Welcome to the Barbershop Harmony Society Newsletter
LiveWire brings you a quick read of current and upcoming activities and programs of the Barbershop Harmony Society. We hope you'll share this information with your chapter, quartet and district to help all Barbershoppers get the most from the barbershop hobby.
To view past issues of LiveWire, click here.
| Happy Birthday, Society!
Some say it was an accident, some say it was fate. Either way (or perhaps both) the movement we now enjoy as the Barbershop Harmony Society (aka. Society for The Preservation of Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America [SPEBSQSA]) can be credited to a meeting in Tulsa organized by Owen Clifton Cash on April 11, 1938. Society Historian, Grady Kerr, has captured the Society's history perfectly in his article featured on the Society's website.
A note from your CEO:
Dear Barbershoppers,
This Sunday, National Quartet Day in the USA, marks the 72nd Anniversary of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. We're 72, but we'll never act our age, I hope. We'll sing at the drop of a hat (I just did that last night to an unsuspecting, but appreciative group in a local "establishment") and keep alive the wonderful wholesome craft of woodshedding.
What are YOU planning? At the very least, find three other guys and sing one for O.C.
Thanks, and Happy Birthday!
Ed Watson
| Realtime Featured on Singers.com
The Society's 2005 International Champion Realtime is featured on the front of singers.com for the release of their new album, Take 5, as well as winning the Harmony Sweepstakes Northwest Regional competition, qualifying them to compete for the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Championship on May 15th.
Congratulations to Realtime, and best of luck in San Rafael, CA in May!
| Attention All Quartets!
Harmony University / Quartet College is just around the corner (August 1-8), and the deadline to apply for the Larry Ajer Scholarship is May 1st.
The scholarship provides a full week of FREE coaching from some of the BEST coaches around, FREE room & board at the PREMIER educational barbershop event, and memories to last a LIFETIME! Click here to learn more about the scholarship and to see if your quartet is eligible. ACT FAST!
If you do not meet the criteria to receive a Larry Ajer Scholarship, you can still attend as a quartet for the price of 3! That's right, the "Bring Your Baritone Free" Scholarship goes to the first 20 quartets that sign up for Harmony University. The only requirement is that you are a registered quartet with the BHS.
Visit our website for more information about QUARTET COLLEGE and the "Bring Your Baritone Free" Scholarship.
| Social Media and Social Networking
How These Tools Can Help Your Chapter
Guest nights. Handing out flyers. Performing for the local community. All good ways to promote your chapter and barbershop in hopes of garnering interest and possibly gaining a few new members.
Well - is it working? What do you have to show for it? Hopefully these methods are successful as they require a good amount of effort, but maybe you're hoping for a bit more; more gigs, more people at guest nights, more phone calls asking your chorus to sing at an event, and ultimately, more registered barbershoppers.
Bob Fichter (from the Midwest Vocal Express), with the help of Montana Jack, has written an article titled, Social Media for Barbershop Quartets and Choruses - it explains how to reach more people and target the younger generations. For those who are intimidated by the Internet - have no fear! Bob gives step-by-step instructions - fool proof!
Tell us what you think of the article on the Society's Blog.
| Sing on the International Convention
Risers Every Week!
Peery Products Co., Inc and the Barbershop Harmony Society have partnered together to bring you the best risers on the market. Choruses which are part of the Society already receive a 5% discount. Peery provides risers to the Society's International Convention each year and will be selling them while in Philadelphia. These risers are what choruses stand on to compete on the main stage. There is also a complete set in the warm-up room as well as the photography room. We are pre-selling these risers at a healthy discount.
Due to the significant discount, these risers are only being sold as sets - 3-Step, 4th Step, Back Rail. A minimum of three sets is required for purchase.*
For this offer, we require a signed estimate and 100% prepayment in check form no later than June 1, 2010. Credit Cards will not be accepted for this offer. Offer is valid while supplies last.
If you have any questions or would like an estimate, please contact Kat at (800) 336-0577 or
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.
| Youth Enrichment Program
From the humble beginnings as a Harmonet project, the Youth Enrichment Program has now grown to include all barbershop singers, both male and female, in the United States and Canada.
The purpose of this program is to support and encourage high school vocal music programs. All barbershoppers are also asked to be a voice of advocacy for vocal music programs in the nation's high schools. It is important for all of us to do whatever possible to ensure the vibrancy and continued survival of local high school vocal music programs.
The program has established a goal of touching the lives of 100,000 high school students in, at least, 500 schools by June 30, 2011.
All participants will be eligible for a prize drawing which will include the opportunity to sing a song or tag with, and receive a free CD from, a BHS medallist or several other fine International level quartets. A very special grand prize will also be announced soon.
Fore more information about the program, visit the Youth Enrichment Program page on the Society's website. For information about resources and for more details, contact Montana Jack at (406) 777-0759 or
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.
| The Director Search Continues!
The Visalia Mighty Oak Chorus, in the heartland of California, seeks a Director to inspire and enhance the skills and talents of its fourty members to make an entertaining and successful chorus. They have four assistant directors and a music team ready to help. If you're interested in the position, contact Music VP Bob Peden at
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. Visit www.mocv.org for more information about their chapter.
The Color Country Chorus is a small, but growing chapter located in sunny St. George, Utah.They are now accepting candidates for the position of Chorus Director.Qualified candidates should contact Nate Holden at
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for more information.
Deadline: May 31, 2010.
The West Towns Chorus is accepting resumes for the position of Chorus Director. Interested candidates should submit a resume via email in either Microsoft Word doc. or PDF format to
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. Click here for more information regarding the position.
The Sweet Adelines Florida chorus, Women of Note, needs a new director! They have accumulated one international and seven regional 1st Place awards in their division! They require an enthusiastic, progressive director to help make their goals a reality. Visit their website for more information and to download an application.
Email the application to
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and call 877-WON-SING (966-7464) if you have any questions.
| 2010 Harmony Foundation Presents...
Tickets Now on Sale!
Don't miss another "unforgettable" Harmony Foundation Presents... Saturday, July 3rd - 1:30pm at the Philadelphia Convention!
Get your tickets now for another spectacular event featuring:
* The Westminster Chorus - 2009 "Choir Of The World" Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
* Crossroads - 2009 International Quartet Champions
* And our featured guests, the legendary Four Freshmen.
"I've been involved with the group since the very beginning, and this is without a doubt the best Four Freshmen ever." - Bob Flanigan, founding member BHS Honorary Member (2003)
2010 Harmony Foundation Presents... tickets can be purchased here.
**President's Council members only - please click here.
| Play the Philly Game with us!
How would you like a $50 gift certificate to the Harmony Marketplace? Or a chance at winning two FREE front row seats for the 2010 Philly International Convention? Play our game by visiting the Philly Page!
Here is how the game is played (all times are based on the Central Standard Time Zone):
1. Each Monday by NOON (CST) we will update the chart above on the website.
2. Guess what the new registration total will be each week by sending an email to
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by 8am (CST) on each Monday between now and June 21, 2010. (You may guess each week but make no more than one guess per week.)
· Include your name and member/associate ID number in the email with your guess.
3. Each Monday by NOON we will update the chart on the website and announce the 10 people who guess closest to the actual number.
4. Those 10 people will be entered into a drawing (to be held the week before the Philly Convention).
5. If you guess the exact number for the week you'll receive a $50 Gift Certificate to Harmony Marketplace.
6. The grand prize winner of the drawing (to be held on June 21, 2010) will receive two front row seats for the Philly Convention.
*Must be registered for the Philly Convention by NOON on June 21, 2010 to win. Recipient will be reimbursed for the cost of the two original registrations.
Relatives of Society and Harmony Foundation staff not eligible to play.
To play the game, visit the 2010 Philly Convention page.
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