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 CONTESTS EVERY YEAR, WHERE DISTRICT CHAPTERS AND REGISTERED QUARTETS COMPETE TO QUALIFY FOR DISTRICT HONORS AND TO QUALIFY FOR THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION. IN 2022 MORE THAN 1400 FRIENDS, FAMILY AND FANS ATTENDED THESE CONTESTS. THE DISTRICT QUALIFIED THREE CHORUSES AND 8 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.

MUSIC EDUCATION: DOZENS OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TARGETED AT ALL AGE LEVELS. THE LARGEST PROGRAM, HARMONY COLLEGE EAST (HCE), RETURNED IN-PERSON IN 2022, OFFERING MORE THAN 30 CLASSES AND SEMINARS DURING A 3-DAY WEEKEND EVENT ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 70 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, SIX HCE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED TO MUSIC EDUCATORS. COACHING SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED TO QUARTETS AND CHAPTER CHORUSES THROUGH A GRANT PROGRAM THAT OFFSETS A PORTION OF THE COACH'S EXPENSES. THE DISTRICT HAS A STRONG YOUTH BARBERSHOP PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES YOUTH QUARTETS AND ENSEMBLES THROUGH MUSIC EDUCATOR ENGAGEMENT, COACHING, AND YOUTH ADJUDICATIONS. 2022 WAS STILL A COVID19 RECOVERY YEAR, SO THIS ACTIVITY WAS LIMITED TO MUSIC EDUCATOR PARTICIPATION IN HCE AND SUPPORT OF A YOUTH FESTIVAL LATE IN THE YEAR.

COMPETITOR SUPPORT: THE DISTRICT SUPPORTS IT HIGH-ACHIEVING QUARTETS AND CHORUSES THAT PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. IN 2022 THE DISTRICT PROVIDED $5,100 TO 7 CHORUSES AND 15 QUARTETS.

LEADERSHIP EDUCATION: IN ADDITION TO MUSIC EDUCATION, THE DISTRICT PROVIDES MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO CHAPTER AND DISTRICT LEADERSHIP. THE PRIMARY MEANS IS THROUGH 2-3 LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES HELD ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THE TRAINING SESSIONS PROVIDE CHAPTER LEADERS WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION AND THINKING ON CHAPTER MANAGEMENT. THE DISTRICT ALSO SENDS ITS LEADERSHIP TO THE ANNUAL SOCIETY LEADERSHIP FORUM THAT TRAINS AND CULTIVATES FUTURE LEADERS IN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, UNDERSTANDING OF MISSION/VISION, PLANNING, PROGRAM PRIORITIZATION AND BEST PRACTICES THAT WILL SUPPORT CHAPTERS, CHORUSES AND QUARTETS IN OUR DISTRICT. IN 2022, THESE ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY AND RECORDED FOR FUTURE USE. THERE WAS NO REVENUE OR EXPENSES.