A new month already – I think I missed April somehow! Unlike the last time you heard from me, I am comfortably home post-surgery and getting my feet back under me.
I must tell you that the best dose of medicine is laughter! I had the privilege of being the Installing Officer for New England Voices in Harmony on April 26 (via Zoom, of course). I signed on a few minutes early and was treated to the beautiful sounds you hear during the first rehearsal, post AC&C. The energy was still high, the stories still being told, the pure sound of joy that so many of us have experienced long after the convention is over. Congratulations, Area 2, for another successful AC&C.
I can’t wait to hear how things go in Area 3. As I write this, I am imaging the pre-AC&C anxiety setting in – what to pack, what time to leave, how will I do everything I want to do and, of course, should I book Monday off work! But these thoughts quickly change once you arrive on site and are surrounded with friends and music – from anxiety to an excitement that just consumes you.
The IBOD is preparing for their Mid-Year Meeting. Thank you for submitting your agenda items. Please remember we are your Board so do not be afraid to talk to us! We are working hard to be a member-focused Board – always asking ourselves, “How can we?” or “How will this?” serve our members. If you wonder what we might be chatting about this time around, the meeting agenda will be posted on the web site.
Stay healthy, stay happy and reach out to each other.
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Congratulations to all the contestants at the Area 2 Convention and Contests!
Area 2 Chorus Contest Results:
5th place - 800 pts - 66.7% - Maine-ly Harmony
4th place - 829 pts - 69.1% - Harmony Heritage Chorus
3rd place - 865 pts - 72.1% - Women of Note
2nd place - 924 pts - 77.0 - Sounds of the Seacoast
1st place Area 2 Chorus Champion - 959 pts - 79.9% - New England Voices in Harmony
Area 2 Directors Award - Renee Tramack & Samantha Tramack
Area 2 Achievement Award (highest score, excluding medalists of the past 3 years and immediate AC&C winners) - Women of Note
Small Chorus Award (highest ranking chorus having 25 or fewer members, excluding immediate AC&C winners)
-AND-
Rising Star Award (greatest improvement in total score in consecutive AC&C contests) - Harmony Heritage Chorus
Membership Award (chapter with highest percentage growth within the previous year) - Silk'n Sounds Chorus and Harmony Heritage Chorus
Qualifiers for HI International in November:
ALL competing choruses are qualified and invited to International this year!
NoteAble Blend
Silk'n Sounds Chorus
Maine-ly Harmony
Harmony Heritage Chorus
Women of Note
Sounds of the Seacoast
New England Voices in Harmony
Area 2 Quartet Contest Results
5th place - 791 pts - 65.9% - Kismet Quartet
4th place - 803 pts - 66.9% - Life's a Pitch Quartet
3rd place - 861 pts - 71.8% - True Colors Quartet
2nd place - 909 pts - 75.8% - SweetLife
1st place Area 2 Quartet Champion - 911 pts - 75.9% - New Q
Most Improved total score and Most Improved PER score - Out On A Limb
Qualifiers for HI International in November:
ALL competing quartets are qualified and invited to International this year!
Out On A Limb
Free Spirits
Kismet
Life's A Pitch
True Colors
Sweet Life
New Q
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Area Contests
Area 6 AC&C
March 31-April 3, 2022
See results
Area 2 AC&C
April 21-24, 2022
See results
Area 3 AC&C
April 29-May 1, 2022
See results
Area 5 AC&C
May 27-29, 2022
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Area 1 AC&C
June 2-5, 2022
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Area 4 AC&C
June 10-12, 2022
Late Entry Cut-off Date May 11, 2022
RETURN TO TOP
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ONYX smiles for the camera.
FROM LEFT: Kelly Thomas (tenor), Amy Chop (lead), Jenn Haines (bass), Michelle Odendahl (baritone)
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QUARTET SPOTLIGHT
Welcome to Area 5's Onyx!
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While these lovely faces may be familiar to many, this new Area 5 and A Capella Showcase member combination is brand new!
Michelle joined Amy and Jenn in 2020 and the pandemic halted her first-time quartet experience after only a few rehearsals. During that time, their previous tenor decided to retire and that inspired them to start a new quartet with whomever would join them! Once it was safe to sing together again, they auditioned for a new tenor. Kelly was an amazing fit vocally and brings many years of quartet experience. These four all love being in a quartet, especially with the personal challenge and plunging into something new.
The inevitable name decision difficulty involved many brainstorm sessions and lists shared by email, random moments of inspiration texted at all hours of the day, top 10 lists, and research into quartet name history. They wanted something memorable, marketable, and translatable to costumes and presentation. Kelly’s mother suggested Onyx and it immediately clicked with all four members. The name holds personal connections for each of them and has been fun to develop a style around.
Each Onyx member loves serving as board members, too! Among them, they have a Harmony, Inc. International Board member, Area 5 Council member, A Cappella Showcase Board member, and President of ComicsPro, an international organization for professional comic retailers and small business owners.
Onyx rehearses in person as close to weekly as possible. Since they have a lot of things on their schedule and a couple of travel-loving members, they schedule rehearsals a few weeks to months ahead. Currently, they’re focused on preparing for Area 5 AC&C and building their repertoire. They will also be participating in the Ontario Barbershop Showcase at the end of April, singing at Michelle’s daughter’s wedding in June, and have a goal to perform in their communities in the future!
If you see Onyx around Area 5 AC&C or virtually on Facebook, please give them a warm, Harmony, Inc. hello!
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Meet Your Harmony, Inc. Quartet Promotion Team!
Like so many aspects of Harmony, Inc., we have phenomenal members who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make our organization the best it can be. I am proud to showcase the Quartet Promotion Team - whom I have had the honor to work with since becoming QDC in 2020 - on the Harmony, Inc. website.
We meet monthly to chat about all things quartets and brainstorm how we can better assist our Areas with quartet promotion. Reach out to your Area Quartet Promotion Chair for support and ideas!
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 It is officially contest season and we are so thrilled that all of our Areas will have contestants crossing the stage.
As you start thinking about IC&C, please visit the website for all the information you need regarding deadlines, costs, location, accommodations, the convention agenda, opportunities to volunteer, and - this being Harmony - forms for everything.
We can’t wait to see all of you in Verona for our first live convention in three years!
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Harmony Inc, and its Areas and Chapters are required to pay fees to three separate U.S. music licensing agencies, ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC whenever we perform music at live events that we organize, such as Chapter Shows, AC&Cs and IC&C. It is important that we include all three agencies to be fully covered for the music that we perform. If you do not have your own accounts in place with each of these agencies, you can fulfill this requirement by reporting your activity through Harmony, Inc.
Bev Jackson, our 
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Kristin Gunasekera, our 
Eligibility criteria and maximum grant amounts have changed! 
