This past week, I was privileged to visit a chapter to install their Board of Directors. The night included a novice quartet contest, the announcement of their Barbershopper of the Year, some snacks, and quite a few tags. It was so much fun and very healing.
My wife came home from a performance where they had the opportunity to visit with and sing for a former charter member of their chapter who recently celebrated her 103rd birthday. After they sang she told them, “Just know that you did a good thing today.”
Having fun. Singing tags. Making an impact on people with our music. These are all my answers to “Why do I barbershop?”
We all know that the last several years have been difficult for so many of us – members and chapters alike – for a variety of reasons. We’ve lost friends, family, and singers on the risers. For some, we’ve lost the reason we barbershop … we’ve lost the Why.
Why did you join? Why do you sing? Why do you barbershop? Answers to these questions are at the core of what we as barbershoppers do, and we all need to know what inspires us, what motivates us, what is our Why.
In 2023, you have several opportunities to explore or remember your Why, whether it is at our upcoming Spring conventions, Harmony College East, attending a Chapter show, or actively participating in a Chapter rehearsal or performance. See you soon!
Steve Kirsch, M-AD President