Harmony, Incorporated HI Note: June 2023, Issue #1

President's Message

And the fun continues!

Linda's fun, that is! Our President was heavily involved in the Area 1 convention when our copy deadline struck.

Check in again in two weeks for more inspiration from our fearless leader.

Area Conventions and Contests

EDITOR'S NOTE: Through this season, we are featuring reports of the Area Conventions and Contests. In this issue of the HI Note, Area 5 celebrates their winners. Stay tuned to our next issue for more insight on the shenanigans at their Night on the Red Carpet.
Official contest results are posted on the website.

A Cappella Showcase are the Area 5 chorus champions and winners of the Joyce Bradley Memorial Champions Award. They are also the recipients of the Louise Malison Memorial Award for highest performance score, the Bonnie Barber Memorial Award for highest singing score, and the Award for the Most Improved Chorus Award for the greatest total points increase from the previous year's contest. Congratulations, A Cappella Showcase!

QUARTET CHAMPS - The OverTones, Inc. President Karen Atkinson presents the championship trophy to
Continental Crush.

MIXED HARMONY CHAMPS - Angie Morton-Locke and Dan Locke, sponsors of the MBHA Quartet award, present the trophy to the winning mixed quartet, Canadian Club.

IC&C Convention Corner

Michigan, here we come!
By Shannon Shelton-Muller, IC&C Marketing Manager

Can you believe it? The time has arrived to register for IC&C AEPs! Here are the details on all things AEP. On your mark, get set, GO!

How do I register for IC&C?
Registration will be done online again this year and you will register for the Saturday night dinner at the same time you purchase your All Events Pass (AEP). Payment can be mailed, made through PayPal, or for payment in Canada, by e-Transfer through your Bank. All prices are in US funds but may be paid in Canadian equivalent with exchange calculated on the day of payment.

We ask that all choruses register their members at the same time, vs having members register individually. This ensures you will be seated together at dinner.

While there is no cut-off for purchasing an AEP, we ask that you follow the below guidelines, especially for groups:

Early bird pricing for AEPs ends September 1. The price for ALL AEPs (including youth) will increase by $10.00 after this date.
The deadline to purchase dinner tickets is September 30. We request that you purchase your dinner ticket at the same time as your AEP but understand that plans may change, so you can add a dinner ticket up until this date.
Online AEP sales will close November 3. You may purchase AEPs and tickets on-site after this date.

What is the cost to attend IC&C?
All prices are listed in U.S. Dollars. Payment is due in U.S. Dollars or the Canadian equivalent. To convert to CAD, go to U.S. to Canadian Dollar Converter.

Prices below are the Early Bird pricing. After September 1, all prices will increase by $10:

Adult Performing Member AEP = $165
Adult Non-Performing Member AEP = $125
Adult Non-Member AEP = $125
Youth Performing Member AEP = $95 (this cost is being covered by Harmony, Inc)
Youth Non-Performing Member AEP = $95 (this cost is being covered by Harmony, Inc)
Youth Non-Member AEP = $95
Single Event Tickets = $35
Single Event Youth/Child Ticket = $20 (25 and under)

AEP REGISTRATION

What is the COVID Policy for IC&C?
As of January 8, 2023, Harmony, Inc. has removed the 2022 COVID restrictions for all Harmony, Inc. events. Harmony, Inc. reserves the right to reinstate on an event-by-event basis if federal and/or state/province government guidelines change for that location.

What is the Saturday Dinner?
Participation in the Saturday evening dinner helps us keep AEP costs as low as possible – and dinner is a lot of fun! The cost for this year’s dinner buffet is $57.00. Vegetarian? Special dietary needs? No worries – we will have a special plated dinner for you. Just be sure to indicate your dietary restrictions when you register.

Everyone who purchases a dinner ticket will get priority seating at the Showcase this year.

Menu

Crisp baby iceberg wedge lettuce with carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, bacon crumbles, white cheddar and ranch dressing (gf)
Rosemary roasted French cut chicken breast, herb-roasted fingerling potatoes, green beans/red peppers, herb jus (gf)
Black forest stout cake with malted cream and cherry compote
Freshly baked rolls and butter, coffees, a selection of hot teas and unsweetened iced tea
Cash bar

Please note: There will be no dinner ticket sales on-site. You must pre-purchase your seat. If you purchase a seat, then determine you can no longer attend the dinner, you may sell your ticket to someone else. You can post the information on Facebook via Harmony Chat or the IC&C event page, or you can post it on the bulletin board in the Hospitality Suite at IC&C. Remember, the person buying your ticket is also buying your seat assignment; we cannot re-assign seats after they have been posted.

How are seats assigned for dinner?
After the September 30 deadline, we will randomly draw table assignments for the Saturday dinner. Each chorus will get a select number of seats based on their dinner orders. We will notify choruses of their table and seat numbers – but they can determine who sits where. Individual or small group orders will be placed at extra seats where available. We will post the table assignments in IC&C mobile app and on our IC&C website, but it is up to the individual members to remember what their table/seat assignment is.

Can I bring a guest?
Yes, family and friends are invited and encouraged to attend IC&C. The cost to attend contest is $35 for adults, $20 for youth (per contest). They are also invited to attend dinner for the $60 fee. All guest tickets can be pre-ordered on the AEP form.

TUNE UP TIPS: Did you know that many questions about IC&C, including hotel room costs, agenda, forms, etc., can be answered by checking out the FAQ sheet on our website? Simply visit the
International Contest & Convention Section for all the details!

REMEMBER! Acaville has extended their partnership with Harmony, Inc. You can get the ENTIRE 2023 CONTEST SEASON! There are 4 different plans available. Check out the link below to choose your own adventure.

Membership Levels – Harmony, Inc on Acaville

IBOD Update

Introducing the newly-elected IBOD members
By Kathryn Dory, Elections Committee Chair

IBOD Directors
It is with great pleasure that we inform you that the following members of Harmony, Inc. have been elected by acclamation to the International Board as Board Directors:

Anne Bureau
Anne has been on the M-AD District Board as Board Member at Large and served as Board Member at Large on the Lansdale's Chapter's (BHS) board. Anne has served on several committees with North Pennsmen, Liberty Belles and M-AD. Anne is currently the Director Development Coordinator for Harmony, Inc.

Gaye LaCasce
Gaye is a retired nonprofit executive, fundraiser, and frequent board member for numerous non-profits. She served as Area 6 Director for 3.5 years, and then was elected to the International Board, first serving as Director of Development and, for the past year, as Executive Vice President.

Taralee Lashway
Taralee was appointed as the Director of Membership at the end of 2022, having previously served for 5 years as Music Coordinator for Harmony, Inc. Taralee is the current President of the Northern Blend Chorus. Taralee is a Counseling Psychologist, and a US Navy retiree.

Donna McKay
Donna has served on the International Board of Directors for six years as Director of Membership, Director of Development, Vice President of Convention & Contests, and International President. For the past three years, she has served the IBOD as Immediate Past President.

These members will be assuming their positions as International Board Directors immediately following the 2023 IC&C. At that time, they will join the incumbent four Board Directors and the six Area Directors as the governing body of Harmony, Inc. for the coming year.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them and to thank each of them for stepping forward as volunteers. It is indeed a great honor to serve on the International Board of an organization such as ours, and they eager to work on our behalf in the coming years.

We look forward to another year of leadership by our International Board, with harmony in our hearts.

Area Directors
It is also with great pleasure that we announce the results of the election for Area 2, 4, and 6 Directors, each by acclamation:

Area 2 Director: Julie Schwingbeck
Julie Schwingbeck has served multiple terms in Women of Note administrative positions, including President, Vice President, Member-at-Large, Chorus Manager, Show Chair, Public Relations and Fund-Raising Chair, and Grant Coordinator. This will be her 3rd term as Area 2 Director.

Area 4 Director: Susan Spencer
Susan Spencer has served as a musical leader, and as well as in all administrative roles (President, VP, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer) and as chair of many committees. She is the current Area 4 Director.

Area 6 Director: Angie Beatty
Angie Beatty has served as Chapter President, Treasurer, Membership Coordinator, and Marketing Chair. She still serves as advisor to the Chapter Board of Directors and handles all marketing for Coastal Voices. On the International level, she has served as PR Coordinator and is the current Area 6 Director.

Each will be assuming a two-year term as Area Director and International Board of Directors member immediately following our International Convention.

Area 1 Director: Yvonne Rafuse
Kelly Mullaly is stepping down from the position of Area 1 Director at the end of 2023 IC&C (and Area 1 thanks her for her leadership.) Yvonne Rafuse has been appointed as the Area 1 Director. Yvonne is the current President and a Music Team member for Seaside A Cappella.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Julie, Susan, Angie, and Yvonne and to thank them for their willingness to serve their Areas and Harmony, Inc. in this important way. It is indeed a great honor to serve on the International Board of an organization such as ours. The work is both challenging and rewarding but is appreciated by all Harmony, Inc. members.

Yours in Harmony,

Kathryn Dory, Chair
Gillian Nichol, Canadian Teller
Linda Parviainen, U.S. Teller

Mentoring Our Musical Leaders

By Anne Bureau, Chorus Director Development Coordinator

Greetings!

In early April, we officially launched our Musical Leadership Mentoring Program. This program was developed by Kathy Stone and me to assist with the training of a surge in new directors in Area 6, most of which were new to Harmony, Inc. and new to directing.

We first developed a baseline resource document called Musical Leadership Development and Training Guide. We attended each of Harmony's six Area leadership council meetings, presenting our mentoring idea. As a result, we received several requests to be part of this pilot program from both mentors who were willing to help and mentees who desired knowledge and skill building.

To date, we have matched 12 of our musical leaders with nine mentors. We have even heard from a number of folks that this program has inspired them to seek out help on their own. Bonus!

We’re still taking baby steps to ensure the program is a success; if you are interested in becoming a mentor, or if you are a musical leader and would like a mentor, please fill out this survey and provide as much detail as possible.

It’s not a secret that when you build great musical leaders, you build great chapters, and that makes Harmony, Stronger!

Why You Might Make a Great Performance Judge

By Fatima Whelan, Performance Judge

My journey into judging has been filled with memorable experiences. I remember the day I sat in the “best seat in the house” at one of my Area 1 contests a few years ago, sitting beside Performance Category Specialist Theresa Weatherbee. A little nervous, I was more than anything excited to have a peek into what it was like to judge a contest. I knew the Performance Category was the one for me.

The road to certifying led me to learning from some of the best judges in my category as well as Broadway performers, actors, comedians, and more. We candidates worked at soaking in all of their expertise, challenging ourselves to never stop the learning process so that we can best serve our Harmony, Inc. performers.

I especially love what the performance category represents and how it continues to evolve. We are all about the human connection and how we as artists communicate our message to our audience.

I remember attending my first Harmony, Inc. category school and the warm welcome I received. It was an intense weekend of scoring, evaluating, and coaching, but I knew it was going to be a worthwhile journey. Attending Harmony University in 2018 to study how to coach effectively was an amazing experience that deepened my understanding of the role a Performance Judge serves.

As with any journey, the road is not always easy, especially during 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. However, a silver lining was that I would certify early that same year along with Singing Judge Amy Brown Patterson. The love and support I felt from my colleagues, chorus members, my area, family, and friends was something I will never forget.

And although we would not judge and perform that year, we continued to encourage one another. We taught online classes and served as panelists on the HIVE. Our category specialist and mentors kept us learning and sharpening our skill sets, so we would be ready to return “live” once again, to do what we all love to do…….without missing a beat.
My journey as a certified performance judge continues, and I am so grateful to have found Harmony, Inc. It is truly an honor to be able to serve in this capacity for an organization that has given me so much in return.

Do you find great joy in seeing others grow and flourish? Do you have experience in performance, musical theater, teaching, or coaching others to find artistry in their own performance? Have you ever wondered what skill sets are necessary to consistently score and evaluate a contest? Well, if you have, this category might just be for you!
If you are curious to learn more of what it’s like to be a Performance judge, feel free to reach out to me or any of our Performance Category judges and Training Coordinator. We would be happy to answer any and all of your questions. Who knows, maybe we’ll be on the panel together someday!

Donor Highlight

LAURA OAKES
By Kim Meechan, Director of Philanthropy

I have gotten to know Laura over the past few years while serving on the IBOD together. Laura is our Director of Marketing and Communications. She is knowledgeable, creative, funny and loves Harmony. There are so many ways to support our wonderful organization, and Laura has made a unique and creative contribution that will last a very long time! Read on to learn more.

How did you discover Harmony, Inc.?
I had read about Northern Blend Chorus in the phone book when I first moved to Watertown, NY. It took me 10 years to finally go to a rehearsal as a birthday gift to myself. After joining the NBC, I learned all about Harmony, Inc., and its amazing mission. ♪

What stands out for you as your most memorable Harmony, Inc. moment?
My most memorable moment as a Harmony member has to be serving as Chapter President the first year NBC received gold medals as International Champions in 2010. I was so proud and overwhelmed to be able to join our directors onstage to receive the trophy, to the unbelievable support and cheers from the entire organization.

What keeps you motivated to stay with Harmony, Inc.?
The friendships I have made through my chapter and Harmony are my main reason for staying with Harmony. I also am very proud to be a part of such an inclusive and welcoming organization that values diversity.

As the sponsor for our new Harmony’s Future Youth Quartet Award, what made you decide to contribute to Harmony, Inc. in this special way? What impact do you hope to see as a result of your involvement?
To me, the most important element of Harmony is its members. Developing programs that make our organization attractive to younger members is exactly how we can keep Harmony alive and strong. My only regret as a member of Harmony is that I was not exposed to this organization as a young woman. It is so empowering!

For The Love Of Harmony

Your donations to the For Love of Harmony program enable you to identify individuals or groups to receive special recognition, while at the same time providing a monetary gift to Harmony, Inc.

From A Cappella Showcase:

In memory of Agnes Fehr, mother of Tori Amendola

In memory of Agnes Fehr, grandmother of Myranda Amendola

In memory of Agnes Fehr, mother of Christine Mudge

In memory of Peter McCarroll, husband of Sherry McCarroll

In memory of Jean Rodrigues, partner of Samantha King

In memory of Frank Boast, father-in-law of Tracey Bradford

Condolences From The Membership

to Camilla Streeter (Harmony Heritage, Area 2) on the passing of her brother, David Cory, on May 1, 2023.
to Christine Chouinard (Crystal Chords, Area 3) on the passing of her father, Dan Lummuka, on May 3, 2023.
to Nancy Sherman (Sound Celebration, Area 4) on the death of her daughter, Jennifer Sherman.
to Suzanne Misunas (Harmony Heritage, Area 2) on the passing of her sister-in-law, Jane McAdam, on May 15, 2023.
to MaryAnn Archibald (Harmony Heritage, Area 2) on the passing of her husband, Leroy Archibald, on May 4, 2023.
to the family and friends of Susan Starr (California Note Catchers, Area 4), who passed away in March.
to the family and friends of Rosemarie Purdy, first president of the Tune Twisters (renamed Sing Niagara, Area 5), who passed away on May 17, 2023.

Need to post a condolence notice? Please have the information sent to the Corporate Office to be recorded. Thank you.

Apologies

In the last issue, the HI Note inadvertently identified retiring Area 2 ACJC Christina Tramack with her sister's photo. Thank you to our many sharp-eyed readers for alerting us to this situation. We apologize, Christina!

Deadlines Approaching

Intent to Compete/IC&C Contest Entry Forms

Area 6 – May 1
Area 2 - May 8
Area 3 - May 22
Area 5 - June 12
Area 1 - June 19
Area 4 - June 26

1 JULY - Deadline for Associates to apply to sing in International Chorus at IC&C
15 JULY - IC&C hotel room block opens
15 AUGUST - U.S. Chapters file 990-N with IRS,
16 AUGUST - IBOD Q3 meeting, 6-10 pm ET, via Zoom.
1 SEPTEMBER - End of late entries for IC&C. End of early bird AEP pricing for IC&C.
30 SEPTEMBER - Canadian Chapters file T2 with Revenue Canada.
1 OCTOBER - Big Screen Ads cutoff
3 NOVEMBER - End of Online IC&C registration. Tickets may still be purchased at the door.
5-8 NOVEMBER - IBOD Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS & CONTESTS
2024 NOVEMBER 6-9, GALT HOUSE, LOUISVILLE, KY
2025 NOVEMBER 5-8, HERSHEY LODGE, HERSHEY, PA
2026 NOVEMBER 11-14, GALT HOUSE, LOUISVILLE, KY
2027 NOVEMBER 10-13, NIAGARA FALLS CONVENTION CENTER, NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO
2028 NOVEMBER 1-4, HERSHEY LODGE, HERSHEY PA

The next issue of the HI Note comes to your inbox June 20. What would YOU like to read about in that issue? Share your thoughts with editor@harmonyinc.org by June 13.

See you in a couple weeks!