| President's Message: Inclusion in Harmony |
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Reflections on inclusion
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Linda Brehaut
International President
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By Linda Brehaut, International President
I can well imagine where so many minds have been focused these last few weeks. Yes, preparation for IC&C is on that list, but so was the safety and care of our friends in Area 1 and Area 6 as they recover from Fiona and Ian. What a duo they were!
I know I’ve been waiting patiently for updates on Facebook to know people are OK. I recognize that, for many people, their internet provider might be down, so it is difficult to stay in touch. Please be patient and kind to each other – these are strange times for sure!
Only four weeks to go until opening ceremonies and IC&C 2022 kick off. Please check the website often as new things appear – we now have commemorative pins for Together Again 2022 and the Geek Book available to preorder. Check the site for details.
Start packing (it sometimes takes a month to pack everything and still leave time to take things out to lighten the load!) November will soon be here.
I’ll see many of you soon, and I hope those who are not able to join us in person will consider the live-streaming option so you don’t miss out. (Again... check out the website.)
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| Four weeks until IC&C: everything you need to know |
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IMPORTANT!
Note to IC&C contestants
By Kathy Greason, ICJC
On September 25, the contacts for all chorus and quartet contestants should have received an email from me providing information about the contest pattern and stage viewing times, among other things. If you are a contact and did not receive this email, please send me a note right away. We don't want spam filters to be in charge of who gets contest information!
WEBCAST
Ready for Verona? Acaville will bring the IC&C action to you - no matter where you are! Join us for a live stream - from home, from your hotel room, from anywhere! PLUS, a rebroadcast will be available so you can watch what you missed while you were in a meeting, in the pattern, or on the stage. Don't miss a minute of the return to the big stage. Learn more at acaville.org/harmonyinc.
Order your Geek Book, now!
Hello all! It’s that time again…..Geek Book time!
Our members are busy sending emails (and hopefully getting responses!) from all the quartets and choruses who will be crossing the stage in Verona. I’m wicked excited that we get to be together again!
Here is the link to preorder your copy!
https://womenofnote.org/GeekBook2022
There is a snail mail address as well as Paypal link on the website.
We will only have a handful of extra books at the door, so please preorder if you really want one!
If you have any questions, comments, or haven’t heard from us and you’re in the contest, feel free to email me at MariaDGabriella@gmail.com
See you all in Verona!
IC&C Education
Something for everyone!
IC&C is just around the corner, and we will not only be singing together but also learning together, as well. We have some exciting classes lined up, including all your favorites: Singing with the Queens and the Quartet and Chorus Master Classes. You can also choose from classes offered by our judging panel and by our own Harmony, Inc. members.
Here is our All-Star line-up:
- Twang: The Secret Sauce of Awesome Barbershop Singing with Steve Scott
- Swing It with a Groove with Tom Gentry
- Performance Charades with Mark Kettner
- Coaching Under Glass with Alan Gordon and Life is Good quartet
- Leadership vs. Management and Taking a Song From Paper to Stage with John Santora
- Evaluating A New Chart and Key Signature Identification with Janet Billings
- How to Better Align with Singer’s Yoga with Angie Morton-Locke
- Quartetting For the Geographically Challenged with Hot Pursuit
- Director’s Round Table with Jordan Travis, Jeanne O’Connor, Katie Taylor, and Renee Tramack
Whether you sing in a chorus, a quartet, or are a musical or team leader, we have a class for you. So set aside time on Saturday morning and join us for learning and sharing... Together Again!
Try volunteering
It’s fun ... and a great way to help Harmony
By Anne Leinen, Convention Volunteer Manager
Hello Harmony! I am happy to report that many volunteer positions have been filled. A big thank you to those who have signed up.
There is one job in particular that needs filling for the quartet semis and chorus contest – the Pattern Guides. The Event Center at Turning Stone is a large contest venue and getting to some of the rooms in the pattern is not straightforward. The pattern guides will make sure all contestants get to where they need to be. If you’ve been thinking about volunteering, please consider this job.
A few other jobs that are still available:
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- Door Monitors: Quartet Semis sessions 1 and 3; Chorus both sessions
- Warm-up Room Monitor: Quartet sessions 1 and 2; Quart Finals; Chorus session 1
- Ticket Sellers: Quartet Semi session 2; Chorus session 1
Don’t forget that family members and friends are welcome to sign up as well. Click on this link and tab over to the event where you’d like to work and sign up today. Feel free to contact me directly about volunteering if you’d prefer.
Volunteering is a fun and different way of experiencing the convention – try it for one contest session and see for yourself!
IC&C will be rockin'!
By Allison Thompson, ICC Manager
Important information for all contestants
Personal Belongings before going on stage: Please consider bringing nothing backstage... or at least as little as possible. Quartets should be able to put all members’ belongings in one bag. For small choruses, all belongings in one large bag; larger choruses, three bags.
Quartet Contest: Quartets will be exiting stage right, if possible. Please plan accordingly.
Pattern: The beginning of the pattern starts at the escalator – not the photo room. Please the link to see the quartet and chorus pattern drawings. The pattern schedules will be posted on the IC&C website soon.
Entrance to event center: Everyone must have an AEP or ticket to enter the Event Center. If the AEP has been left in the hotel room, you will need to go back to the room to retrieve it.
You’re a star: Acaville will have a roving camera in the backstage area for those special candid moments. All contestants are also invited to participate in an interview after their performance (entire quartet, two representatives from each chorus). These interviews will be light and fun and can include questions like, "What did it feel like to be back on stage?" "Are there any special things about your set you want the audience to know?" "Is there anyone you want to thank or mention?"
Photo order form: Don’t forget to fill out your photo order form and bring it along with your payment to the photo room.
Open position
Have you always wanted to be behind the scenes at IC&C? Do you have great organization and people skills? If so, we have an open position on our Convention Team. Carolyn Pellow has decided to step down as On-site Manager after this year’s event. We thank her for her many years of service and hope to find a replacement who can shadow her at this year’s IC&C. If you are interested in learning more; send a note to ICCmanager@harmonyinc.org
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Another chance to serve
By Gaye LaCasce, Executive Vice-President
Volunteering for Harmony is a great way to feel more connected and to learn all that goes on "behind the scenes" in our organization. Here are two interesting positions - apply through the Members Only section of the HI website, or contact the Director with whom you'll be working to learn more before you apply.
Quartet Development Coordinator - contact Kim Meechan, Director of Membership.
Music Coordinator - contact Sara Stone, Director of Programs
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| Quartet Corner: Welcome Legacy, SōlFire, & 4 Corners |
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New Quartets in Area 3 and Area 5
By Jess Leigh, Quartet Development Coordinator
Legacy
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L to R: Bryn Lewellen, Annie Ermlick, Heidi Brown, Christina Lewellen |
Mothers and daughters unite to form one of Area 3’s newest quartets, Legacy. Christina Lewellen (tenor), Chapter member of Bella Nova, is mom to Bryn Lewellen (baritone), and Annie Ermlick (bass) is mom to Heidi Brown (lead). Heidi says they’ve been “waiting for the right time for all four of us to sing together. Quartetting is awesome, but singing with your family is truly a wonderful and special experience.”
They asked each other what they wished to leave behind from their world interactions and considered ideas related to things important to them: family, friends, and music. So, the name Legacy was a perfect fit, in addition to their individual feelings and symbolic nature of the word.
Frequent, in-person rehearsals are something these four are grateful for. Being family has its conveniences! Their love of barbershop and the surrounding community it brings creates much happiness for them, and they’re excited to sing and share their music with everyone.
L to R: Allyn Lloyd-Powell, Erin Cassidy, Rachael Storey, Emily Faalasi
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SolFire
SōlFire is comprised of members in Bella Nova Chorus. This quartet was born out of the foursome’s “longing to re-engage with our love of barbershop and singing after the isolation of the pandemic,” shares Erin Cassidy, SōlFire’s lead. They reconnected shortly after in-person chorus rehearsals resumed, and they spent time talking about their desires as a group, agreeing to be – first and foremost – musically entertaining, to sing a fun mix of genres, and possibly earn a medal in competition. They intend to try out competition in 2023 in addition to delighting local audiences with some original songs and arrangements. Next February, they’ll be performing a song as part of HALO Quartet’s Race and #RealTalk educational series.
Baritone Allyn is their music teacher, songwriter, classic rock band lead singer, arranger, and also a member of Key of E quartet. Rachael, tenor, grew up practicing vocal harmony with her musical dad and found Bella Nova in 2015. Check out Rachael’s abstract music-inspired paintings using her gift of synesthesia here: https://www.rachaelstoreychase.com/. Bass Emily was a member of Sweet Adelines International for nearly ten years and part of a top-ten Regional quartet before making her switch to Harmony, Inc. and joining Bella Nova. Rachael and Emily are also active with a Barbershop Harmony Society mixed quartet, Sunday Drive. SōlFire’s lead, Erin, is an 18-year member of Harmony and has competed with three quartets at the International level. She’s now staying busy learning how to be a stage and dance mom to her two talented kids. SōlFire rehearses together as often as they can and has a future so bright, they’ve gotta wear shades!
4 Corners
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L to R: Katie Ritz, Peggy Budd, Angie Morton-Locke, Kim Tanner
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A Cappella Showcase’s newest quartet combines Katie, Peggy, Kim, and Angie as 4 Corners. These four started out “Zoom’n along during COVID” when Angie reached out to see if they were interested in singing in a quartet. Each of them were on an Area 5 quartet list and conveniently sing different parts – Katie, tenor; Peggy, lead; Kim, baritone; and Angie, bass – so it seemed like a great idea!
Their first few Zoom months were spent sharing song ideas and getting to know each other. In August of 2021, they finally met and sang in person at Kim’s house, feeling pretty happy with their sound. Continued gatherings focused on chorus songs and then a few new songs as the months went on. “So here we are a year later, singing together, having dinners . . . and lots of laughs,” Angie shares. 4 Corners tries to meet every two weeks or so and share a meal before chorus rehearsals.
Why the name 4 Corners? Each member travels from different directions to meet centrally for rehearsals at a fellow chorus member’s home. “She is great at encouraging us, and she joins us for dinner as well. It’s a wonderful way to get to know each other!” says Angie.
For these friends, having fun together and learning how to be in a quartet gives them more experience, and they hope to spread their joy and encourage others to try it out. While they do not intend to compete in the near future, they did enjoy a recent performance in front of their chorus – nerves and all. The positive feedback and encouragement was fulfilling for them.
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| Annual Delegates/Associates Meeting |
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Join the 2022 Delegates/Associates meeting
By Debbie Parmerter, International Parliamentarian
The 2022 Delegates/Associates Meeting will be held via Zoom on Sunday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.
Chapter Presidents (Delegates)
If you are unable to attend this meeting, you may select another chapter member to serve as an Alternate Delegate by completing Form HAR-029 found in the Members-only section of the Harmony, Inc. website.
Associates
You are encouraged to attend this meeting. The voting privilege of Associate members will be exercised through the vote of one Associate elected at this meeting.
General
The agenda for the International Board of Directors Annual Meeting will be posted on the Harmony website by mid-October. Delegates and Associates should review the agenda and note any items you would like discussed. This is an opportunity for members to discuss the business conducted and decisions made by the International Board of Directors.
Elections Committee
During this meeting, Delegates will elect an Elections Committee for the 2023 International Board of Directors elections. The newly elected committee will appoint a Chair from its members, to be ratified by the Delegates. Besides having duties for IBOD elections, this committee will also be used for any membership votes conducted during the year. More information on the duties of this important committee can be found in the September 5 HI Note or in the Corporate Manual.
REGISTRATION TO ATTEND THIS ZOOM MEETING IS REQUIRED! Complete Form HAR-029 (found in the Members-only section of the website) by November 12, 2022 to receive the link to the meeting.
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| Philanthropy: Letter of Appreciation |
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Continental Crush appreciates SCH sponsorship
Sing Canada Harmony helps preserve the musical legacy of Harmony, Inc. in Canada through support of vocal music in our chapters, schools, and communities. One of the ways it does this is by providing scholarships to Canadian Harmony, Inc. members to attend Harmony University. Continental Crush is a registered Area 5 Harmony, Inc. quartet which was able to attend Harmony University this year after its three Canadian members received scholarships from Sing Canada Harmony to do so. Below, with their permission, is the letter of thanks sent to Sing Canada Harmony from Continental Crush outlining the benefits they realized thanks to the support received.
Dear Sing Canada,
Continental Crush would like to express a HUGE thank you to the Sing Canada Sponsorship Program. Without this sponsorship for the three Canadians in our quartet, this educational week would not have happened. Having a member live in the Netherlands, meant we simply could not afford to attend otherwise. Most of our personal budget(s) go towards travel.
Sing Canada, thanks to your generosity and support, we were able to receive top-notch coaching, which was life changing! Going into the week, we were hoping to improve our performance level, and become more cohesive as a foursome. What ended up happening was transformative. Not only did we accomplish what set out to do, but we left with so much more. Our three coaches were unbelievable, and we never would have been able to afford them otherwise. They were world-class and we were blessed.
Continental Crush now has skills that can be transferred into every song we learn, a new level of singing that we never imagined, and an entirely different perspective on performing, which brings a new level of confidence. We left Harmony University believing that whatever goals we set for ourselves could absolutely be attained. How special is that?
The atmosphere of love and friendship at Harmony University was undeniable… the “bubble of love” one feels is something we wish all barbershop singers could experience. Now we go home excited about our future and excited to share our new ideas/skills with our chorus members as well.
Thank you again, Sing Canada, for making this happen.
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For Love of Harmony
Your donations to the For Love of Harmony program enable you to identify individuals or groups to receive special recognition, while at the same time providing a monetary gift to Harmony, Inc. Donate at https://www.harmonyinc.org/member-resources/for-the-love-of-harmony/
Condolences from the Membership
- to Tom Gentry, Life Affiliate Member (Area 4), on the passing of his father, Tom Gentry Sr., on August 14, 2022.
Need to post a condolence notice? Please have the information sent to the Corporate Office to be recorded. Thank you.
Deadlines approaching!
OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 2: Annual IBOD Meeting
NOVEMBER 2-6: IC&C, Verona, N.Y.
NOVEMBER 13: Delegates/Associates Meeting
Copyright © 2022 Harmony, Inc., All rights reserved.
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