2012 International Quartet Champion
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July/August 2012 Ringmasters2012 International Quartet Champion INSIDE: New CEO Marty Monson • Get ready for Midwinter in Orlando • Best of the 2012 International Convention July/August 2012 VOLUME LXXII NUMBER 4 LORIN MAY 12 Features Midwinter Mojo in Orlando 10 The Midwinter convention features a great Seniors contest, medalist show packages, and possibly the biggest Youth Chorus Festival yet Marty Monson’s first speech 11 A Reader’s Digest summary of the first address given by the Society’s new CEO/Executive Director MARTY MONSON 28 International quartet competitors 38 International chorus competitors 45 Collegiate competitors There were some unlikely stars at the 2012 International Contest. Read all about the week in Portland—minute by minute! Above photo L-R: “UG” (Prehistoric Oregon), Isaac On the Cover Schlaegel (New York), “UG” (Prehistoric Oregon) 2012 champion Ringmasters PHOTO BY MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY SWEDISH FLAG PHOTO TREATMENT: LORIN MAY Departments 2 8 THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE HARMONY HOW-TO Are you part of your chapter’s circus? How to care for your aging senior voice 3 51 STRAIGHT TALK STAY TUNED Make time for our two greatest events Gigs with George H.W. Bush and Miss America 4 Car salesman to award-winning Met opera singer LETTERS 54 Non-Masters also like to collect “Hale-isms” MEMBER SERVICE DIRECTORY 5 Where to find answers TEMPO 56 Marty Monson named new Society CEO THE TAG This is no hobby: Quartet helps healing begin “Give Me Your Hand” July/August 2012 • The HARMONIZER 1 THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE Alan Lamson, Society President • [email protected] Are you part of your chapter’s circus? ne of the best aspects of getting older is nizations is that the only reward most mem- that most of us get grandchildren. This past bers want for their dedicated hard work is a week Jan and I had the chance to take our little gratitude and recognition. Do you do Ofour-year-old granddaughter to the circus in that on a regular basis? The need for recog- central Vermont—and not just any circus. It nition is one of the easiest and least expen- was Cirkus Smirkus, a kid’s circus. The circus sive needs to meet. But it is something we troupe of about 30 is all between the ages of so easily overlook. 10 and 18 and the talent level is high. The Every one of our members who contrib- entertainment level is just as high. utes to the success of your chapter deserves Much like the proverbial goose on the acknowledgement and to be told that they mill pond as it glides silently over the sur- are greatly appreciated. Thank each of Item# 204523, $.99 each at face with its feet paddling vigorously under your volunteers when they complete their www.harmonymarketplace.com the surface, the circus flew by for the specta- task. Thank each volunteer personally. Be tors with thrills and acts captivating both specific with your praise and recognition. the real children and the older “children.” Avoid sales incentives and reward models And while my granddaughter did not miss for your volunteers. You’ll get better results a single second, I was caught up in when everyone who contributed is recog- the thought of how much like our nized than you will by rewarding your top chapters this circus is or could be. sales people (most number of new members, The face of the circus is the troupe most ad sales for your show program, etc.). of 30. But the support of those 30 Address thank-you notes to your volunteers performers requires nearly twice as with a personal salutation. Hand-write the many back stage people. note—don’t do it on the computer (and don’t do it by e-mail). The only reward Recognition for the And if you are not a member of your chap- “backstage” workers ter leadership, consider taking on one more most members Our chapters have both a task for your chapter. Be part of the back want for their dedi- public face (“center ring”) stage crew. Let your chapter president or mu- and a chapter organiza- sical director receive praise for your chorus’s cated hard work tion operating behind the or your chapter’s performance, knowing that scenes. The public face it is praise for everyone involved. If you have is a little gratitude gets all of the accolades never recruited a member, make that your and recognition. while the guys that really goal for the next four months. If you have make it happen within never served on a committee for your annual Do you do that on the chapter structure just show, make that your goal for the next year. a regular basis? It move on from project to If you have never stepped up to serve on your project, event to event. chapter’s executive board, make that a goal is something we so “Montana Jack” Fitzpat- for the next year. rick has started to give a Don’t be a spectator at the circus—be a easily overlook. face to these average guys, part of the circus. Whether hanging from the “Joe Barbershoppers” of our chapters, a trapeze 20 feet above the ground, being a and tell their story in The Harmonizer. But clown to distract the audience while some- what do we do within our own chapters to one else is resetting equipment, collecting recognize these stalwarts of our chapters? tickets at the door, or selling popcorn, be Most chapters give out awards for Barber- part of the action. shopper of the Month. That takes care of 12 guys. Many have a Barbershopper of the Year or Hall of Fame, which may take care of one or two more members. although they are probably part of the 12 monthly awards anyway. An interesting aspect of volunteer orga- [email protected] 2 The HARMONIZER • July/August 2012 STRAIGHT TALK Rick Spencer, Chief Operating Officer • [email protected] Make time for our two greatest events ere at headquarters, we’re still coming down from two nificant press in Sweden for this monumental event. of the greatest barbershop highs: July’s International Congratulations to SNOBS, and of course all of the Convention and Harmony University just a few competitors. weeks later. We are also very excited to be working For those of you who watched from webcastland, Hwith the Society’s new CEO, Marty Monson. He’ll thank you for making the convention part of your life occupy this column starting in our next issue, and you that week, even from afar. We had more of you watch- will be excited! ing than ever before. And while we’re excited that more people from all over the world are watching, we Portland: The truly international convention sure hope you’re making plans to be at the 75th An- Where to begin? How about just the city itself? The niversary Convention next year in Toronto in person. sun shined on us all week in the typically rainy North- June 30-July 7, 2013. Visit www.barbershop.org/toronto west. We took in the sights of the Rose Garden, had for more info. day trips to nearby mountains or the beach, ate in some great restaurants, and had maybe one too many Harmony University donuts. Tag singing was alive and well in the lobbies Harmony University brought barbershoppers and of each hotel each night. It was sometimes difficult to music educators from all over the world. It started off make it to the elevator even at 3 a.m.! The sign of a with an inspiring keynote address delivered to the great convention! student body and faculty by new CEO, Marty Mon- Of course, there were the shows and nail-biting son. Marty offered a small glimpse into his vision for competitions. Harmony Foundation International our organization and truly set the tone for an amazing sponsors the International Collegiate Quartet Con- week of education. We did our best to webcast Marty’s test, which was won this year by Lemon speech live and you can also view it right from the Squeezy from Sweden. This is the third front page of www.barbershop.org. Swedish quartet and fourth outside North Adding an additional “presence” to the student America in the contest’s 21 years. That’s body this year was perennial top five international pretty cool if you ask me! Harmony Founda- chorus competitor, Denver’s Sound of the Rockies, tion International’s show paid tribute to the who chose to attend HU en masse to receive a week’s Collegiate Contest and featured many worth of intensive coaching while also getting the These two events past college champs, some of which opportunity to take a few classes along the way. This is are great exam- went on to win the big show. an option available to all Society chapters, by the way, History in the making. The first af- and I highly encourage you to take advantage of it! ples of education filiate chorus to win an international In addition to a strong field of Directors College stu- and enriching medal was zero8 from Sweden (notice dents attending to learn all about their craft, Quartet a theme yet?), which finished fourth. College had 13 quartets, including two international lives through Also finishing in the top five were the competitors, in attendance for a week’s worth of the convention host chapter Salem Sen- best coaching money can buy! In addition to the HU singing. ateaires (ug!) at 5th; Elizabethtown’s Choruses (Next Generation, Honors Chorus, Di- Kentucky Vocal Union (3rd); rectors College Chorus), the Saturday Night Show Hilltop, Minn.’s Great Northern Union (2nd); featured our 2011 champions, Old School, with ap- and back for their first repeat win, St.