International Contest
The International Contest in Anaheim has now concluded and reports are that it was a spectacular event. Anyone who has attended a convention would not find that description surprising. If you have not been to an International, or maybe just not attended one lately, mark you calendar for next year when the contest venue will be Philadelphia. In case you have not seen or heard about this year's winners, here is a summary.
Chorus Competition
Ambassadors of Harmony (St Charles, MO)-Gold
The Vocal Majority (Dallas Metro, TX)-Silver
Great Northern Union (Hilltop, MN)-Bronze(3)
Sound of the Rockies (Denver Mile High, CO)-Bronze(4)
The Northern Lights (Toronto, ON)-Bronze(5)
The Vocal Majority (Dallas Metro, TX)-Silver
Great Northern Union (Hilltop, MN)-Bronze(3)
Sound of the Rockies (Denver Mile High, CO)-Bronze(4)
The Northern Lights (Toronto, ON)-Bronze(5)
The Alliance (Greater Central Ohio) placed 6th
Southern Gateway (Cincinnati Western Hills) placed 11th
Southern Gateway (Cincinnati Western Hills) placed 11th
Quartet Competion
Crossroads-Gold
Old School-Silver
Storm Front-Bronze(3)
Ringmasters-Bronze(4)
State Line Grocery( tie-4)
Collegiate Quartet Contest
The Vagrants-Gold
Swedish Match-Silver
On Demand-Bronze(3)
Prestige (all Bowling Green students)-Bronze(4)
JAD's 4-Way Stop-Bronze(5)
Go Fish-Bronze(tie-5)
Barbershop Glossary
Crossroads-Gold
Old School-Silver
Storm Front-Bronze(3)
Ringmasters-Bronze(4)
State Line Grocery( tie-4)
From JAD, The Allies placed 8th, TKO was 17th, Hot Air Buffoons were 20th and 4-Way Stop was 32nd.
Collegiate Quartet Contest
The Vagrants-Gold
Swedish Match-Silver
On Demand-Bronze(3)
Prestige (all Bowling Green students)-Bronze(4)
JAD's 4-Way Stop-Bronze(5)
Go Fish-Bronze(tie-5)
Getting To Know Us
This chorus member, who was born in Bluffton, OH, has been a barbershopper and a chorus member for less than two years. He has also lived in Findlay, Medina and Hannover, Germany.
He grew up on a 250 acre farm, helping to raise pigs, as well as doing
other farm chores. His high school was small in size. His graduating class had 70 students. During his senior year, the football team, on which he played halfback, had a 10-0 record and was ranked in the top ten among Ohio schools.
This chorus member's main occupation was as a computer programmer, but he also has worked as a house and barn painter (early in life), a high school math and physics teacher, and a physics instructor at a technical college.
His job with General Tire took his family to Germany for a year, where they all learned to speak and read German. This was necessary because the village in which they lived had very few English speaking residents. The family traveled through much of Europe during this time. In 2005, he spent a short time in London, working for BP. During this period, his wife was on the Tube when terrorists made a second attempt to blow up the subways. Fortunately, the bombs did not go off that time.
This barbershopper plays piano and organ and played both for his church from 6th grade through high school. He is also an astronomy buff. In college, he was president of the men's Glee Club, as well as the Wizard of Oz fan club. This latter group once rented the 16mm movie and watched the whole thing in reverse.
He grew up on a 250 acre farm, helping to raise pigs, as well as doing
other farm chores. His high school was small in size. His graduating class had 70 students. During his senior year, the football team, on which he played halfback, had a 10-0 record and was ranked in the top ten among Ohio schools.This chorus member's main occupation was as a computer programmer, but he also has worked as a house and barn painter (early in life), a high school math and physics teacher, and a physics instructor at a technical college.
His job with General Tire took his family to Germany for a year, where they all learned to speak and read German. This was necessary because the village in which they lived had very few English speaking residents. The family traveled through much of Europe during this time. In 2005, he spent a short time in London, working for BP. During this period, his wife was on the Tube when terrorists made a second attempt to blow up the subways. Fortunately, the bombs did not go off that time.
This barbershopper plays piano and organ and played both for his church from 6th grade through high school. He is also an astronomy buff. In college, he was president of the men's Glee Club, as well as the Wizard of Oz fan club. This latter group once rented the 16mm movie and watched the whole thing in reverse.
(This man's identity will be revealed in the 7/27 issue of the bulletin)
Birthday Wishes
Dick Frank -7/21
Charles (Stan) Haught -7/21
2009 Annual Akron Derbytown Chorus Family Picnic
submitted by Stan Martin
Saturday, June 20, was our annual Family Picnic, - held at Cuyahoga Falls Waterworks Park., 5:00 PM. A great day! Dan Nichols' blazing grille, blue skies, warm weather and many friends.
Dan thought of it all. The arrangements, grille, plentiful pop, yard games and lots of food. -Vic Estafen brought a double share of his pineapple//cherry goodies, Dick Hudson’s famous pasta salad and all the wives famous cookies/veggies/brownies kept us from hunger. .
Eric Salmons was there with his lovely daughter and the geese feeding boys.
Robin’s beautiful MG and Scott Giles' red convertibles graced the parking lot. Of course, Scott led the way for a variety of Chorus favorites. Our various quartet acappella smoothed the corners.
If you weren’t there, you missed a great evening. (Try again next year!).
Thanks Dan! You did a great job, (as did the many others pitching-in).
Birthday Wishes
Dick Frank -7/21
Charles (Stan) Haught -7/21
Barbershop Glossary
Ballad-A word used to group songs which usually have a strong emotional lyric, and may be sung either in tempo, or freely.
Expanded Sound- The effect created by the combined interaction of voices sung with accurate intonation, uniform word sounds in good quality, proper volume relationships that reinforce the more compatible harmonics producing an effect (greater than the sum of the individual voice parts).
Implosion-Compression of air between the closed glottis and the closed oral and nasal passages, forming the voiceless consonants "p", "t", and "k".
Swipe-An arranger's tool which enhances a song. A series of chords sung while sustaining one word.
Vocal Folds-Two muscular bands in the larynx cavity which vibrate and create varying pitches by adjusting tension against the upward flow of air.
Conan the Barbershopper
Expanded Sound- The effect created by the combined interaction of voices sung with accurate intonation, uniform word sounds in good quality, proper volume relationships that reinforce the more compatible harmonics producing an effect (greater than the sum of the individual voice parts).
Implosion-Compression of air between the closed glottis and the closed oral and nasal passages, forming the voiceless consonants "p", "t", and "k".
Swipe-An arranger's tool which enhances a song. A series of chords sung while sustaining one word.
Vocal Folds-Two muscular bands in the larynx cavity which vibrate and create varying pitches by adjusting tension against the upward flow of air.
International Tags?
Recently, at one of our rehearsal afterglows, there was a discussion about using the internet to have a quartet sing a song, even though they are all at different locations. The technology is certainly there. If the song was a Barber Polecat, the task gets even simpler. Well, a little digging uncovered the fact that this idea has occurred to others and they have begun to put this process to the test. Here are a couple of examples. The first one features singers from New Zealand, Sweden, USA and Canada who have never met. The second was done by two singers, each contributing two parts. One is from France, the other from Germany.
Conan the Barbershopper
Tonight Show host, Conan O'Brien, spent a large part of a day last week, hanging around with barbershoppers in Anaheim. He was attired in red and white striped jacket and suitable hat to fit the occasion. There is no word yet as to if or when the footage that NBC shot will air on Conan's show, but stay alert for special notices should something definite be scheduled. In the meantime, here is an interview with Mr. O'Brien from the Society webcast. The sound and lip movement don't quite sync, but that happens to us every Tuesday so you should be used to it.
For The Good Of The Order
Board Meeting-Tonight, 7/13, 6:30
Rehearsal Location Change-The rehearsal on Tuesday, 7/14, will be held at the home of Charles (Rip) Wilson. Times are the same: Gospel group at 6:30, Chorus at 7:30.
Aeros' Game-The chorus will be singing the National Anthem (and anything else that we can get away with) at the Akron Aeros' game on Tuesday, 7/28. Contact Jim Mally if you have not signed up yet. No charge for chorus member tickets. Guest tickets are $3.00 and Jim needs the money for guest tickets turned in by 7/14.
Rehearsal Location Change-The rehearsal on Tuesday, 7/14, will be held at the home of Charles (Rip) Wilson. Times are the same: Gospel group at 6:30, Chorus at 7:30.
Aeros' Game-The chorus will be singing the National Anthem (and anything else that we can get away with) at the Akron Aeros' game on Tuesday, 7/28. Contact Jim Mally if you have not signed up yet. No charge for chorus member tickets. Guest tickets are $3.00 and Jim needs the money for guest tickets turned in by 7/14.
