Amazing news from a cappella godfather Deke Sharon! Not only can you see the Sing-Off Tour for FREE, but our very own Forefront is opening the show.
Says Deke: If you've been wanting to see theSing Off Live Tour but aren't anywhere near a concert venue, worry no longer!
Yahoo will live stream the March 25th Louisville show free of charge!
Opening acts will be season 5 winners The Melodores and Barbershop favorites Forefront. You most certainly do not want to miss this show!
Details at screen.yahoo.com/live/event/the-sing-off
Obviously, we're incredibly excited to see great barbershop represented on the tour, both on the live stream and at other show dates. If you want to see Central Standard or Instant Classic, you'll still have to show up in person... go here to see tour dates and the list of opening acts. Packed with high energy (and high quality) singing, this show seriously rocks.
Do NOT miss this one!
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Classic Harmony College is for everyone!
In the excitement of offering quartet scholarships, inviting educators and Next Gen / YWIH students, we forgot to mention that good old Harmony College, the classic education offering for Joe Barbershopper, is still running strong!
Put this on your barbershop bucket list. Harmony College means you can enjoy the full spectrum of courses. The members of the faculty are today's legends that we will be talking about tomorrow. Harmony College classes are enlightening, engaging, and fun, and the extra curricular activities, the late night tagging, and all the ice cream you can eat will make you long for more hours in the day. -
Sing all the tags you want, whether in a formal classroom setting, or informally in the "tag temple"
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Learn about the History of Barbershop from one of the Society's best historians.
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Multiple class options to get you singing! You don't come to Harmony College to sit and listen to lectures...you come to sing!
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Electives offered twice a day!
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Every morning learn more about your craft in the General Sessions
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On Friday, watch the parade of quartets and cheer on your favorites
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On Saturday, go into Nashville and join your classmates in DOING, not watching!
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On Saturday night, enjoy the show of all shows
Register now -- tuition bumps up April 1 (no foolin'!)
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 FROM THE BLOG
Get America Singing reaches 450 in Rapid City
The Mt. Rushmore Chapter looks like many mid-sized chapters in mid-sized cities, with a roster of 36 members. But these Barbershoppers have a lot going for them. The chapter brings top talent to its annual Harmony Happening in the Hills, where Barbershoppers from around the region join for a day of rehearsing several songs and then performing them that evening at Mt. Rushmore just prior to the lighting ceremony.
More than 450 seventh- and eighth-grade students were able to sing John Leavitt's Festival Sanctus thanks to the Mt. Rushmore Chapter, which purchased the music for them. Budget cuts to the fine arts programs in the Rapid City schools would not have allowed them to purchase that music. When the members of the Shrine of Democracy Chorus heard about that, they immediately offered to supply the schools with that piece of music.
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| WORLD PREMIERE!
"If You've Only Got A Mustache"
We've been studying Stephen Foster pretty closely, as we prepare to visit his hometown of Pittsburgh this summer. Along the way, we unearthed this fun little number.
" If You've Only Got a Mustache" was revived in the 2014 Western-comedy film A Million Ways to Die in the West. Perform this stylized hoedown version with great energy, giving broadly comedic emphasis to the lyrics and stage presence.
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| | If You've Only Got a Moustache - A Million Ways To Die In The West Soundtrack |
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Grant applications accepted through April 30
Chapters, districts, and qualifying non-profits are invited to visit www.barbershop.org/grants to explore possibilities for grants to make a difference in people's lives.
The application window runs through April 30, 2015, but we encourage anyone contemplating an application to take the first step immediately by registering via the WizeHive website. This allows our grants team to better assist and guide you through the entire process.
We now support a broader range of outreach
The Society's new vision extends far beyond traditional youth outreach. Relevance in your communities means making a difference in more lives:
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Adult outreach -- all age groups, from recent college graduates to seniors; as members, fellow singers, and audiences
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Community outreach -- building partnership with other musical organizations and underserved populations, age groups, income levels, and ethnicities
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Youth outreach -- through camps, workshops, festivals and scholarships
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Education-- supporting school music programs and support for educators themselves
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Supporting community-based choral initiatives and community singing
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Support of the chapter purpose areas in the Society bylaws
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Leveraging BHS funding to obtain additional local funding
Full details, applications, instructions, templates, and training webinars are online at www.barbershop.org/grants
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| GAME ON!
Tag challenge is snowballing
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| | Tag Challenge - Orlando Exchange |
Last year was all about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge... even here at Harmony Hall! Barbershoppers all over the world participated in this fun (and freezing) charity drive.
The guys in Orlando Exchange decided to come up with their own version of fundraising, challenging barbershoppers to do what they do best... SING. With the goal of raising funds for Harmony Foundation, the quartet made a video of their tag and challenged 3 groups to record their own tag and donate $50 within a week. No tag? Well, that's a cool $100 to HF and everlasting shame on the internet.
As the #HFtagchallenge spreads, we're seeing all sorts of great tag singing (and donations!) from quartets and choruses. Some chapters (we're looking at you, Masters of Harmony) are adding a pass-the-hat challenge to sweeten the pot or are already making regular contributions and used the tag challenge to raise a bit extra. Whatever the amount, Harmony Foundation has no trouble putting these funds to work! Learn more here.
When the challenge comes to YOU, remember to share it to our Facebook group here to receive your moment of internet fame.
And now... TAGS:
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 GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME
Not just great-- SPECTACULAR!
The excitement of shows, of contests, and of education events at our conventions are easy outward signs of what the Barbershop Harmony Society does. We sing, we learn, we party. But our annual gathering has increasingly become a time of introspection and renewal for our Society.
A reinvigoration and recommitment to our fundamental values has been transforming our Society. So we've put it on stage, in the Saturday Spectacular.
Part high-energy show, part tent revival, part "State of the Union," the Spectacular has brought memorable moments to the stage. In 2013, "Together, Making The Music That's Making a Difference," we recognized aca-legends The Nylons with Honorary Life Membership; shared life changing stories from Mike Rowe; and considered the impact influential Barbershoppers have had on our lives. "It's The Music" in 2014 celebrated the breadth and depth of the music we sing, from Hall of Fame champions The Boston Common to contemporary barber-pop performed by our Harmony U Youth Chorus and friends. The Saturday Spectacular this year will see us build "Bridges To Harmony" at our 2015 International Convention in Pittsburgh. Artistic director Carlos Barillo's production will emphasize collaboration among performers from all styles, ages, and locations. Bank on this: you'll be glad to have seen it in person. Come join us! -- www.barbershopconvention.com/pittsburgh
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Remember these great shows?
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It's bulletin/newsletter contest time!
PROBE, the Society's subsidiary for Public Relations Officers and Bulletin Editors, is now accepting entries for the 2014 International Bulletin Contest. There are two requirements for entry:
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The editor must have been a PROBE member in 2014 (year of the bulletins) and in 2015 (year of the contest).
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Must have produced six months of bulletins (hardcopy or electronic) in 2014. (If your bulletin/newsletter is not produced monthly the number of issues must be equivalent to two consecutive monthlies.)
Full details and entry form are on the PROBE site at www.probeweb.org/Contests/index.html Entry deadline is May 1, 2015. |
Foster classics revived - by singers YOU choose
The Barbershop Harmony Society is celebrating America's first great commercial songwriter with a special new collection of his greatest works. "The Stephen Foster Songbook" will contain newly commissioned arrangements and a few familiar favorite charts. Two of these new arrangements will be debuted at the Saturday Night Spectacular in Pittsburgh, by a fantasy quartet you assemble. Yep- pick each voice for the ultimate fantasy quartet, and we'll make it happen. PLUS: Everyone attending the convention will receive music and learning tracks in advance so they can participate in the debut performance of one of the songs led by a director you select.
Voting ends on APRIL 15, so make your picks now! www.surveymonkey.com/s/stevenfosterfantasyquartet
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The Board of Directors of the Barbershop Harmony Society has openings for two Members-at-Large for three-year terms beginning in January 2016.
These openings will be filled by election of the Board at its meeting at the International Convention in Pittsburgh, June 28-30, 2015.
The board is seeking effective, visionary leaders with an impressive history of service in barbershop, business, public service, education, or other areas. In addition, the board has particular interest in men with substantial Project Management education and experience. If have a desire to serve your Society at the highest level, this is your chance.
Please click here to apply. Note that the deadline for applying is April 6, 2015.
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