Leaning into joy

New musical experiences open new worlds

Some of you may know (because I may have shouted it from a nearby mountaintop!) that we have a new granddaughter named Berkley. Bellamy is now a big sister - she proudly says she has a sib-i-ling (in three syllables!) All is well, and we are grateful for good health and for all the sweet messages we’ve received.

On a related note, having a talkative 3-year-old granddaughter has stretched my intellect and my imagination. She – and now Berkley – have shown me how to “lean into” joy, even during dark days – literally and figuratively. Here’s a great example.

Bellamy (thanks to her mommy and aunt) loves Taylor Swift. While I appreciated what I’d read about Taylor’s work ethic and philanthropy, I wasn’t very familiar with her music.

Then there’s K-Pop… how many of you know that genre, which has been around since the 1990s? I didn’t. But Bellamy is enamored with the recent animated musical K-Pop Demon Hunters – the soundtrack of which was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards.

Here’s the connection: I love music of many kinds, but Taylor Swift and K-Pop are two musical experiences I probably would not have explored without a little encouragement. Bellamy’s requests to listen, dance, and sing along (over and over and over!) have helped me discover the joy in both - and to appreciate the joy they bring to her. Rather than becoming the archetypal aging curmudgeon who mutters, “Is that music?” or “Back in my day…” I genuinely want to learn what’s new in the musical world.

I’m currently watching a six-part documentary about the making of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Her vision, drive, generosity, and ability to connect with fans are second to none. We as barbershoppers could learn a few lessons from her about authenticity, show production, and audience engagement. She is also a role model for girls – a principled young woman who has built an ethical, thoughtful, and wildly successful business. Her musical versatility and exceptional talent are on full display.

K-Pop Demon Hunters was another surprise. I was initially skeptical, but the animated film’s good‑versus‑evil storyline - featuring a girl band whose journey leads to self‑acceptance (and therefore victory) - won me over. The music has become an earworm, with soaring melodies, danceable rhythms, and empowering lyrics. Before Bellamy’s influence, if someone had asked whether I’d like to listen to K-Pop, I probably would have politely demurred. Now I’m grateful that she (and her family) discovered and shared this music with me.

Have you been in the audience of a barbershop show or contest and heard an arrangement you didn’t recognize? Maybe you even leaned over and asked your neighbor, “Is that barbershop?” The answer is undoubtedly yes. Just as our parents probably questioned our musical tastes, we may find ourselves reacting to songs we hadn’t yet heard “barbershopped.” But keeping an open mind and embracing the evolution of our artform (and our organization) is healthy. It’s what will allow us to thrive in perpetuity, for our children and grandchildren.  

And to any budding arranger out there: I’m all in for K-Pop or T. Swift. Let me know!

SEEKING 

Business Services Coordinator

Want a front-row, behind-the-scenes role at Harmony, Inc.’s International Convention & Contest? Reporting directly to the Convention Manager, this role requires limited commitment throughout the year, with an exciting, hands-on presence onsite at ICC, where you’ll help keep the wheels turning by coordinating vendors, managing Harmony Mall participation, and overseeing cash collection and deposits.

For more information about this exciting opportunity, reach out to Allison Thompson at ICCManager@harmonyinc.org.

General Facilitator

This is a great opportunity to add to your facilitation skills, connect with passionate individuals, and contribute to positive change within our organization.
Interested? Contact Linda McMaster, Strategic Advisor, to learn more about becoming part of this inspiring team!
 

Short-Term Project-Based Opportunities 

We know many of our members would love to volunteer but are not sure they can make a long-term commitment. The Marketing & Communications (MarCom) team has short-term, project-based tasks that may be just what you’re looking for.  Project-based work provides an opportunity to make meaningful contributions and support the organization we love.  The MarCom team is helping internal stakeholders build resources and tools to enhance communications and support both our IBOD and members. 

• Google Site Webpages – Do you know how to build a Google site?  We’re looking for assistance building out Google sites to support our Membership and Directors Resource Toolkits. 

• Harmony Honors dedicated webpage – Do you have web design skills?  We’re hoping to build a Harmony Honors page on our HarmonySite platform dedicated to highlighting our members who receive honorary awards like the Harmony Distinction Award and Youth Member of the Year Award.

• PowerPoint Templates – Are you a slide deck expert and want to help Harmony with presentation materials?  We’re looking for someone to create HI-branded PowerPoint Templates for use by our IBOD and Assistants. This will ensure consistent presentations and save content creators time by having a readily available template. 

• HI Photo Storage – Are you knowledgeable with Flickr or similar photo storage management solution?  We’re looking for an individual with expertise in photo storage solutions to determine usability for a storage platform.  We’d like to include cataloging (subject albums) and tagging so we can easily access images by word.

If one of these opportunities tickles your interest, please reach out to Executive Director Kelly Peterson, ED@harmonyinc.org, to learn more or apply.