ISLAND CITY CHORUS

GREATER MONTREAL CHAPTER

Northeastern District

SPEBSQSA Inc.

The Little Chorus that could!

MINI PITCH

Date: June 7, 2004 Volume 2004 -Issue 24

Last Friday evening, the Montreal Chapter of Harmony Inc. proved that a show can be a whole lot of fun. With Rob "Ben Baloney" Mance playing the show host, they held auditions for the award-winning chorus. It looked very much like a director's nightmare with wild women applying to join. The judges, Linda Janes, Steve Wheaton and Bill Fletcher "helped" the decision making process along, by rejecting the worst, encouraging the best and generally making Simon Cowell look like a pussy cat.

Hot Topic Harmony's 2003 International Champs were disqualified for major rules infractions, but fortunately were invited to sing on the Special, along with Commonly Unique. Both quartets were cooking on high! It was a fun show, and the women of Harmony Inc. obviously enjoyed putting it on. Well done!

This year's International convention will have a number of interesting additions. There is still time to register, and the contests will definitely be good ones! Some reasons:

Reason 1: VM X-TREME

If you've never seen them in concert, you haven't seen the Vocal Majority (VM). Hear performances that have won the Vocal Majority a record ten gold medals in a full hour-long show.

Your ticket to the college contest (12 pm, $15) will also admit you to this remarkable event. SPEBSQSA thanks the Vocal Majority for contributing their talents to this special show benefiting the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Reason 2: OUTSTANDING EDUCATION EVENTS

Get voice lessons from Jim Casey… directing lessons from Greg Lyne… sing tags with Jim Bagby … chat with The Suntones, Bluegrass Student Union, Power Play, Heat or Swinglish Mix… all FREE with your convention registration.

Reason 3: GREAT PRIZES!

Win a Harley… $7500 cash…free coaching for your chorus or quartet… custom arrangements…and so much more at the expanded Massed Sing.

Seventeen years ago The Gas House Gang gave its first performance singing "Lida Rose" for the Alton, Illinois Municipal Band's "Tribute to Broadway" concert. We never imagined all the incredible experiences that were to come our way from that simple beginning. The Gas House Gang has sung in 49 states and 13 countries, they have produced five recordings, and were awarded barbershop music's highest honour, the International Championship in 1993. In September of last year, the Gas House Gang family and our fans were struck a terrible blow when baritone Rob Henry lost his heroic battle with oesophageal cancer. The depth of love expressed by people from all over the world during that time was staggering and certainly will never be forgotten by any of us for as long as we live.

These past several months have been extremely difficult as we've not only had to cope with the loss of Rob, but also the decision as to whether or not we should seek out another baritone and continue on this great journey. Our burden has been eased greatly by the unbelievable assortment of talented men who have learned our repertoire and sung baritone with us at our performances during Rob's illness and beyond. We will ever be indebted to Mike Slamka, Tony DeRosa, D.J. Hiner, Jonny Moroni, and Kevin Keller for their selfless kindness.

After a great deal of soul searching and prayer I have decided that the time has come for me to step down from the Gas House Gang. This is one of the most difficult decisions of my life. Rich and Kipp (and our original tenor Joe Fink) are brothers to me, and the bond of love and friendship that we share is unbreakable. It is extremely hard to give up this thing that has been such a blessing to all of us, but I feel that the Lord is leading me in other directions, professionally and personally. I am deeply grateful—though not surprised—that Rich and Kipp have been so understanding and supportive of my decision.

They agree that it is difficult to envision the Gas House Gang without Rob.

Louisville will mark our last AIC performance, but we will fulfil all our show commitments through 2005. It would be absolutely impossible in just a few words to adequately thank all the people who have supported us these past seventeen years. Of course we have to mention David Wright who has worn so many hats, from mentor to arranger to coach to recording engineer to (most importantly) friend throughout our career. We also thank all of our other coaches, the members of the Ambassadors of Harmony, and all the chapters who trusted us to come and perform on their shows. You've given us enough memories to last several lifetimes. To all our barbershop family and fans who cheered with us through the joyful times and wept with us through the difficult ones, how we wish we could repay you even the smallest portion of what you've given us through the years. Finally we could not have lived this charmed life without the unselfish support of our families. Our feeling of loss is tempered by the thought of being able to spend more time with them. Thanks to each and every one of you for so many years of joy and friendship.

Sincerely,

All ticket and advertising moneys should be given to Ray Watkins by this Monday evening. This will permit him to prepare the show statements, and will also get him off your back! Money for Afterglow tickets should be give to Bert Brossoit this week!

The members of the Greater Montreal Chapter offer their sincerest condolences to the Hugman family. Stan Hugman lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday of last week.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 5, 2004.

Our thoughts and prayers are with June, Stacy, Laurie and their families in their time of grieving.

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

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