the in various stages of the disease. effect that we have on audiences is, at times, This last time, the last of four songs was “Let greater than we know. Keep singing! the Rest of the World Go By.” As we got into the verse, we noticed a male patient across the room who until that moment had been sitting in the “usual” Alzheimer’s position: head down on his chest and appearing lethargic. His head lifted up, slowly, and a smile broke out. He very slowly stood with much wobbly ef- fort and started to walk across the day room, with WKDW smile plastered on his face. He ap- proached us with WKDW smile and began directing Shocked nurses dropped us as we neared the end of the song. As we fin- ... and the quartet was none the wiser until later, everything and scrambled ished he moved to the end of the quartet, put when staff explained how their singing accom- to capture this moment ... his arm around Richard’s shoulder and smiled, plished something they’d never dreamed possible. smiled, smiled! CHAPTER ETERNAL Society members reported as deceased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1, 2010. E-mail updates to [email protected]. Cardinal Julian Campbell Ted Jain Charles Everett Lee Orr Paul Gehrt Johnny Robin Locke Lloyd Case )UDQN7KRUQH )UDQN7KRUQH )XOOHUWRQ&$ 3DOR$OWR0RXQ- %ORRPLQJWRQ,/ Appleseed &ODUNVEXUJ)DLU- 0XQFLH,1 Doug Hays Clarence Young Robert Farmer WDLQ9LHZ&$ James McCormick Fred Babinsack PRQW:9 Eugene King *UHDWHU.QR[YLOOH71 %HOOHYXH:$ /DJXQD+LOOV&$ Orville Peterson (OJLQ,/ $OOH.LVNL3$ Daniel Mazlik /DID\HWWH,1 J Herman Hines 3LHUFH&RXQW\:$ Lee Goodman &DVD*UDQGH$= Darryl Nordentoft Floyd Beck 3LWWVEXUJK1RUWK Lonial Wire -DFNVRQ06 &RDFKHOOD9DOOH\&$ James Revell /DNH&RXQW\,/ &DQWRQ2+ +LOOV3$ &ROXPEXV*UHHQ- Glenn Hunter Frank Thorne Dave Gryvnak 6DQ)HUQDQGR Darryl Nordentoft Kenneth Benner Charles McFadden ZRRG,1 1DVKYLOOH71 Albert Smith 6DQWD)H6SULQJV&$ 9DOOH\&$ &KLFDJRODQG:HVW /LPD%HDQH2+ :HVWHUQ5HVHUYH Randy Miller 2UDQJH 4XDUWHW &$ Ron Sipes 6XEXUEDQ,/ Angelo Bianchi Theodore McKinley Central $XJXVWD*$ Far Western Eugene Hartzler 6RXWK%D\&$ Arnie Olson &LQFLQQDWL2+ &OHYHODQG:HVW States Clyde Rushing Lawrence Anderson 3DORPDU3DFLILF&$ John Stall (OJLQ,/ Jarvis Cotton 6XEXUEDQ2+ H B Gentry &HQWUDO$ODEDPD 3DORPDU3DFLILF&$ Mark Klunk $ORKD+, Ronald Onken 3LWWVEXUJK0HWUR3$ Roger Neuman 2WWXPZD,$ Giles Solomon Bill Bates 0DULQ&$ Richard Stern %ORRPLQJWRQ,/ John Esposito )RVWRULD2+ Patrick Haven 0DFRQ*$ 3DORPDU3DFLILF&$ Jim Krones 3DORPDU3DFLILF&$ Jim Rateike *UHDWHU3LWWV- Pitch Pitchford 6W&KDUOHV02 James Truluck Wayne Beighley *UHDWHU3KRHQL[$= $UOLQJWRQ+HLJKWV,/ EXUJK3$ :HVWHUQ+LOOV Lou Koeneman )UDQN7KRUQH 3DORPDU3DFLILF&$ Irv Levine Illinois Donald Sheets Joseph Gartner &LQFLQQDWL 2+ )ORULVVDQW9DOOH\02 William York Clayton Benton 6DQWD)H6SULQJV&$ Jack Baird 6WHUOLQJ5RFN 3LWWVEXUJK1RUWK John Power Kenneth McInnis &OHYHODQG71 6DQWD0RQLFD&$ Jerry Marks 'X3DJH9DOOH\,/ )DOOV,/ +LOOV3$ *UHDWHU3LWWV- 6W/RXLV6XEXU- Fred Bolte )XOOHUWRQ&$ Frank Conci Richard Stone George Gruss EXUJK3$ EDQ6W/RXLV1R Evergreen 6HGRQD$= Donald Miernicki +DUULVEXUJ,/ 5RFNIRUG,/ 1RUWKFRDVW2+ Fran Seibert Victor Bolon Jerry Brown 6DQ/XLV2ELVSR&$ David Davis Ron White James Hearn 'H¿DQFH2+ Dixie -XDQ'H)XFD:$ )XOOHUWRQ&$ Benjamin Musser 6WHUOLQJ5RFN 'HFDWXU,/ :DUUHQ2+ Carl Soisson Colin Belcher M Edward Hartley Robert Engan )UDQN7KRUQH )DOOV,/ Charles Iams %HDYHU9DOOH\3$ 6DYDQQDK*$ .LWVDS&RXQW\:$ 0DULQ&$ 0DULRQ2+ Dick Swackhamer 24 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 CHAPTER ETERNAL &OHYHODQG(DVW2+ Donald Carson :HVWFKHVWHU )UDQN7KRUQH Randy Miller Ronald Mell Roger Taylor John Stewart 1RUWKFRDVW2+ +DJHUVWRZQ0' &RXQW\1< Bill Wendel /H[LQJWRQ&RXQW\6& %DWWOH&UHHN0, 'HQYHU0RXQ- 3HQVDFROD)/ Russell Young Ralph Clark Tom McCormick +DUULVRQEXUJ9$ Donald Reddy WDLQ$LUHV&2 Larry Sumerix &ROXPEXV2+ 5RFNODQG&RXQW\1< 1DVVDX0LG,V- Daniel West Ontario 0DFRPE&RXQW\0, 6HEULQJ)/ Joseph Daley ODQG1< 0DKDQR\&LW\3$ Shaun Erb Donald Reddy Seneca Land Ken Walmsley Land O’ Lakes 0RQWFODLU1- Mac McDonald 2WWDZD21 5RFKHVWHU0, Roger Bingeman *UHDWHU3LQHOODV Harold Baerenwald Ned De Camp 3RWWVWRZQ3$ Northeastern Chris Hansen Larry Sumerix %XIIDOR1< &KDSWHU)/ $SSOHWRQ:, /DQFDVWHU5HG Benjamin Musser Michael Dowd /RQGRQ21 *D\ORUG0, Vernon Engle 3DOP+DUERU)/ Norman Crowe 5RVH3$ +DUULVEXUJ3$ .HHQH1+ Donald Lantz Bruce Wangen *UHDWHU'X%RLV3$ )UDQN7KRUQH Vincent Duffy Herbert Oshrain Richard Gardner 6DUQLD21 7KH0RWRU&LW\ Nelson Essig Southwestern Robert Haase )UHGHULFNVEXUJ9$ 1DVVDX0LG,V- /RZHOO0$ Lloyd Lemont 0HWUR0, 6\UDFXVH1< Ray Cage 2VKNRVK:, Michael Fear ODQG1< Robert Goldthwaite 2ZHQ6RXQG21 Harry King :LFKLWD)DOOV7; 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William Jones 5RVH3$ 3RUWVPRXWK0( )UDQN7KRUQH 'HQYHU0LOH Lloyd Lemont Dave Weiss Mid-Atlantic 0RQWJRPHU\ Anthony Spatarella Vincent Zito Donald Gutheil +LJK&2 6HEULQJ)/ +RW6SULQJV$5 Charles Ashton &RXQW\0' 5HG%DQN$UHD1- 0DQFKHVWHU&7 .DODPD]RR0, Roy Pankey Allen Reddy Roe Wiegand $ELQJWRQ/HYLW- Walter Latzko 2FHDQ&RXQW\1- James Hall /RYHODQG&2 )UDQN7KRUQH )RUW:RUWK7; WRZQ3$ $OH[DQGULD9$ 0RUULV&RXQW\1- Carolinas *UDWLRW&RXQW\0, Leonard Siler Donald Reddy John Wiggs Everett Bishop George Lloyd Everett Thompson Warren Bowen /DQVLQJ0, 'HQYHU0LOH 1DSOHV)RUW0\- )UDQN7KRUQH +DUULVEXUJ3$ &KDUOHV7RZQ:9 :HVWHUQ6XIIRON1< 6SDUWDQEXUJ6& Donald Huldin +LJK&2 HUV)/ John Zimmerman Keith Martin Bill Wendel 5RFN+LOO6& /DQVLQJ0, $PDULOOR7; Westchester Chordsmen spread the art at Beijing choral festival In August, 18 members of The Westches- ter Chordsmen (N.Y.) travelled to Beijing, China along with a few Sweet Adelines and others to showcase the barbershop style in the Fourth International Chinese Choral Festival, where they also appeared in 1995. The United Stars of America combined the Chordsmen with a Flushing, N.Y. ensem- ble and was co-directed respectively by Al Fennell and Maestro Yao Xue Yan (“Uncle Yao”). They placed in the “Third Tier, Bronze Medal,” about midway among the 40-odd mostly Chinese competing choruses. The Chinese of Supreme Harmony in the widely applauded their understandable Chinese Forbidden City, at most res- and unique sound as one of the only a cappella taurants, and on the bus. It groups. The group also had a prestigious gig at was clearly the first time most the opening ceremony in the “Big Egg,” Beijing’s listeners had heard barber- world-famous National Center for Performing Arts shop, and they loved it! (see KWWS WLQ\FFWWSFZ). They also performed at “Everywhere we went in the closing reception to standing ovations. Beijing and XI’an we found Of course, the chorus sang Barberpole Cats and a spontaneous stage for sing- chapter repertoire throughout their trip! They ing,” said chapter president broke up the 13-hour boring flight by singing for Tom Pease. “We did not disappoint the crowds enthusiastic passengers, sang in hotel lobbies, on that gathered to hear us. It was the experience of a the Great Wall, in Tiananmen Square, in the Hall lifetime.” ■ November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 25 MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTORY (OW CAN WE HELP YOU BARBERSHOP TODAY 'ET ANSWERS FROM YOUR STAFF Society Headquarters ££äÊÇÌ ÊÛiÊ ÊUÊ >à Ûi]Ê/ ÊÎÇÓäÎÎÇä{ÊUÊnäänÇÈÇ{È{Ê- ® È£xnÓÎÎÎÊUÊv>Ý\ÊÈ£xΣÎÇÈ£xÊUÊ[email protected] "vwViÊ ÕÀÃ\ÊnÊ>°°xÊ«°°Ê iÌÀ>ÊÀÊ>ÞÊÌiÊ>ÌÊwww.barbershop.org Board of Directors PRESIDENT Executive Offices Rick Spencer Bill Biffle UÊAlbuquerque, NM Ed Watson Director of Operations/COO 505-246-9090 Executive Director/CEO s [email protected] bbiffl[email protected] [email protected] EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Patty Leveille Membership Services Alan Lamson UÊManchester, CT Executive Assistant/Office Manager #HARTERS LICENSING DUES FEES RENEWALS 860-647-9523 s [email protected] ADDRESS CORRECTIONS OFlCERS AND ROSTERS [email protected] Ashley Nilles Becca Box TREASURER Manager, Membership Services Member Services-Receptionist Jim Lee UÊNorth Oaks, MN s [email protected] s [email protected] 651-484-8030 Jacqueline Robinson Amanda Emamali Member Services - Membership Member Services-Receptionist IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT s [email protected] s [email protected] Noah Funderburg UÊTuscaloosa, AL Kat Bowser Susan Olson 205-348-4509 Member Services - Membership [email protected] Member Services-Administrative Asst. s [email protected] s [email protected] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ BOARD SECRETARY Events Education and Services Ed Watson UÊNashville, TN Paul Wietlisbach Dusty Schleier Manager, Meetings & Conventions 800-876-7464 Director of Education [email protected] s [email protected] s dschleier@EDUEHUVKRSRUJ Mike O’Neill Clarke Caldwell UÊNashville, TN Member Services - Music Communications (Ex Officio, Harmony Foundation) s [email protected] Melanie Chapman [email protected] Manager of Marketing & PR James Estes s [email protected] Member Services - Music BOARD MEMBERS s MHVWHV#EDUEHUVKRSRUJ Eddie Holt Member Services - Web Developer Rick Ashby UÊLititz, PA Adam Scott s [email protected] 717-625-2945 Member Services - Music [email protected] s [email protected] Lorin May Greg Caetano UÊ V>}]Ê Sherry Lewis Member Services - The Harmonizer s harmonizer@EDUEHUVKRSRUJ 773-353-3732 Executive Assistant [email protected] s [email protected] K.J. McAleesejergins Audio/Video Manager Ted Devonshire UÊPort Hope, ON 905-753-2002 Finance and Administration s [email protected] Heather Verble [email protected] Director of Finance/CFO Harmony Marketplace Shannon Elswick UÊClermont, FL s [email protected] Jerilyn Shea Rost 407-648-7851 Julie Cervantez Member Services Manager, Retail [email protected] s [email protected] Member Services - Accountant Connie Keil UÊTucson, AZ s [email protected] Nancy Carver 520-219-8575 Nick Fotopoulos Member Services - Retail [email protected] Member Services - Information Technology s [email protected] Gary Parker UÊDallas, TX s [email protected] Pam Cervantez Member Services - Shipping/Receiving 972-980-9893 Sam Hoover [email protected] Member Services - Information Technology s SFHUYDQWH]#EDUEHUVKRSRUJ 4142 s SHOOVER BARBERSHOPORG Jim Sams UÊCollierville, TN Music Library 901-488-3128 Copy Center Erin Elkins [email protected] Justin Gray Member Services - Library/Licensing Rod Sgrignoli UÊLittleton, CO Member Services - Copy Center s library#EDUEHUVKRSRUJ 720-981-1246 s [email protected] [email protected] Joe Rau Society Historian Alan Wile Arlington, VA Member Services - Copy Center Grady Kerr UÊ 703-538-6526 s [email protected] (214)-574-5377 *UDG\#*UDG\:LOOLDP.HUUFRP [email protected] 26 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 110 Seventh Avenue North, Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37203 866-706-8021 (toll free), 615-823-5611 )D[ , [email protected] Clarke Caldwell Carolyn Faulkenberry Official Affiliates President/CEO Chief Financial Officer [email protected] [email protected] AAMBS (Australian Association of Men’s Ev Nau Dixie Semich Barbershop Singers) Director of Major Gifts Director of Annual Giving www.aambs.org.au [email protected] [email protected] Michael Donnelly: [email protected] Sean Devine Caki Watson Director of Major Gifts Ambassadors of Song Manager BABS (British Association of Barbershop Singers) [email protected] [email protected] www.singbarbershop.com Ryan Killeen Alan Goldsmith: [email protected] Director of Major Gifts [email protected] BinG! (Barbershop in Germany) www.barbershop-in-germany.de Harmony Foundation Board of Trustees Roberta Damm: [email protected] Bob Brutsman – Chairman Sharon Miller DABS (Dutch Association of Barbershop Singers) 612-865-7371 818-985-9594 [email protected] [email protected] www.dabs.nl Peter Feeney – Vice Chairman Susan Sauls Johan M. Kruyt: [email protected] 702-655-9064 270-826-5027 FABS (Finnish Association of Barbershop Singers) [email protected] [email protected] www.fabs.fi Mike Deputy – Secretary Clarke A. Caldwell Juha Aunola: MXKDDXQROD#JPDLOFRP 801-733-0562 (ARMONY &OUNDATION 0RESIDENT#%/ [email protected] Ed Watson, Barbershop Harmony IABS (Irish Association of Barbershop Singers) Don Laursen – Treasurer Society Executive Director/CEO** www.irishbarbershop.org 559-733-1496 Graham Sutton: [email protected] [email protected] James C. Warner, General Counsel* 901-522-9000 Fred Farrell [email protected] NZABS (New Zealand Association of 239-590-0498 Barbershop Singers) www.nzabs.org.nz [email protected] Andy Hutson: [email protected] Roger Lewis %X OFlCIO 269-965-5714 .OT BOARD MEMBER SNOBS (Society of Nordic Barbershop Singers) [email protected] www.snobs.org Sing Canada Harmony Contact Henrick Rosenberg: [email protected] Board of Directors SPATS (Southern Part of Africa Tonsorial Singers) J.R. Digger MacDougall, Chairman Edward G. Manthorp Tony Abbott: [email protected] 613-836-9558 613-733-7317 [email protected] [email protected] Doran McTaggart Larry Martens 519-948-0637 Chairman, President’s Council [email protected] 613-825-6420 Dave Pearce [email protected] 306-731-3267 Carol M. Argue [email protected] General correspondence/editorial: 604-540-7624, I. Murray Phillips [email protected] [email protected] 902-542-1342 Editorial Board: Ed Watson, Rick Spencer, Gerry Borden [email protected] 604-850-0789 James Thexton Eddie Holt, Melanie Chapman, Lorin May [email protected] 403-238-1008 Lorin May, Editor Trinda Ernst [email protected] Melanie Chapman, Assistant Editor (902) 679-1367 Sharon Towner [email protected] 905-473-2424 www.singcanadaharmony.ca [email protected] Society Subsidiaries The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement Association of Barbershop Quartet of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (DBA International Champions Preservation Association www.AICGold.com www.bqpa.com Barbershop Harmony Society) is a non-profit organi- Association of International Ancient and Harmonious zation operating in the United States and Canada. Seniors Quartet Champions Society of Woodshedders www.seniorsgold.com www.ahsow.org Mission lowship to enrich lives Harmony Brigade Public Relations Officers and The Bar- through singing. www.harmonybrigade.com Bulletin Editors (PROBE) bershop www.harmonize.com/probe Harmony Allied organizations Vision Society To be the premier Sweet Adelines International Harmony, Incorporated www.sweetadelineintl.org www.harmonyinc.org brings men membership orga- MENC: The National Association American Choral together in nization for men who for Music Education Directors Association harmony and fel- love to sing. www.menc.org www.acdaonline.org November/December 2010 s 4HE (!2-/.):%2 27 THE TAG *OE ,ILES 4AGMASTER Juicy tag from a classic Joe Liles love song hen it comes to tags, some were invented to complete Meant to Fall in Love” around 1986, originally ar- an arrangement while others are just stand-alone tid- ranged for male voices and then, soon after, for female bits for the pleasure of singing. The Society’s website voices. Many of you may have heard the song in con- has loads of free tags representing both sources. You tests, particularly in the women’s organizations. There Wcan download any and all of these tags at ZZZEDU- have been a few little variations in the tag, but this one EHUVKRSRUJWDJVto use in works just fine. your quartet or chorus. Sing it in a free, ballad Most of these tags are style, enjoying the inner from issues of 7KH+DU- duet of the lead and bari and PRQL]HU magazine pres- then the bass glissando on ent and past and are not “fall.” The chromatic run of intended to be used on notes requires you to “listen other websites. The occa- louder” than you sing—a sional tag is still copyright- good thing to do at all times, protected by a publisher, -RHFUDFNVXSWKHVXEMHFWRIWKLVWDJ KLV really. The lead has the op- and we pay a fee to the ZLIH.D\ GXULQJKLVUHWLUHPHQWOXQFKHRQ tion of sustaining “love,” publisher for use in the this March in Nashville. all the way through the last magazine only. These tags two measures, or joining in do not appear at ZZZEDUEHUVKRSRUJWDJV with the lyrics. Note the optional note for the bass In searching for a tag in this issue, I went rummag- in measure five. If you wish to shorten the tag, just ing through the files for something tasty and good for start with the last beat of measure two, the lead/bari the ears. I found this one. It’s from one of many love duet on “in.” songs inspired by my sweetheart, Kay. I wrote “I Never Hope you had the happiest holidays ever! ■ I NEVER MEANT TO FALL IN LOVE TAG Words and Music by JOE LILES fall. Arrangement by JOE LILES 1 2 Tenor @ K Ç @Ç Lead 4 @ A Ç I nev-- er meant to fall, did n't wan- na fall in K Bari @ A Ç Bass @ [[[[[Ç fall. I nev- er meant to fall OHDGFDQRSWWRKROGWKUX 3 4 6 @ @ @ @ 5 Ç 4 @ T T Ç ÇÇ T love, in love. nev- er meant to fall Ç @ @ @ @ @ @ ,Ç @Ç T @ @ Ç @Ç T I 28 4HE (!2-/.):%2 s November/December 2010 STANDING CHORAL RISERS from As Seen on the 2010 Barbershop Harmony Society Competition Stage Celebrating 65 Years 5% Discount! of Excellence To All Barbershop Society Members* 6$9( 15 Year Warranty BHS Sponsor/Partner Gas Spring $VVLVW)HDWXUH THE PEERY RISER CHAIR Never again will you be tossed to the side! With our riser chair, you’ll be in the middle of the action no matter what’s happening! What others are saying about Peery Standing Choral Risers . . . “As riser coordinator for the 2009 Barbershop Harmony Society Convention in Anaheim, CA, our team found the Peery Standing Choral Risers to be far superior to the many Wenger Tourmaster sets that we had to construct. Peery risers are built sturdier and are, aesthetically, more presentable on stage. They interlock with Wenger risers so you can add to your existing sets with no complication. The gas-assist setup feature is invaluable for reducing physical exertion and is a real asset for the Peery line. As a member of the Masters Of Harmony championship chorus, and its Operations VP, I know we’ll purchase Peery risers in the future.” - Bruce Oldham, Masters of Harmony *Discount Does Not Include Shipping & Handling 5% Discount Does Not Apply To The Riser Chair :HE ZZZ3HHU\3URGXFWVFRP(PDLO ,QIR#3HHU\3URGXFWVFRP 3KRQH )D[