Without getting into detail, Society and District communicators have been working with PROBE to be more proactive in uncovering and sharing what's going on in every corner of the Society. We're planning to release a Top 10 list every week, and PROBE has released the first Top 10 list is already up on their Website: probeweb.org/TopTen/
We're always looking for help in gathering the news and continuing to uncover and share what's going on all around the Society. If you've got an item, please send it to Top10@PROBEweb.org. They're also copies here below.
1 Harmony Platoon is a chapter quartet program that is open to anyone who would like to start quartet singing or just can’t get enough. As a chapter activity it is for the seasoned as well as the novice quartetter. Many chapters in the Society are promoting quartet singing by organizing a platoon within the chapter using the principles of Harmony Brigade to provide fun, excitement and competition for their members. For this one evening event, a facility is required that permits quartets to find quiet spots in which to practice. In some instances two or more chapters are coming together to hold a platoon as part of a chapter visitation program. The men that sign up, are expected to work on the words, notes and interpretation on their own in preparation for the platoon gathering. Those who have held a platoon have seen an increase in quartet participation in the chapter and a higher quality of singing in their chorus overall. (Author: Duane Henry, co-founder of the Indiana Harmony Brigade, Cardinal District) http://www.cardinaldistrict.org/a-harmony-platoon-for-your-chapter/
2 The Pacific Barbershop Summit represents the members of Evergreen District of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and Region 13 and Region 26 of Sweet Adelines International. The Summit is a collective of northwest men’s and women’s barbershop activities that encompass a harmonious community of education, communication, promotion, camaraderie, and...did we mention singing? One of the educational activities which the Summit wholeheartedly supports is Harmony College Northwest (HCNW), that was created with a dream to provide a fun weekend of education and training in singing skills and the barbershop style. The early organizers wanted to share the knowledge, approaches and talent of barbershop "superstars” in coaching for quartets and choruses. HCNW 2014 took place in June on the University of Puget Sound campus in Tacoma, WA. With almost 300 barbershoppers (men and women) attending classes--led by experts from both organizations--this was a true collaborative effort that the Summit is proud to support. NCNW 2015 will take place June 19-21, 2015 with special guest quartet Storm Front!.
3
The Illinois District has scheduled four Youth in Harmony Festivals in September and October. (Contact is Rich Hansenhansenr@mtzion.k12.il.us )
- Northwest Illinois Youth in Harmony Festival Sep 16 @ 8:30 am - Sep 16 @ 8:00 pm  Sterling High School
- 11th Annual SE Illinois Youth in Harmony Festival Oct 20 @ 9:00 am - Oct 20 @ 8:30 pm  Eastern Illinois University. Hosted by theColes County Barbershop Chorus
- 16th Annual Central Illinois Youth in Harmony Festival Oct 23 @ 9:30 am - Oct 23 @ 8:30 pm Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
- 10th Annual Fox Lake Youth in Harmony Festival Oct 25 @ 8:30 am - Oct 25 @ 8:30 pm
http://www.illinoisdistrict.org/
4
The ninth annual Greater Cincinnati Harmony Festival was held at Xavier University in June and what a good time it was. This three day music camp teaches the intricacies of singing four part a cappella harmony in the Barbershop style to youth from age 13 thru the summer after their senior year of high school. The camp teaches a cappella singing that covers all types of music- show tunes, contemporary hits, oldies, country, spirituals and more. Debbie Cleveland and Nick Gordon were the instructors. Classes and rehearsals in vocal production and stage performance skills were held over the three days and culminated in the Harmony Festival Show on Saturday evening with performances by the youth as well as the three sponsoring choruses – Southern Gateway, Delta Kings and Cincinnati Sound. GQ, a Sweet Adeline quartet, and Instant Classic, a barbershop quartet, also performed and assisted the instructors in the rehearsals. Friendships were made and the love of music and performing was enhanced during this time – and that’s what Barbershop is all about! http://www.southerngateway.org/
5
The Land’o’Lakes Youth In Harmony Committee is helps its district chapters by laying out a 7-tier plan for climbing the YIH mountain. With elbow grease, the committee assistance, and a common direction, young people throughout the district can participate in barbershop singing. The basic tenets are three things you can provide young singers: reasons, relationships, and resources. Start by giving them a reason to sing, show them just how amazing barbershop music is, then form a relationship with the students so they can feel comfortable with your chorus, and finally provide resources for students to sing. Details of the 7-tier plan can be found on the LOL website. You will also find comprehensive links to a wealth of information about the “Youth Zones” in each of our 16 Districts and overall YIH direction on the BHS andSing Canada Harmony websites.
http://www.loldistrict.org/directory/yih.html
5
The Alexandria Harmonizers and the visiting Ambassadors of Harmony collaborated on a power-packed show in June that featuredCrossroads, Vocal Spectrum, Da Capo, and a finale of 240 voices. St. Charles Chapter members also enjoyed playing tourist in Washington and joining Alexandria for a flash mob of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” at the World War II Memorial. https://www.facebook.com/harmonizers/ The Brothers in Harmony of Hamilton, NJ, completed a performance-based tour of Holland and The Netherlands in June. A major article about the Brothers appeared in The Times of Trenton and is featured on their website NJ.com.  This excellent article titled "Brothers in Harmony of Hamilton thrives on community, camaraderie, mentoring," and the many great photos accompanying it will certainly help spread the good news about the Brothers and their rise to prominence in the region, and in the world of Barbershop. http://brothersinharmony.org/ https://www.facebook.com/Brothers-in-Harmony/
6
When the Alexandria Harmonizers arrived in Normandy, France for a week-long performance trip to help mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day, they had with them a photograph taken on Armed Forces Day posing with 26 members of the WWII "greatest generation" so they could be part of the experience, even though they couldn't make the trip themselves. One hundred Harmonizers performed at the American Cemeteries in Normandy and Omaha Beach, marched in the D-Day parade in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, and sang at the village of Les Ventes, which was saved when American pilot Billie Harris diverted his damaged plane at the loss of his life. To round out their trip, the Harmonizers put on a concert in Paris and and a joint performance in Cologne, Germany with the Erster Kolner Barbershop Chorus.
https://www.facebook.com/harmonizers/
7
With the support of the Fullerton , Calif., Chapter, schools in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District sent 78 students to Diva Day, a one-day barbershop harmony camp for girls organized by the Harborlites Chorus (SAI), and to the Young Men’s Harmony Festival, organized by the Masters of Harmony. As part of its mission to develop the next generation of singers, the Orange Empire Chorus paid student registration fees for the two events. https://www.facebook.com/OrangeEmpireChorus/
8
The Golf Capital Chorus sells out huge shows year after year and raises money through chorus and quartet performances, Singing Valentines, and by selling recycled golf balls. Members of the Pinehurst, N.C., Chapter enjoy helping others and have donated $330,000 to local charities. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Golf-Capital-Chorus/288240231194784 4/
9
Central States District barbershoppers from 26 states took center stage last December for the inaugural Barbershop Festival in Carnegie Hall. Anchored by the Heart of America Chorus and the River City Chorus, the show featured quartet performances by Gas House Gang,Crossroads, and Premium Blend and a solo appearance by Tim Waurick. A combined festival chorus of 125 voices entertained the sold-out crowd who gave the performers three standing ovations. http://www.centralstatesdistrict.com/
10
For the third year in a row, the Mount Rushmore Chapter, of Rapid City, S.D., brought their show headline quartet to the local high school choir programs to get the students enthused about music in their lives after school. Da Capo absolutely wowed the students and all adults watching by getting the students singing tags as a group and in quartets. It was a great way to prove to those young people that “Music is Cool After School.” https://www.facebook.com/ShrineofDemocracyChorus/
The Narragansett Bay Chorus sponsors a 20/20 event where members can help support the chorus while maybe making a few bucks on the side. $20 gets you into 21 drawings over 20 weeks with prizes totaling $2,500. If you win, your number goes back into the pot so you can win multiple times. And terrific odds: the Providence, R.I., Chapter will only sell about 300 tickets. https://www.facebook.com/groups/375099573388/
The Heart of Texas Chorus held its chapter’s 20th anniversary show in June with guest choruses and featured quartets Sterling and theHumdingers. The Central Texas Corridor Chapter, of San Marcos, Tex., funds annual scholarships for deserving music students attending Texas State University and provides scholarships and registration fees for area high school students and music educators for the annual Harmony Explosion Camps held in Denton. https://www.facebook.com/HOT.Chorus/
When Jeff Bonn, Music Director of the Harbor Sounds Chorus, went to Garber High School in Essexville, Mich., to assist with a male chorus in the school’s variety show, an amazing transformation took place. The students listened and applied what they learned and within 15 minutes went from shouting out the song, chopping off phrases, and standing like trees in a forest, to singing musically, connecting phrases, and physically selling the barbershop song. Jeff’s efforts were greatly appreciated and it was a rewarding experience for the Saginaw-Bay, Mich., Chapter as well.
http://www.pioneerdistrict.org/
A quartet from the Appalachian Express Chorus (Northeast Tennessee Chapter) sang “What a Wonderful World” in the opening ceremony for the 2014 Area 3 Special Olympics Track and Field Games at East Tennessee State University in May. Â Approximately 400 athletes from 25 schools and five adult service agencies in four area counties participated in the day’s festivities sponsored by various organizations and community members in the area.
Seneca Land District is initiating a program that will offer music education to students who are home schooled. Students will be instructed in understanding choral music in addition to just learning and singing songs. The East Aurora, N.Y., Chapter has had experience in working very successfully with home schooled students. The district intends to have the program in operation by the fall semester.
The Alexandria Harmonizers and the visiting Ambassadors of Harmony collaborated on a power-packed show in June that featuredCrossroads, Vocal Spectrum, Da Capo, and a finale of 240 voices. St. Charles Chapter members also enjoyed playing tourist in Washington and joining Alexandria for a flash mob of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” at the World War II Memorial.
https://www.facebook.com/harmonizers/
The Brothers in Harmony completed a performance-based tour of Holland/Netherlands in June. A major article about the Brothers appeared in The Times of Trenton and is featured on their website www.NJ.com .  This excellent article titled "Brothers in Harmony of Hamilton thrives on community, camaraderie, mentoring," and the many great photos accompanying it will certainly help spread the good news about the Brothers and their rise to prominence in the region, and in the world of Barbershop.
http://brothersinharmony.org/ https://www.facebook.com/Brothers-in-Harmony/