There's more to a convention than just a contest: singing things to do
Most people don't really know what the schedule of events is for a convention until
they get there -- they know the schedule for the major events but not the rest of the
week. And since our hearts belong to the music and the songs, here is some advance notice
of events during the week (presently scheduled and subject to change) in which our members
might participate at no cost.
If you are a woodshedder, the AHSOW room is open all
week long for your singing enjoyment. There is always a group of singers in that room and
they can tell you everything there is to know about woodshedding.
On Wednesday, from 8:30-9:30 in the morning, there is the Gold Medal Hour. This is an
hour with the current International Quartet Champion and it gives aspiring quartet singers
an opportunity to hear the champ tell it like it is and to ask questions about rehearsal
techniques, warm up ideas, song selection, how did they get to be champions, etc. Maybe
not as much participatory singing as you might like but certainly the opportunity to get a
lot of great information from those in the know.
At each convention there is a Gospel Sing. That is organized by Jerry Fairchild and the
Good News Gospel Quartet. It will most likely take place in one of the churches in
downtown Kansas City and usually happens on Thursday morning, 9:30-11:30.
Some of you may not know of the Sing With the Champs program. It takes place each year
at the convention and gives anyone who wishes the opportunity to sing his part with an
International Champion Quartet. The AIC, sponsors of the event, publish an advanced list
of the quartets that will be participating in the SWTC program for the convention and a
list of the songs that the quartets will be prepared to sing. There is a sign up table in
the exhibitors area of the Convention Marketplace where you would sign up for a particular
quartet and time slot. You have to pay a small fee for this fantastic experience and you
will receive a video tape of the performance. It is quite thrilling for those who have the
courage to do it. These sessions are usually on Thursday morning (10:00 to noon) and
Thursday afternoon (1:00-3:00).
On Thursday at noon, we will have the MASS SING. It will take place right outside the
headquarters hotel (Marriott Downtown) in the Plaza-right in the heart of downtown Kansas
City- and we are hoping to involve a large segment of the local community in this event.
We haven't been in the downtown area for the MASS SING for a few years and this is really
what the event is all about-let the locals see what 3,000 barbershoppers singing together
sounds like.
This year, for the first time, we offered a Best of the CBQC (Collegiate Barbershop
Quartet Contest) class. This class is primarily for college quartet members (either those
competing in the CBQC or guys just wanting to get into a college quartet). The class was
very well received in Anaheim and will be repeated in Kansas City. It happens on Thursday
afternoon (4:00-5:30). There is a lot to be learned for you young singers in this class.
And perhaps the Creme de la Creme of participatory singing in Kansas City will be the
Father/Son/Grandson chorus. This will be an opportunity for any combination of
Fathers/Sons/Grandsons to spend some time together singing at least two songs. LIDA ROSE
will be one of the songs and the other is SINGING HERE WITH DAD. We are working on getting
a well known father/son directing team for this event and it should provide an emotional
high for all who participate. It is our hope that, as a prelude to this, each of the
Districts will have had a similar opportunity at either their Fall or Spring Convention.
Sheet music and learning
tapes are available through the Harmony Marketplace. The logistics of this activity
are still being worked out but mark it down on your calendar if you and your son or
grandson would like to participate.
It goes without saying that there will be many opportunities to sing with three other
guys in any of the hotel lobbies in our convention hotels. So take advantage of every
opportunity that strikes your fancy and enjoy the convention to the maximum extent
possible.
