Society For Preservation & Encourmt Of Barbershop Quartet Singing Amer

THE 1800 ARTIST/MEMBERS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT OF THE BARBERSHOP HARMONY SOCIETY BRING JOY TO THE LIVES OF THOSE WE TOUCH. THE DISTRICT BRINGS TOGETHER PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND EXPERIENCE, CULTIVATES EXTRAORDINARY SINGING AND SHOWMANSHIP, PROMOTES FELLOWSHIP AND CAMARADERIE, AND MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. THROUGH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, VOCAL INSTRUCTION, SUPPORT OF MUSIC EDUCATION AT ALL AGE LEVELS IN COMMUNITIES FROM NEW YORK TO VIRGINIA, WE ARE MAKING THE MUSIC THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

MUSIC PROGRAMS: THE MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT PRODUCES THREE TO FOUR CONVENTIONS EVERY YEAR, WHERE DISTRICT CHAPTER CHORUSES AND REGISTERED QUARTETS COMPETE TO QUALIFY FOR DISTRICT HONORS AND TO COMPETE AT ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS. IN 2023 AROUND 1500 FRIENDS, FAMILY AND FANS ATTENDED THESE CONVENTIONS. THE DISTRICT QUALIFIED SIX CHORUSES AND EIGHT QUARTETS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION. CONTESTS ARE ADJUDICATED BY CERTIFIED JUDGES WHO DONATE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO EVALUATE THE ARTISTS AND HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR ARTISTRY. AFTER THE CONTEST, THE JUDGES PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND COACHING TO THE COMPETITORS, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF THE CONTEST EXPERIENCE.

LEADERSHIP EDUCATION: IN ADDITION TO MUSIC EDUCATION, THE DISTRICT PROVIDES MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO CHAPTER AND DISTRICT LEADERSHIP. HISTORICALLY, THIS HAS BEEN THROUGH 2-3 LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES HELD ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THE TRAINING SESSIONS PROVIDE CHAPTER LEADERS WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION AND THINKING ON CHAPTER MANAGEMENT. IN 2023, THESE ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY AND RECORDED FOR FUTURE USE. THERE WAS NO REVENUE OR EXPENSES. THE DISTRICT ALSO CONDUCTS ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT TRAINING FOR CHAPTER ADVOCATES.

MUSIC EDUCATION: DOZENS OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TARGETED AT ALL AGE LEVELS. THE LARGEST PROGRAM, HARMONY COLLEGE EAST (HCE), OFFERING MORE THAN 40 CLASSES AND SEMINARS DURING A 3-DAY WEEKEND EVENT ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 160 MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL AGES. STUDENTS, INCLUDING MUSIC EDUCATORS, DIRECTORS, ARRANGERS AND ENTHUSIASTS, LEARN SINGING, QUARTETING, COMPOSITION, ARRANGING, SHOW PRODUCTION AND DIRECTORS SHARPEN THEIR DIRECTING SKILLS. THIS YEAR, SEVEN HCE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO MUSIC EDUCATORS ENCOURAGING FUTURE YOUTH PARTICIPATION. THE DISTRICT ALSO SUPPORTED A COUPLE OF YOUTH FESTIVALS. COACHING SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED TO QUARTETS AND CHAPTER CHORUSES THROUGH A GRANT PROGRAM THAT OFFSETS A PORTION OF THE COACH'S EXPENSES. THE DISTRICT ALSO SUPPORTS THE CERTIFICATION OF JUDGES FOR CONTESTS. IN 2023, FIFTEEN PARTICIPANTS WERE SENT TO THE BHS SCHOOL FOR CERTIFICATION.

COMPETITOR SUPPORT: THE DISTRICT SUPPORTS ITS HIGH-ACHIEVING QUARTETS AND CHORUSES THAT PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. IN 2023 THE DISTRICT PROVIDED $4,300 TO 5 CHORUSES AND 13 QUARTETS.