Harmony Rag Lite August 2013 Edition

Lite

August 2013

Contents FEATURES

Looking back at the Summer Rollercoaster

USUALS

RMT Updates, Regional Buzz, Calendar of Events, Coaching Directory

RMT UPDATES The RMT met on the weekend of 10-11 August in

nominees for these positions will take office

Peterborough. Below is the summary of the topics

from May 2014.

and actions taken.  Following feedback after Tyne to Shine, the RMT is inviting proposals from existing and new photographers/videographers for the regional convention in Nottingham in 2014 (and possibly onwards).  Also following feedback from regional

 Applications are now open for the Education Coordinator for Region 31. Deadline for submission of applications is 15th September 2013. Details can be found in the regional website.  The RMT is looking to launch a membership drive to help chapters recruit new members.

convention, the RMT is looking at providing a

Watch out for the announcements of these topics on

travel subsidy against the cost of All Event Tickets

the regional website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

(AETs) for convention 2014 for those who have to travel long distances to the Theatre Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham. Full details to be finalised in the October RMT meeting.  Updates on the competition changes will be provided as they are received from International, with the caveat that these are still work-inprogress. A new Judging Category Description Book will be issued by International in October.  Satellite workshops will take place in 2015 as part of Region 31’s education plan.  The regional songs will be “refreshed” and members will be asked to nominate 4 new songs.  Applications for the following regional positions will be invited in the near future: Quartet Liaison, YWIH Liaison, and Convention Registration Coordinator.  Applications for the following RMT positions will be invited in the near future: Team Coordinator and Communications Coordinator. The selected

The International Board of Directors also met on 0708 June in Tulsa where the following actions were taken:  The charter and chapter membership of the following chapters were authorised: Sirens of Gotham, Region 15, New York, NY and Limestone City Voices, Region 16, Elginburg, Ontario, Canada.  The name change requests for the following regions were authorised: East Central Region 4 changed to Harmony Heartland Region 4, Can/Am Region 6 changed to Northern Lights Region 6 and Lake Erie Region 17 changed to Great Lakes Harmony Region 17.  Elaine Hamilton, Chapter-At-Large, Region 31, was chosen as the recipient of the 2013 Ann Gooch Award.  Debbie Baker, Talk of Tulsa Show Chapter, Region 25, was chosen as the recipient of the 2013 NAfME Award.

 International President Renée Porzel announced that she selected Sharon Babb as the recipient of the 2013 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.  Eight Young Women in Harmony (YWIH) choruses entered the YWIH Video Chorus Contest. Chandler High School Treblemakers

 The concept of a networking vacation-style event entitled Sun & Sing was approved.  The Coronet Club announced that it will webcast the Coronet Club Show in Hawaii.  The job description for the Regional TOS (The Overtone Society) Ambassador was approved.  Staff announced that, to date, approximately

Chorus of Chandler, AZ was announced as the

$15,000 has been raised through the Bowling for

winner of the 2013 contest.

Barbershop fundraising campaign.

 A Global Open House is scheduled for September 2013.  The Geographic Boundaries section of the Policy Book (Section IV, Division A) was revised to reflect the boundary divisions as a result of Harmonic Progression.  The Members-At-Large (MAL) section of the Policy Book (Section III, Division B, Page 3) was revised to clarify that MAL may belong to and perform with registered quartets but that the registered quartet may not compete. Staff at International headquarters will facilitate assigning an evaluator to audition MAL quartets for public performance.  A Regional Most Improved Chorus Award medal

At the Side-By-Side seminar last July, the Nominating Committee for the International Board of Directors election met and chose the new slate. The slate for the election for a three-year term beginning May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2017 includes: Anne Cargill Jeanne d’Arc (JD) Crowe Paula Davis Elaine Hamilton Cammi MacKinlay Marcia Pinvidic Renée Porzel Chris Temperante We are delighted to have 2 representatives from

has been designed and will be available through

Region 31 in this slate – Anne Cargill and Elaine

the international sales department.

Hamilton!

REGIONAL BUZZ 107 and still going

“Mary Ella was born in Earville, Iowa in May 26, 1906.

She graduated high school and married her childhood

Last May, Cathy Dallinger, the President of Port City

sweetheart. They moved to her parents’ farm and raised

Pearl Chorus (Region 5), sent out a request to all

five children. They eventually sold the farm and moved

Sweet Adelines choruses around the world. She

to Muscatine. She joined the Port City Pearl Chorus six

invited everyone to a card shower for Mary Ella

months after it

Merrick who celebrated her 107th birthday on 26th

chartered 30 years

May. She wrote, “She is an inspiration to us all and

ago. She sang

has proven [that] ‘singing keeps you young’!” Several

Bass. Her favourite

choruses complied, including a number from our

song is ‘Battle

region and Mary Ella was more than delighted with

Hymn of the

the outpour of greetings from her sisters in

Republic’ and

harmony.

although she does

Cathy sent in this note in thanks:

not come to rehearsals, she still sings! This

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only proves that singing keeps you young! She lived in her home until last year when she moved into the Carrington Place retirement community. She received over 300 cards and well wishes. She celebrated her birthday surrounded by her family. Thank you again for making her 107th so special.”

Young Singers Foundation (YSF) grants

By Alyson Chaney and Elaine Hamilton The aim of the Young Singers Foundation is to promote the study and performance of vocal music.

YSF grants are awarded twice every year by Sweet Adelines International. The grant can be used to fund many worthwhile activities involving young

Folk Song fun event for primary-aged children.

Your initiatives does not have to be linked to barbershop harmony so if you lead a choir of young people and you want to plan a project like a special concert or a local event, then you may be eligible.

Applications for grants must be received by 1st June or November in any year and the project must be completed within a given time. Further information about eligibility can be found in the YSF website. The application process is not onerous but you do need to have costings and dates in place when you complete the application form. Applicants do not need to be members of Sweet Adelines International.

people. For instance, if your chorus or group wishes

So if you are thinking of organising an event for

to hold a Harmony Camp or a Youth (instead of ‘X’)

young people or if you know of someone who is

Factor Day for young singers, you can apply for a

doing this, be sure to look at applying for funding

financial grant to fund or part-fund the initiative.

through this method.

Grants typically range from a few hundred US dollars to thousands.

Example of successful YSF grants worldwide include funding a group of secondary-age students (from Region 31!) to travel to Germany to teach barbershop harmony to German school students, Harmony Camps and Festivals for young people, a Diva Day run by the Harborlites Chorus where young women were given the chance to learn songs and

Competition changes: new updates from HQ Note from the RMT: We will bring you all the information we get on the competition changes as soon as we receive them from International. Please bear in mind that these are still work-in-progress until the new Judging Category Description Book is published in October 2013.

sing with the Harborlites in an evening show, and a

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Below is a summary of the competition changes re-

International HQ will issue guidelines for scoring in

posted (with permission) presented by Sharon Babb

the Open Division.

and compiled by Paula Davis for the 2013 Side By Side workshop last July.

Options for regional competition in 2014:

The Open and International Division categories will be held separately – the region will decide which is held first.



Open Division

Now here are some FAQs compiled from the Q&A



Evaluation Only

session at the Summer Rollercoaster. These FAQs



International Division

will be posted in the regional website and updated

The Open Division is: 

One competition song within a 10-minute entertainment package



Two letter scores are given - one for the

as and when we get new information from International HQ. Can our chorus or quartet register for more than 1 division to compete in?

competition song; one for the overall

No. Choruses or quartets must decide whether they

package (no numerical total)

want to enter either the Open Division, Evaluation



Fulfils “once every 3 years” requirement

Only or International Division.



Eligible for the Audience Choice Award

Entertainment package criteria - at all levels: 

Musicality



Unity



Theme and script



Emcee and microphone technique



Creativity



Communication

Evaluation Only is: 

Two competition songs for level scores



Two letter scores are given - no numerical total



Fulfils “once every 3 years” requirement



NOT eligible for Audience Choice Award



Results NOT posted on regional tabs

International Division is: 

Two competition songs for numerical scores



Qualification for international competitions



NOT eligible for Audience Choice Award



May qualify for International awards - Most Improved Chorus, Division A and AA top 3 placements, overall top 5 placements

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I sing with 2 quartets, can I sing in one quartet that is registered in the Open Division and the other in the International Division?

No. Quartet members can only sing in one division.

I am a dual member, can I sing in one chorus that is registered in the Open Division and the other in the International Division?

Yes. Dual members can sing with one chorus in one division and the other chorus in another.

When does my chorus/quartet need to decide which division to compete in?

Choruses and quartets must decide in which division they wish to compete in at the time they register for competition.

Will we know what division the other choruses/quartets have registered in?

No.

FEATURE Looking back at the Summer Rollercoaster It was a weekend of singing, laughing, meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. But most importantly, it was a weekend where we learned more about our craft from three fabulous faculty members: Gail Jencik, Lynda Keever and Alyson Chaney.

A diverse programme with top notch educators The Summer Rollercoaster was part of the three-year education plan set out by Elaine Hamilton, Region 31's Education Coordinator. The weekend’s programme was filled with learning opportunities as individual singers, coaches or directors, as quartets, and as choruses. The attendees were also privileged to get updated information on the 2014 competition changes first hand from the faculty who were at the Side By Side seminar held the week before.

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Delegates from near and far

attending this event! Apart from the odd torrential

There were 152 people who registered and

downpour, that is.

attended. This number consists of members not only from our region. Members from the Nordic Light Region were present as well as our sisters from region 1, represented by fabulous Coastline Show Chorus. There were also delegates from Albacappella, a chapter from the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS).

What a great weekend that was! Thanks to everyone who attended for joining in, giving things a go, going out of their comfort zones, asking brilliant questions, being demonstration quartets, choruses, etc, etc.

You were all fabulous!

Gail, Lynda and Alyson were very happy with everyone’s participation and enjoyed being part of

Sing and laugh till you cry One of the wonderful things about Sweet Adelines International is how we strive for excellence. Whilst we all work hard for great achievements, we also know how to fun along the way! The talent show on the Saturday night revealed the hidden talents from our members. There was singing (of course), dancing, poetry and a skit. The common aspect among all these acts was the fact that the audience never stopped laughing. Everyone was brilliant but one shone brighter than the rest, Sheila Hepburn,

our weekend, too. I also have a special thank you to extend from the members of the Coastline Show Chorus (and their friends and family) for making them feel so welcome and for being so friendly. They loved being at the event and meeting everyone from across our region and beyond!

Thank you for all your wonderful feedback, too. We read all of your comments and really do use them to shape future events.

the winner of the talent contest. If only someone had

Hope you are putting into practice the things you

captured the faces of the judges when Sheila

learnt at the event! See you all soon, I hope.

performed her stand-up act so you can guess what she said. But alas, what happened in the Summer Rollercoaster stays in the Summer Rollercoaster.

Well, what was said in the talent show acts, that is.

Elaine Hamilton Education Coordinator, Quartet of Nations Sweet Adelines International Region 31

A note from Elaine I’m so pleased I managed to arrange for some great weather for everyone whilst you were in Edinburgh

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2013 28 September

Acappella Live! (with Forth Valley Chorus)

Edinburgh

28 September

Fortuity Show

Nottingham

25 - 27 October

LABBS Convention

Llandudno

05 - 09 November

Sweet Adelines International Convention

Honolulu

Quartet of Nations Regional Convention

Nottingham

2014 09 - 11 May

th

23 - 26 May

BABS 40 Annual Convention

Harrogate

25 - 26 July

A Cappella Harmony Academy

Tulsa

22 - 24 August

BABS Harmony College

Nottingham

30 October - 02 November

LABBS Convention

Harrogate

03 - 08 November

Sweet Adelines International Convention

Baltimore

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Email harmonyrag@sweetadelines.org.uk if you want to include your event in the calendar for free. Event flyers and posters are subject to advertising guidelines.

COACHING DIRECTORY ELLIE BLACKEBY, Lace City

SANDRA LEA-RILEY, Heartbeat UK

mills_ellie@hotmail.com

sandraleariley@virginmedia.com

ANNE CARGILL, Aberdeen

DOROTHY MAIN, Aberdeen

annecargill2012@btinternet.com

themains@talktalk.net

ALYSON CHANEY, RMT Workshop Coordinator, Lace

NICKY SALT, CAL

City

nicky.salt@hotmail.co.uk

alysonchaney@yahoo.co.uk

DAVID SANGSTER, Forth Valley

GLENN CHANEY, Lace City

carsonsangster@aol.com

glennsings@yahoo.co.uk

VALERIE TAYLOR, Vocal Dimension

EMMA DUGUID, Vocal Dimension

valerie.taylor@privacysolutions.co.uk

duguidemma@gmail.com

GWEN TOPP, Aberdeen

ELAINE HAMILTON, RMT Education Coordinator, CAL

gmtopp@yahoo.co.uk MICHELLE WALKER, Lace City

elainemrssh@aol.com

shelbywalks@yahoo.co.uk

TANYA JENKINS, CAL tunefultan@virginmedia.com

LYNDA WOOD, Phoenix lynda@pottonwoods.co.uk

NANCY KELSALL, Heartbeat UK nancykelsall@hotmail.com

COPY DEADLINE The next Harmony Rag will be issued in the end of October. Please send all contributions to harmonyrag@sweetadelines.org.uk by

15th October 2013 Quartet of Nations | Sweet Adelines International | REGION 31 Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide organisation of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education, competition and performance Harmony Rag is published and printed annually in June by the Regional Management Team (RMT) of the Quartet of Nations Harmony Rag Lite is published in August, October, December, February and April and is only available in digital format Materials sent for publication are at the author’s/contributor’s risk and while every care is taken, neither the Quartet of Nations RMT nor Sweet Adelines International accepts any liability for loss or damage.

Send all queries, copy and images to the Harmony Rag Editor, harmonyrag@sweetadelines.org.uk

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