Barbershop's early days in vaudeville, theater, and shows included many different configurations and styles. While we usually think of it as four-art unaccompanied vocal music, audiences in past generations would be unsurprised to see a string bass or banjo onstage; indeed, one can look to beloved champs such as the The Mid-States Four or The Buffalo Bills for examples.

So it was in the grand tradition of barbershop entertainment when A Mighty Wind called their friends Boardwalk onstage for a rousing eight-part performance of "The Old Gospel Ship" in tribute recently deceased icon Thom Hine and his legendary quartet The Midnight Oilers.

HAIL BARBERSHOP!

Props to the Manchester Silk City Chorus for expanding the performance range of barbershop choruses with "I'm Your Puppet," an original show script that follows a children's television program that is auditioning new hosts. Read the flattering story in the Hartford Courant.

Abbott named Honorary Life Member

Tulane University scholar Lynn Abbott's groundbreaking research into the African-American roots of barbershop harmony was honored at the Barbershop Harmony Society's Midwinter Convention, when he was named an Honorary Life Member. 

Abbott has authored numerous books and scholarly articles, including "Play That Barber Shop Chord: A Case for the African-American Origin of Barbershop Harmony" (1992), that represent a fundamental shift in understanding our musical roots toward a broader, richer background than the mythological white men in small town America. "Lynn Abbott's treatise leaves no doubt that though the phenomenon of barbershop harmony was eventually woven into the fabric of America's culture across race and class barriers, the African-American harmonizers were most likely the primary sources of our music, and also gave us the word barbershop," said Society Historian David Wright in presenting the award. 

A clearly moved Abbott joked that he was "more comfortable in front of a microfilm reader than a lectern," and thanked Wright and barbershop historians David Krause, Jim Henry, and the late Val Hicks for their support of his work through the years. 

Wright and Abbott subsequently presented a Harmony University session titled "The African-American Origins of Barbershop Harmony, and Why It Matters" which was attended by more than 300 guests held at the midwinter convention.

Read Lynn Abbott's groundbreaking paper online (free registration required) at bit.ly/barbershopchordabbott

HU 2015 will give our 700 students full immersion in barbershop education over an entire week. We offer classes in a wide variety of subjects, each geared to improve your understanding of the Barbershop vocal and performance style. Our goal is to provide multiple techniques and personal contact to help you grow as a musician, singer, performer, leader, and teacher.

Harmony University is made up of 5 separate colleges, with course offerings in these areas:

• Directors College - for current and aspiring directors

• Music Educators College - for teachers hoping to learn about barbershop harmony and culture

• Harmony College - for barbershop singers hoping to learn more about our craft

• Leadership College - for Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) chapter and district leaders

• Performing Arts College - made up of existing choruses and quartets, Next Generation Chorus, and Young Women In Harmony Chorus

Harmony University has a wide range of electives for all students from every college, including:

• Lunchtime Electives during our break period between 1 and 2 PM

• Master Class sessions from 7 to 8:30 These electives will be posted in June, and do not require registration...just come and attend! Other elective activities that DO require pre-registration include:

• Honors Chorus (audition, no fee)

• Extreme Harmony Brigade (application, extra fee)

• Private Instruction in Voice, Arranging, and Conducting (extra fee)

Because HU is becoming so popular, each college within Harmony University has a limited capacity and will close when full. We do this to ensure we can serve the broadest group of attendees and support all colleges equally. Last year we were at capacity by the spring and all indications are that we will sell out again in 2015.

SO MANY QUARTET PERMUTATIONS | SO MANY LOCATIONS

Harmony Brigades offer more ways to have fun singing

You may have noticed that Harmony Brigades are all the rage these days. They are at conventions, at Harmony University, and at special weekend events across the continent. 

 "Extreme Quartetting" takes place when committed quartet singers pour themselves into mastering high-quality arrangements in advance of gatherings where they mix and match endlessly with other equally devoted singers. Indulge your love of quartet singing at some of these events! Learn more at harmonybrigade.org 

The music we sing springs from the minds and hearts of songwriters who deserve compensation. Agreements between the Barbershop Harmony Society and the U.S. performing rights societies (ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC) help keep all performing units in compliance with copyright law and with the songwriters and copyright holders these organizations represent.

ASCAP - USA chapters should submit the 2015 ASCAP Reporting Form  to the District Secretary with the applicable fee payment made payable to the Barbershop Harmony Society (not ASCAP).  Only one ASCAP form/payment is submitted each calendar year.

What does this cost? Not much. If your chapter is expected to gross less than $30,125 in ticket sales for all performances in 2015, you can pay the ASCAP minimum fee of $241 and be in compliance. If your Chapter expects to gross more than $30,125 in ticket sales for all performances in 2015, you will use this form to also calculate the appropriate fee payment. 

BMI/SESAC -  The Application For Show Clearance & BMI/SESAC License is a joint form that covers both of these USA organizations. This form is to be submitted by the USA chapter to their respective District Secretary for clearance approval of the proposed date of their show and if approved, fees paid accordingly.

SOCAN - SOCAN is the performing rights society for Canada. The Application For Show Clearance & SOCAN License Form is submitted by the Canadian chapter to their respective  District Secretary for clearance approval of the proposed date of their show.  

Get all the U.S. reporting forms here.

Canadian groups should contact their respective district secretaries for the specific SOCAN forms to use for reporting.

It's good; it's fair; and it's the law.

A retooled website has been rolled out to support your Singing Valentines programs. The new site points customers to the Chapter and Quartet Locators on our website, plus links to services for Sweet Adelines International. Give it a click!

Crisp photography of our 2015 International Youth Barbershop Chorus Festival is now online in The Harmonizer photo pool on Flickr. Your heart will swell when you see how many young singers LOVE BARBERSHOP.