Date: April 15, 2002

Once again it was great fun to sing for the very knowledgeable audience at the Alliance Régional des Chorales de l'Île de Montréal (ARCIM).

Friday evening we arrived at 7:15 and started to get ready. A warm-up got us closer to ready. Costumes on, hats hidden, get in line, sing a few making sure the choreography was secure. Morgan Lacroix got us calmed and ready. She looked great and confident.

"What is it 8:30 already?" Time to go to the quiet room where we got the walk on and off straightened out.

On to the stage, and as the judges all told us, the faces were there from the first man to walk on. Way to go, Frank Garber!

The audience was receptive and we sang pretty well over all. There were a few rough spots, but both the audience and the judges liked what they heard and saw.

The fact we sounded more relaxed while doing our choreographed songs was a bit of a surprise (at least to your reporter!), but the judges all seemed to agree. It was nice to be told by one judge (with significant barbershop experience) that he was proud of the way we had portrayed the barbershop style.

We won our category, so we sing again on Sunday. We arrive at 1:15 PM for a 2:45 PM performance time.

We have been asked to sing at the Grand Lodge of Quebec A.F. & A.M. on Thursday, June 6, 2002. The event will take place at the Masonic Memorial Hall at the corner of St. Marc and Sherbrooke. (Enter by 2295 St-Marc).

We are asked to arrive at 7:30 PM and there are two separate occasions to sing. Details of this singout will be confirmed at a later date.

Thank you, to all those who have taken on the responsibility for setting up and taking down the risers. Please lend a hand where you can.

A meeting of the Committee Chairmen will be held very soon to make sure we all know what the responsibilities of our committees are, and what has to be done when.

We are still looking for a few good people. How would you like to chair a committee during the International Convention in 2003? There are several key spots we have yet to fill, and we need to do that soon.

Ask Steve Wheaton or Murray Phillips for information on the positions we are still trying to match to a great person. Chose a job you will enjoy, because you will be getting a job during the Convention.

Our two shows on May 18 feature Four Voices*, the spectacular young quartet that came in #3 at International in only their second time out. But the shows have incredible variety, too. In addition to the Sounds of Concord chorus (2002 Patriot Division champions) and its top chapter quartets, we also feature a dixieland jazz band and the incredibly energetic and highly choreographed Show Choirs from Waltham (MA) High School.

*Our 2004 Show will feature Four Voices.

The weekend of April 26th, the Montreal Chapter of Harmony, Inc. will be hosting the Area 2 Convention & Contests (AC&C) at the Sheraton Laval hotel and convention centre. A varied selection of barbershop craft classes will be held Friday morning and afternoon and the Montreal Chapter extends a warm invitation to our members to attend these classes without having to buy an all-events pass. There will be two sets of classes in the morning and two sets in the afternoon, allowing an individual to take in four classes of 1-1/4 hours each. Cost of attending the day of classes is $20. Please visit http://www.harmonyarea2.org/acc/classes.html for further information and class descriptions.

The Quartet Contest will be held that evening at 6:30 p.m. with 18 quartets competing, including two from our chapter. Admission is $10 for adults.

The following afternoon the Chorus Contest will be held beginning at noon. Twelve choruses from the Northeastern United States, Eastern Ontario and Montreal will compete. This event is open to the public and admission is $10 for adults ($5 for children 16 and under).

We are all asked to help with the Harmony Inc. Area Contest and Convention. Since there will be an opportunity to enjoy a great barbershop weekend, I am sure you will want to be there. In addition, we will want to help them, since they will be helping us with International 2003.

Steve Wheaton has a sign up list. Please, join in the fun. It is on the weekend of April 26 to April 28, 2002

Time to get the show music in top shape. Learn Gershwin, Roses, and Words. If you don't have a learning device, talk to Andrew Wheaton.

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

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