2022 Fall District Convention – October 14-15

The District Youth In Harmony committee made significant  strides in contacting key educators to foster a youth development program that would  mesh with our convention schedule.  If their plans come together it appears that we  could have a youth chorus or two and possibly a number of youth quartets.  Mike Lietke, District Executive VP, will again be working with members of the Association of District  Champions (ADC) and members of the Northern Pines Harmony Brigade to provide  coaching for all quartets on Friday.  We are expecting a number of chapter quartets will  also take advantage of the clinic.  

SIGN UP FOR THE QUARTET CLINIC HERE (must be completed by September 15th)

For choruses and quartets that want to be evaluated and only get a critique, and do not want a published score we are again offering the festival option.  Your chorus (or quartet) will be in the program along with all others crossing the stage and, if you choose, judges will critique your performance.  You can get the evaluation and feedback, but not be in competition nor will your scores be posted.   

A number of choruses and quartets decided to enter the festival in 2021 and discovered the thrill of singing before an energetic barbershop audience.  They did not have an interest in competing and enjoyed singing songs from their favorite repertoire.  If you’d rather sing something that you know well, can perform to the best of your ability, and get some great coaching, the festival is for you.  And, by the way, you can sing anything you like – religious, patriotic, maybe even non-barbershop – as long as it’s in good taste.  Sing a couple of songs you like the best and entertain the audience – it’s fun! 

The chorus and quartet contests will be the cornerstone of the weekend.   Male, Mixed, and Female competitors will cross the stage to be evaluated in the same contest session.  District awards for top performance will be presented in each category and those contestants with qualifying scores will be identified for International competition.  It’s time to begin preparing for contest.

Some of us don’t get the chance to sing on the risers with 100 guys very often, but if you want that experience you can do it this weekend.  Just sign up, in advance, with Steve Zorn who will send you the music and learning tracks.  You must memorize the two songs and then you will practice with chorus members from throughout the District and members of the Northern Pines Harmony Platoon.  This will be the fifth year Steve has organized the All-Chapter Chorus which performs at the Showcase Dinner.  If you’ve never sung with the All-Chapter Chorus, you really need to take advantage of this wonderful experience.

SIGN UP FOR THE ALL CHAPTER CHORUS  HERE. 

The Showcase Dinner and Show was a huge success, and we plan to host another fantastic event to wrap up the weekend.  We plan to have Main Street quartet join as our guests along with special performances by our own outstanding quartets.  The Showcase Dinner was something new in 2021 and it proved to be a great time for us to meet fellow barbershoppers over a wonderful dinner and enjoy an evening of top-notch entertainment.  Make sure you register early for this event.  

The Fun Squad was all new in 2021 and became the focus of many Roar Back activities throughout the weekend.  The Tagatorium, quartet games, gang singing in the halls and even a class on tags filled every nook and cranny at the Hilton.  Steve Grady and his team will again be there to get everyone singing at the Convention.  We ask that you get involved with the Fun Squad and volunteer to help plan events and become a part of the Fun Squad.  Come to the convention and have some fun with everyone!  

Burlington High School provided a whole new dimension to our 2021 convention with their involvement in contests, performances, and tag singing in the hallways.  We now have a good idea of what it takes to successfully sponsor youth activities at the convention, and we look forward to doing it again this year.  The enthusiasm of the youth was something so fresh and their performances brought down the house.  We really want to make the 2022 Convention another memorable event for our youth – and for everyone who attends.