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March 2010 InCider Press Page 5 |
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The singing and performing of Barbershop Harmony at the Midwinter Convention of BHS in Tampa was experienced by over 1500, the largest Midwinter ever. Twenty –seven senior quartets competed, including CSD quartet High Mileage. Eleven youth choruses were in the youth festival. The Show of Champions on Friday and Saturday nights included performances by Senior Quartet Champions, Collegiate Quartet Champions, the Toast of Tampa (1993 Sweet Adelines International Champion chorus), and all of the medalist quartets from the 2009 International Convention. Three hundred fifty-two young men in 11 choruses performed and competed Saturday, January 30 in the youth festival. The choruses were from Seneca Land District, two from Florida, Alaska (EVG District), Georgia, Mid-Atlantic District, Sunshine District, Albuquerque, Canada from the LOL-ONT-EVG Districts, Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia, and Denver. The size of the choruses ranged from 12 (the minimum) to 53. Most were in the range of 20 – 30 members. The festival is open to choruses with young men who are 30 years of age or younger. There are three plateaus based on the average age of the chorus members. “Plateau A” is for choruses with an average age of less than 19 years. “Plateau AA” is for choruses with an average age of less than 22 years, and not less than 19 years. “Plateau AAA” is for choruses with an average age of less than 25 years, and not less than 22 years. Each chorus performed two contestable barbershop songs and a third one from any genre, as long as it is performed a cappella. The choruses were evaluated two ways: ratings and the barbershop ranking. Six of the choruses were rated Excellent and five were Superior. The barbershop average score for the top four was between 80.1% and 83.5%. The Grand Champion chorus was 52eighty from Denver (Plateau AA) directed by Chris Vaughn and Matt Swann. The Harmony Foundation International is a major financial supporter of the Youth Festival. The Foundation underwrites each youth’s convention registration fee, the hotel cost for two days and one group meal. The $3,000 that the Manhattan chapter gave to the Harmony Foundation last December would be enough to cover the Foundation’s support for six youth in a chorus or ½ of the minimum-sized chorus. Will you have a chance to attend next year’s Midwinter Convention? By all means – GO!!! The youth choruses make the Convention. It will be in Las Vegas January 25 – 30, 2011. ♪ |
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A Midwinter Convention to remember! By Harvey Kiser |
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Many of us consider Barbershopping a way of life rather than it being simply a hobby. The quality of people who enjoy our association is witness to why so many guys continue to enjoy this fellowship and camaraderie. A recent story told by a 90-yr-old during our Singing Valentines presentations lends support to knowing that barbershoppers are true "quality people" in all aspects of their daily living. Merrel Werts of Junction City met us at the door when we delivering a Singing Valentine ordered by Paula, his #2 Daughter-in-law, who lives in Kansas City. Paula describes Merrel as a man in his "early 90's, silver dark hair, uses a cane, and incredibly dashing". An outstanding citizen, Merrel served several terms in the Kansas Legislature as a state senator. As a student at Kansas State, he sang with what was then a previous edition of the Manhattan chapter, BHS. Merrel is a decorated veteran of World War II, and his wounds are the cause of his having to use a cane. However he doesn't blame the war, but simply says, "I don't get around very well since the war!". In visiting with Merrel, we discovered an interesting fact about his neighbor across the street, who is none other than our chapter's Gary Drake. Merrel related that he's known the Drakes for some 12-15 years, ever since they moved in across the street. Merrel tells us that he met Gary for the first time when they both came to the street to retrieve their mail from their curbside mailboxes. Often, when the timing was right, they'd visit across the street while getting their mail. If you've been on Miller drive in Junction City, you know it is a winding and steep street which does not make walking easy. Merrel tells us that during one of their common trips to retrieve their mail, he slipped and fell while coming down his driveway to the mail box. Gary quickly came across the street, made sure Merrel was OK, and helped him back up the driveway, up the sidewalk and into Merrel's house. Gary then went back to the mailbox and brought the Werts's mail to their door. Ever since that incident, Merrel tells us, the Drakes have always brought his mail up to his door. When Gary and Yvonne would be gone, they enlisted the help of their children to make sure that the Werts' mail was delivered to their front door. When you think about it, The Drakes have made thousands of trips over the years just to help out a neighbor. Barbershoppers are like that! ♪ |
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Barbershoppers are like that By Bob Swenson |