Contemporary singing ensembles are rapidly gaining popularity in scholastic music programs. It seems that every school now has a pop or a cappella program alongside their traditional ensembles. Is the classical sound getting lost in the mix?

After an exciting convention, new champions were named and BHS looks ahead to the International Convention in LA this July.

From Disney, to The Beatles, to barbershop classics, the youngest and oldest talent of the Barbershop Harmony Society shared the stage at the Florida Theatre in a marathon of chorus performances today at the BHS Midwinter Convention in Jacksonville.

Pre-convention activities are underway in Jacksonville ahead of a sold out Midwinter Convention for the Barbershop Harmony Society.

With a score of 83.7% (1507) A Cappella Showcase took home their third gold medal at the 2019 Harmony, Inc. IC&C with the second highest chorus score ever. As expected, the chorus contest was exciting and hotly contested with runners-up Northern Blend finishing just 7 points behind A Cappella Showcase with an 83.3% (1500). It was the first time Harmony, Inc. saw not one, but two scores above an 83% in the same contest. 

This Friday will be a clash of the titans in Sandusky, OH as the choruses of Harmony, Inc. take the stage.

With less than a week to go, the excitement surrounding the 2019 Harmony, Incorporated International Convention & Contests is palpable. The contests kick off on Thursday morning with 33 qualifying quartets expected to take the stage at Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio.

In 1957, a significant shift of needs and ideals in the women's barbershop community led to the creation of second organization. After a struggle of meetings and debate, the Melody Belles of Rhode Island were the first chorus to officially split from Sweet Adelines, followed closely by four more choruses to pursue a different direction. These 150 women propelled the creation of what became Harmony, Incorporated.

Over the last several years, the Barbershop Harmony Society has been diligently working on the implementation of their latest mission: Everyone In Harmony.

On Friday, July 5th, choruses as large as nearly 150 men will take the stage in Salt Lake City. Unlike the quartets, choruses have just one appearance on stage - one chance to wow the judges and entertain the audience. From theatrics to gymnastics, we can expect much more than just tight harmonies.

Competition. Is there anything more magical than going up on stage and performing for your peers and a panel of judges?

Each day, in schools around the country, students enter a classroom and create music using their voices or any number of instruments. Starting with simple unison songs and plastic recorders, America’s youth can quickly advances to include repertoire from the world’s finest composers. It’s part of everyone’s education at some point, but what does it take to really be the best?

Incorporating pop music into traditional music education is a hot topic for school teachers as of late. However, the greatest thing about music is that you don't have to love and practice just one style or even just one instrument. In fact, some of the best musicians out there, pop or not, have a deep history with classical and traditional styles.

Summertime, if not a break, often brings a more relaxed schedule. It’s the perfect time to spend a little more time on making your a cappella better. Here are a few ways you can put the free(er) time to use and get a jumpstart on the fall:

This weekend, nearly 150 former and current members of the Tufts Beelzebubs gathered in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the group. A weekend full of song and time together to honor shared memories and traditions is a concept that may be lost as the genre pushes for innovation and the next big thing, but it may be the thing we need most. After all, how do you get where you’re going without knowing where you’ve been? Or something like that…