ISLAND CITY CHORUS

GREATER MONTREAL CHAPTER

Northeastern District

The Barbershop Harmony Society

The Little Chorus that could!

MINI PITCH

Date: July 12, 2004 Volume 2004 -Issue 29

How to get to St. Matthew's Church: Take Queen Mary west to MacDonald, turn left and 4940 MacDonald is on the left. Parking in on the streets around the church, or take the Metro to Snowdon Station and walk the four blocks.

Well, sort of. Actually at the Board of Directors meeting in Louisville, a motion was made, seconded and carried, to reaffirm the action taken in July 2002 regarding the Society name.

At that time the Board adopted the practice of regularly representing the Society as the "Barbershop Harmony Society" while maintaining the Society’s legal name as SPEBSQSA, Inc.

The Marketing & Public Relations Committee and Society staff have been asked to encourage chapters, effective immediately, to use "Barbershop Harmony Society" in all communication and promotions activities.

So, when we are talking to people about the Society, we call it "The Barbershop Harmony Society." It is a lot easier for people to understand, and for us to remember. If you want to use the initials SPEBSQSA, don't try to pronounce it. It isn't a word!

In Louisville the Board agreed that up to 12 choruses would be invited to compete in a preliminary round. The top six scoring choruses from this prelim contest will join the 16 district chorus representatives and invited affiliate choruses in the Chorus Contest Finals on the Saturday of the Convention week.

The preliminary round shall be judged by a separate panel and held in a different venue other than that used for the Chorus Contest Finals.

The Events committee estimates the spectator ticket cost will be $15.00 for this event in addition to the convention registration. Competitors will be required to purchase a full convention registration

The Events Committee will add a Comedy Quartet Show and Dinner to the 2005 International Convention schedule in Salt Lake City. Details will follow, but it looks like there will be fun afoot.

We are invited back to help the Expos again on Tuesday, July 27. The Mets will be in town.

On Sunday, July 18, 2004 the Plattsburgh Chapter will be holding their Annual Picnic. They will be supplying hamburgers, hot dogs, buns and all the condiments as well as soft drinks. All you need to bring is a dish or dessert to share with the others. There will be a "make up your own quartet" event, tags and lots of other fun. Why not plan to spend a day with fellow barbershoppers.

If you are planning to go please let Murray Phillips know. He will give numbers to the Plattsburgh Chapter so they can have enough food, etc.

Hello friends,

If God could have devised a more perfect script for this last International I don't know how He would have done it. Last week was indeed a dream come true.

I can't explain the feelings of elation, exhilaration, appreciation, and profound relief that accompanied the grand announcement Saturday night. I have a smile on my face that begins in the depths of my heart, and it just won't go away. I go around all day hugging people for no apparent reason. I am so proud to be anointed as your 2004 International Quartet Champion. I am so lucky to have the good fortune of singing with three of the finest gentlemen in our Society.

I think the fact that it took me 34 years and 30 contests to finally attain the gold medal made the victory unbelievably sweet.

From the first top 10 album I heard when I was 12 years old (1960) I have dreamed of achieving that goal. As you know it kept alluding me time and time again until I started wondering if it would ever happen. Then came the opportunity of the rest of my lifetime-- an audition with Gotcha! in 2001. Thank God they chose me!

I have never experienced such dedication and hard work as these fellow quartet singers exhibited. In all my previous quartet experiences warm up consisted of clearing my throat. All quartet income went into hiring coaches and striving to improve. I had to learn how to sing correctly and consistently-- a process that I'm sure will be ongoing. The great thing is that it has been so much fun right from the start. Rehearsal is a gas.

I have had some wonderful experiences singing in Crown City Good Time Music Company (1968-1974), 139the Street (1975-1996), and Buck 39 (1997-2000) before this quartet. I cannot describe all of the wonderful people I have met through those years. I know that many of you were in the audience that night. I heard you chanting my name-- something I will never forget and keep reliving in my mind.

I don't recall ever witnessing or feeling such a display of love in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My wish is that Garry, Alan, Chris, and I will continue to improve and deliver solid barbershop to you for many years.

I have died and gone to barbershop heaven. See you there.

Jimmy Kline

Here is our current repertoire list: [mp3] means that the mp3 file is on the Members' Only web site

Practice is something we do at home, every day, between rehearsals!

Rehearsal is where we reinforce what we have been practising every day!