Reaching to the future

[Ed. note: When I see articles that I feel lend themselves to any form of public relations efforts, I will include them for you to read. If you feel an article applies to what you may want to try in your chapter and you want to reprint it, please do so, but be sure to give credit to the author and source.]

What a thrill to see young men singing barbershop! If you attended the CSD fall convention in Omaha, you got to see lots of fresh young faces - with the American BarberBoys; in the Championship Novice Quartet Tag Time; and ringing tags and polecats in every corner of the Doubletree Hotel. That didn't happen by accident. Veteran Barbershoppers across the district have realized that the art form we so passionately enjoy must be actively presented to a new generation of singers. This is the story of one of those "old-timers" who has done something very special to take "The Old Songs" to a New Generation.

His name is Russ Craig and he has been a Barbershopper for over 48 years. He's a retired music educator and a firm believer in taking four-part harmony to young audiences and letting its magic touch them, too. Three years ago as his chapter was developing the outline of its next annual show, Russ suggested that it might be fun to include some young middle and high school singers in the program. He made the contacts and by show time, the kids had put together some great numbers complete with choreography and costumes. Two elementary school groups and a boys' quartet called The Little Shavers wowed the audiences.

The next year, Russ recruited three high school men's quartets and a young ladies' quartet to perform on the show. Since it was prom night, one quartet brought their prom dates on stage, sang a love song, and left the audience cheering! A tradition has begun and you can bet there will be young singers on every show from now on. However, singing on a show and reaching a new generation of Barbershop Harmony Society members are two different things, right? Not to Russ. Here's what happened next.

As the Youth Outreach Chairman for the chapter, Russ approached the chapter board with a novel proposal: help young singers like those who sang on our shows join the Society by offering membership tuition scholarships to student singers who actively participate in barbershop singing.

The letter to each scholarship applicant reads in part: "The Overland Park Chapter has established a scholarship program to encourage and preserve the barbershop style of singing for a new generation of singers and to promote vocal music education and performance in our schools. The program offers membership in the Barber Shop Harmony Society to young men under age 23 who are full-time students. You will be paired with an experienced chapter member who will serve as your mentor and guide to the joy of barbershop harmony. Barbershopping is a hobby you can enjoy for a lifetime. Come and experience the joy of hearing your voice contributing to barbershop harmony!"

So far, nine young men have joined the Society under the scholarship program. Some of them have also cross-registered in other chapters whose music programs appeal to them, and that's okay.

Russ says, "Let's get them singing barbershop somewhere. Our scholarship program is an investment in the future of our hobby... it's time to cast our bread upon the waters and hope that the returns benefit us all."

If you'd like details about the Overland Park Chapter's Student Scholarship Program, write to Q. Gates, President, Overland Park Chapter, 9933 Century Lane, Lenexa, KS 66215. Or e-mail your request to: qgates@juno.com.