ISLAND CITY CHORUS

ISLAND CITY CHORUS

GREATER MONTREAL CHAPTER

Northeastern District

SPEBSQSA Inc.
The Little Chorus that could!

MINI PITCH

Date: September 15, 2003 Volume 2003 - 38

COMING UP - ROB'S REQUIRED EVENTS*

Saturday, January 31, 2004 Great Northern Harmony Workshop with Uptown Sound(TBC)

Saturday, May 29, 2004 Annual Show Salle Claude Champagne with 4 Voices and The Gas House Gang

*NOTE: It is your duty to inform Rob as soon as you know you will miss any rehearsal or event.

COMING UP - OPTIONAL, BUT FUN and EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

October 24-26, 2003 District Convention Saratoga Springs, NY, Saratoga Springs City Center

Once you get over the hill, you'll begin to pick up speed.

We need to get focussed!

The Board of Directors of the Chapter has met to refocus our energies toward rebuilding the Chapter. This is an important step, but the discussions and decisions must be communicated to the membership.

It is crucial for all of us to be working toward a common goal, and until we know what that goal is, our efforts will be fragmented and ineffective.

Let us know what is going on. Let us add our strengths and abilities to the process.

Music for our Show?

We will be taking to the stage in eight months with our annual show. So far we have a tentative show title and a couple of fantastic quartets booked. Four Voices, the 2002 International Champions and The Gas House Gang, the 1993 International Champions are booked to appear on the same show. It should be terrific. All we need to know now is, "What are we going to sing?"

The Future of The Gas House Gang
There was some speculation on the Harmonet, some of it a bit insensitive, regarding the future of The Gas House Gang, following the death of Rob Henry the quartet's baritione and brother of Jim Henry. Kipp Buckner, the tenor of the GHG, posted this.

Friends,

There have been some posts (as well as personal emails) regarding the future of The Gas House Gang. Jim, Rich [Knight]and myself have had many a conversation regarding that very issue over the past couple of months. This is a strange topic to deal with. While we would never ask anyone to "replace" Rob (frankly, that cannot be done), we have discussed the possibility of adding a sixth member of the GHG family.

I will let everyone know where we stand at this point so there is no more speculation.

First of all, Rich and I told Jim early on that IF he felt that he just could not continue singing without his brother, that we would support his decision 100%. We all lost a brother in almost every sense of the word, but Rich and I could never REALLY understand Jim's loss. Rob had told Jim (and us) several times that we needed to keep The Gas House Gang going. Although it was Rob's wish for us to continue, Jim's feelings on the subject weighed heavily with Rich and myself.

The feeling from all 3 of us is that the GHG is a very special thing in our lives and we do not want it to vanish. Now, that being said, we have no idea what we will do. We do know that we have all of our commitments for the fall and spring of 2004 covered with either Mike Slamka or Tony DeRosa. Basically, we are just taking it one day at a time right now.

Our new CD will be in our hands very soon and we are very excited about it. We have been working hard to make Rob's last CD the best one we have ever done. Also, we are still excited about the quartet and the brotherhood that has been strengthened through this terrible ordeal. So, it seems that we all have the desire to continue but we are not sure what we will do or how to do it. We will know more as time starts to heal this huge hole in our hearts.

In closing, I always want to take the opportunity to thank everyone SO MUCH for the support you have shown all of us. I know that the emails Rob received were such a treat for him. During his last days with us, I have memories of Sue reading them right from the computer next to his bed in his brief daily moments of actually being awake and that made him feel so loved and so good. Although most of you could not be there in body to see him, you have to know that your presence through cards, letters and emails was felt by all of us.

God bless you all on the sad occasion of Rob leaving us but the joyful time of Rob meeting Jesus (and his dad) face to face.

Kipp Buckner

Personal Recruiting
Find new ways to talk about barbershop everyday. Find ways to mention barbershop harmony to every person you meet. Every one.

Here are Parts 2 and 3
Committing to Ask

Call your cousin and ask him if he likes to sing. Extend your nuclear family.
Call your college roommate and send him to the nearest barbershop chapter. You'll get Man of Note credit for him, too.
After the national anthem at the ball game, tell the guy in the next row that he has a good voice. Ask him to come sing with your chapter.
Play barbershop music at work, or when you're on the phone. Interrupt yourself to say, Oh, wait a second this is the good part! Turn up the music. Ask the caller if they like to sing.
Play barbershop music at work, or when you're on the phone. Interrupt yourself to say, Oh, wait a second this is the good part! Turn up the music. Ask the caller if they like to sing.
Play it loud in your car. Sing along. When other drivers give you funny looks, ask them if they like to sing.

Committing to Promote

Post announcements on electronic bulletin boards. Add the title Barbershop singer to your e-mail signature.
In restaurants, leave a membership brochure or business card with every tip. If you go there often, ask if you can leave recruiting materials by the door.
Ask for barbershop music at the record store. If they don't have it, refer them to the Society Online Store http://www.harmonymarketplace.com/ and tell them the Society sells wholesale to record stores.
Whistle while you work. Someone will ask, "Why are you always whistling?" Explain to them how much music means to you. Ask them if they know anyone else who likes music.
Call radio talk shows. When the host asks, "What are you doing?" Tell him you are working on music for your quartet or chorus rehearsal tonight. Invite folks interested in singing to come hear your quartet or chorus rehearse.

Here is our current and future repertoire list:

CURRENT	NEW
Overture	We'll Meet Again
I’ll Walk With God	Hello
Hello Mary Lou	Summertime
Beginning To See The Light	Swing, Sing, Sing Medley
Que reste-t-il ?	Luck Be A Lady Tonight
Sixteen Tons	CHRISTMAS
Steppin Out	Eight Candles
Orange Coloured Sky	Scarlet Ribbons
Words	Go Tell It On The Mountain
How Deep Is The Ocean	Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Roses Of Picardy	Joy To The World
Old Fashioned Love Song	Silent Night
Old Black Magic	Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Witchcraft	O Come All Ye Faithful
You'll Never Walk Alone	Angels We Have Heard On High
If I Had My Way Dear	O Holy Night
O Canada - The Star Spangled Banner	Jingle Bell Rock

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

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

Alan Mackenzie, President

Murray Phillips, Editor