The Ink Spots, the Four Lads and the Mills Brothers will play Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts on Thursday, February 24 at 8 PM.

Tickets are on sale now for $52.50, $44.50, $36.50 (taxes included, service charges extra) at Place des Arts box office, by phone at (514) 842-2112, Admission outlets (514) 790-1245 and at pdarts.com or admission.com

All this New Society vs. Old Society bickering reminds me of a song Burl Ives sang during the 50's... when the 'wife' asked the 'husband' to fetch some water, he said:

"There's a hole in the bucket, Dear Liza, Dear Liza..."

She patiently replied: "Well, fix it, Dear Henry..." Cluelessly, he asked: "With what shall I fix it?" Less patiently, she replied: "With some straw, Dear Henry," He whined: "But, where shall I get it..." Impatiently, she said: "Grow it! Dear Henry..."

The seemingly endless lyric tosses the responsibility back and forth until he asks how he can water the seeds, (to grow the wheat, to get the straw, etc.). Exasperated, she says: "With the Bucket! Dear Henry." Of course that leads him back to square one: "There's a hole in the bucket, Dear Liza, Dear Liza..." Listeners laughed at the punch line, but they got the message that constantly pointing the finger of blame at everyone else, only assures that nothing, of value, ever gets done.

During the past 70 some years, thousands of men (and women) have been exposed to the incomparable sound we call Barbershop Harmony. Some chose to be fans, others chose to be members. Some chose to be in high-commitment, "professional" ensembles, others chose to be in more laid-back groups. Some just liked the fellowship.

Some chose to sing in choruses, some chose to sing in quartets. Some did both, or neither. Some loved to compete, others preferred to put on public shows. Some chose to become administrators, arrangers, coaches, directors, judges, etc., others chose to remain "Just Plain Barbershoppers."

In every decade, some chose to "expand the envelope" with less traditional songs, others chose to preserve the roots of our art via real woodshedding. Regardless of what our members did, they ALL did it for their love of Barbershop Harmony, as they perceived it to be.

The secret to the preservation of our endangered art form is not in 'how' we barbershop, it is in our passionate celebration of singing Barbershop Harmony "our way" -- as often as possible --with as many strangers as possible.

Only we can plug the hole in our bucket. If we work together, there's plenty of water to go around.

Dr. Greg Lyne announced that the contract with The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio for Harmony College/Directors College has been signed. The dates of Harmony College are July 31-August 7, 2005.

Being at The Ohio State University promises excellent housing, beautiful facilities and a wonderful 2,400 seat Mershon auditorium. Additionally, the Society will now be able to expand its barbershop universe to include members and non-members from around the world.

They hope to have the marketing and registration process in place for Harmony College/Directors College by March 1.

Harmony College-Directors College Tuition Prices

*A $100 increase will be applied to all registrations received after 06/15/05

Our Show Chairman extraordinaire, Bert Brossoit has announced that tickets are available and has started taking advance orders.

Last Monday, Bert provided a questionnaire to permit us to order tickets for the great show we will be having on Saturday, May 28, 2005.

This will be a joint show, with the West Island Sweet Adeline Chorus and will feature Commonly Unique and our 2004 International Quartet Champions, Gotcha!.

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!