Planes, Trains and Automobiles

From HarmonyU

Actually many, many NO-PLANES stood between Barney Johnson and Harmony University. An early Sunday flight turned into 48 hours of airport hell as he attempted the normally short trip from Syracuse to Kansas City.

Apparently 11 was the unlucky number for the veteran, who is attending his eighth Directors College as leader of the Oswego, New York Chapter. Add in an AIC scholarship trip and two Quartet College visits with Cornerstone, and you have someone who knows the route to St. Joe. Too bad USAirways doesn't.

Mr. Awesome on campus

You knew you were in the presence of greatness... but of awesomeness too? The name badge never lies: Mason Swenson is truly awesome, as his badge proudly declares. A third-generation Barbershoppper, the 11-year-old hails from the Manhattan, Kansas Chapter.

Try to spot Mr. Awesome as he blurs past on his Razr scooter, chatting away on his ever-present celly headset.

And ask him if he is in fact more awesome than Joe Connelly. Our preliminary analysis:

Mr. Awesome	Awesome Joe
Mean tenah singah	Mean lead singah
Catches air, turns a 540	Catches air, sings 5:40
Blond and fair	Variable colors; bronzed
Son of Barbershopper carrying on the family tradition	Son of Barbershopper carrying on the family tradition
New school	Old School

Mid-Term Bash Set for Thursday

Thursday we celebrate another honored HU tradition: taking a break from the work, work, work for some fun, fun, fun -- although OC Times couldn't make it.

The festivities start with a pig roast buffet picnic at 6:30 PM. Along the way, we'll have quartet entertainment... chorus "entertainment" from the rookie choruses.... and our opportunities raffle.

Suckers... um... gamers may be interested in an excursion to Terrible's St. Joe Frontier Casino. Depart from tent at 8:30 pm; depart from Casino at 11:00 pm. Nominal charge for transportation; sign up sheet is outside the Harmony U Office (Spratt 216).

Friends of Bill W

Will meet every night this week at 10:15 PM after ice cream at the gazebo behind the dorms.

Bulletin Board / Bus Sign-Ups

Any announcements for faculty and students will be posted on the bulletin board outside the HU Office starting Tuesday. Important: Please sign up for Sunday airport busses so we can plan accordingly.

Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus

The "Walking Wounded Bus begins service at dorms at 7:00 am. As the weather heats up, it becomes more important to be smart about your capabilities. Don't be shy: our MoWest drivers are glad of the company.

The oldest joke in the book: "Thompson, you change with Sinclair..."

Towel Exchange Wednesday, Aug 1st: Drop off soiled towels on the 1st floor of the following Halls...Vaselakos, LLC, and Leaverton. PLEASE drop off on your way to breakfast. Clean towels will be delivered back to the Halls between noon and 10 pm. Please remember to only take one clean item.

St. Joe gets superb show - tix available

Most folks never get to see two champions in a single show. But at Harmony U, we think you're worth it, so we've gone ahead and lined up the very best:

• Vocal Spectrum, 2006 Champs
• The Ambassadors of Harmony, 2004 CHamps and 2007 Silver Medalists .

PLUS...

• The Director's College Chorus
• The Hamony University Honors Chorus
• The Next Generation Chorus

Show tickets are available in the HU Office. HU Students DO NOT need to purchase tickets but if you have family or friends coming to see the show they can be purchased in the office or at the door. Price is $20/$10 for students at the door with student ID.

A day at Harmony College

Win ten bucks --- easy!

Blake Sinclair won $10 in the daily drawing at Harmony Marketplace. You could, too. Stop by and bring Cheryl a cold drink, and check out the quality Harmony U apparel, CDs, etc.

Jim Henry: "Our Music Is Our Ministry"

In a moving speech that ranged from 19th Century African-American Quartets to personal quartet reminiscences to small-chapter life to finding the "lost chord" at age 11, Jim Henry brought a packed Harmony University audience to its feet for a thundering two minute ovation last night.

"Barbershop is not a hobby" was his theme. It is a calling, a ministry in music that touches countless lives. It is a gift of gold medals given to one another; not those won on the stage, but won in daily lives and relationships bound by barbershop harmony.

Describing himself as a product of Harmony College, he fondly recounted sneaking around after midnight to sing "illegal" modern chords out of earshot of Bob Johnson, who threatened to expel anyone he heard singing non-barbershop on campus.

Jim's challenge to everyone to sing with passion and craftsmanship -- "and if you don't, I'm throwing you off campus!" -- was met with thunderous applause.

"Best. Speech. Ever." opined one fan. hear hear. Pair it with Dave Stevens classic "What Are We Trying To Preserve?" address, and you have the complete story of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

First-Timer Choruses Threaten Widespread Hearing Loss

Like the Thing In The Closet in a 70s horror flick, the Freshmen Choruses just keep coming back. This year, classy badge ribbons denote the Minions of The Abyss. No longer does evil hide itself in the friendly guise of the propeller beanie.

The Red, Green, Blue Choruses will perform on Thursday night's Mid-Term Bash, and although each year we expect them to be entertaining, something always goes awry. Programming hint: don't be led down a primrose path by anyone with fewer than five years at Harmony U; they'll only try to make you as bad as they were, hoping to erase the memory....

Hail, Hail, the Gang's (mostly) All Here

Faculty notes:

Jeff Selano had a last minute medical emergency and is not able to be here this week. His classes are cancelled. Please come to the Harmony U office to change your schedule.

Mark Hale had a last minute work conflict, but Steve Delehanty will be replacing Mark. All of Mark’s classes will be covered by Steve.

Ongoing health issues led Freddie King to decide to stay home this year. Monday night's scheduled "Freddie King Show" is postponed for another year. In its place, Ed Watson invites you to a chat regarding the imminent Nashville relocation.

Category school concludes; judges certified

No, no, not certified nuts; certified capable of adjudicating Barbershop Harmony Society contests.

A cadre of returning judges were joined by candidates for the triennial intensive four-day school that sets the norms, ensures that all judges score on the same basis, and ultimately, helps them help competitors deliver their best possible performances.

A Saturday night show showcased the good-natured rivalry between categories, poked fun at heroes and villains alike, and included the most obtuse music theory in jokes one could ever hope to hear.

Already plans are being laid for recruiting a new cohort of applicants for the next cycle. Check back here for info on an informal meeting to be held this week led by Ev Nau.

Watch your step

The unglamourous work of maintaining the campus coincides with our school. Watch for broken sidewalks under repair, potholes being filled, and the resulting slippery mud that can snatch your feet out from under you.

Harmony University opens today!

Har-Missourian goes all bloggy

Barbershoppers the world round are converging in St. Joe today. And this year, the Har-missourian daily bulletin will be available to you online, as it is written.

Share the feed... share the love. http://harmonyuniversity.blogspot.com

Jim Henry to deliver keynote

Barbershop historian, gold medal chorus director, and oh yes, pretty good bass singer Dr. Jim Henry will deliver Sunday night's keynote address.

A long-standing tradition, the keynote sets the tone for the Harmony University experience. Jim follows in the footsteps of such giants as Dave Stevens, David Wright, Bob Johnson, etc. From the emotional remembrances of Geoerge Evans (tenor of The Confederates), the living history of famed arranger Walter Latzko, the staunch defense of the style by Dave Stevens, the keynote is the place where barbershop defines itself to itself.

Jim has chosen for his topic "It's Just A Hobby." Yeah. Right.