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Courtesy is not optional
Compassion is a practice
By Gaye LaCasce, International President
I’ve been reflecting lately on some lessons, gathered through my work as a nonprofit leader, a volunteer, a parent, grandparent, and friend. One enduring truth? Civility and good manners matter. My parents would be so proud! One of my favorite quotations, often linked to Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes (1902–1932), captures this beautifully: “Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins.” It’s a vivid illustration of the “harm principle,” the idea that personal freedom ends where it begins to hurt others. And naturally, that led me to Harmony, because as I’ve said before, everything in life comes back to barbershop!
In a world saturated with slogans like, “Have it your way,” and “Be unapologetically you,” it’s easy to confuse individuality with immunity from accountability. Advertisements celebrate personal expression, and rightly so. Our quirks, preferences, and passions make us vibrant and unique. But when we respond to feedback or tension with, “That’s just who I am,” we risk turning self-awareness into self-protection. In Harmony, Inc. - where collaboration, kindness, and musical excellence are core values - that phrase can become a stumbling block rather than a badge of authenticity.
Every singer brings a distinct voice, personality, and perspective to our music. That diversity fuels creativity, deepens connection, and makes our ensembles feel like home. But when personal habits or communication styles begin to disrupt group cohesion - chronic lateness, a dismissive tone, resistance to feedback - then “That’s just who I am” shifts the focus from growth to defensiveness. And when someone brushes off a sharp remark or cold gesture by declaring their rudeness innate, it makes me wonder – in Harmony, every voice matters, so why treat decency like it’s optional?
People who pride themselves on being “direct” may not intend to hurt feelings, but if their words routinely leave others feeling dismissed or discouraged, the behavior deserves reflection, not a free pass. In Harmony, we strive to create environments where everyone feels valued and heard. That means recognizing when our personal style might need adjusting for the sake of the group.
Changing how we show up doesn’t mean abandoning who we are. It means honoring our individuality while respecting the collective. True authenticity includes the willingness to evolve, especially when our growth helps others thrive. The most powerful leaders and ensemble members ask, “How can I be more aware, more kind, more in tune with the people around me?” We all have quirks - and yes, some rough edges. But being human means we can evolve. Compassion isn’t a personality trait; it’s a practice. And empathy isn’t optional if we care to be part of a community.
Being part of a musical ensemble or volunteer team means choosing harmony, not just musically, but relationally. It means balancing self-expression with self-awareness. Good manners - thoughtful communication, listening, and care - aren’t about suppressing authenticity. They’re about recognizing the dignity in each person we meet.
So the next time we’re tempted to say, “That’s just how I am,” let’s remember - harmony isn’t just a musical goal, it’s a human one. Let’s keep showing up with grace, listening with intention, and growing with purpose. Because the way we treat each other is the music.
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COMING FRIDAY!
Relive the excitement of IC&C 2024 in Louisville (if you were there), enjoy the inside story if you had to miss it. 39 pages packed with stories, announcements, photos can be found later this week in The Key-Note archive on the website.
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Coming soon: The Big Reveal!
IC&C Order of Appearance to be announced soon
By Kathy Greason, ICJC
September 1 is rapidly approaching, and that date is the final deadline for qualifying ensembles to enter the contests at IC&C. After that deadline has passed, we can determine the order in which our quartets and choruses will perform in Hershey.
We used to call the event that determined the order of appearance “the random draw”. But as you know from our AC&Cs this year, what was formerly a random draw is now a computer randomization that includes a parameter to avoid dual performers singing back-to-back. This improvement in the contest experience for dual performers was very well-received at our Area contests. Thank you, Ray Elenteny for creating the randomizing computer program for Harmony, Inc. and for supporting the ACJCs and ICJC in using it! But I digress. The short story for this article is that the random draw has become – THE REVEAL!
And guess what? Our very newest chartered chorus, Spirit of Michigan, is going to do the livestream reveal for us!
Here’s how it will happen. When the contest entry cutoff deadline has passed, the randomization computer program will be run. One person (me…) will see the results immediately, and I will share the results with one other person to assure the integrity of the process. Then I will write the name of each contestant on a card and place that card in an envelope that is numbered to correspond with the computer-generated order of appearance. I will seal the envelopes, package them, and drop the package in the mail to Spirit of Michigan. On their rehearsal night, Thursday, September 4, at 7:30 pm ET, Spirit of Michigan members will open the envelopes in order, one at a time, and let us all know who is singing when.
So save the date – again, it’s September 4 at 7:30 pm ET – to be among the first to know who will sing when at the contests in Hershey.
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Whether you're new to Harmony or you've been here a while, the Know Before You Go Call on Thursday, August 21 at 7 p.m. (EST) is your ticket to all the ins and outs of your 2025 IC&C! Questions about the agenda? Looking for a rehearsal room? Want to volunteer? Your convention team has the answers! We also have details on a new event set to become a cherished tradition, a Tag Contest! Need more? We'll also discuss the excitement to be had at Champions in Blue: A Sapphire Soiree hosted by the Association of Harmony Queens. Intrigued? Join us via Zoom (link set to appear on the Harmony website) on Thursday, August 21.
DON'T MISS OUT ON AEP EARLY BIRD PRICING
Early bird pricing ends in 10 days! After August 31, pricing will increase by $10. Get your ticket to all the sweetness of IC&C 2025 today!
ATTENTION: You must answer all required questions (indicated by asterisk*); the form will not allow you to proceed if any required fields are skipped. Upon completion, you will receive an email confirmation immediately. If you don’t receive this email, contact the Corporate Office at info@harmonyinc.org.
All choruses must register their members together at the same time, vs. having members register individually. Quartets and other groups (families, etc.) may also register together on the same form.
This ensures you will be seated together at dinner.
All Events Passes, single event tickets, and Saturday night dinner tickets may be purchased concurrently using a single online form.
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Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars. Payment is due in U.S. Dollars or the Canadian Equivalent. To convert to CAD, go to U.S. to Canadian Dollar Converter.
All Harmony, Inc. members MUST have an AEP in order to attend the event. The “Early Bird” rates are in place through August 31, 2025. Registrations received after that date will be $10.00 more per pass.
Youth pricing is for ages 25 and under.
Saturday Night Dinner: the dinner is not included in any AEP. The cost is $55 USD per meal. If you have dietary restrictions (allergies, etc.), please indicate those in the space provided on the forms.
The order form can be found here.
Detailed instructions on how to fill out and use the form can be found here.
STREAM THE ACTION LIVE!
Won't be able to travel to Hershey? Have we got a deal for you! You can purchase access to all the action with our livestream. There are two options available for your viewing pleasure:
$40 for the full streaming package, including:
• All contests
• Opening Celebration
• Parade of Champions
• One week to access the recordings of all of the above
$20 for replays only:
• One week to access all the recordings listed above
• On the Sunday of the convention, the website automatically switches to the $20 price point
Get your access today! Go here.
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE
Want to raise money for your quartet or chorus? You can have a booth in Harmony Mall.
Members can get one table and two chairs at no cost. What a deal!
Need a bigger space? Additional booth space is available at the following rates:
- 3 tables; two chairs = $300 (total of 4 tables)
- 2 tables; two chairs = $250 (total of 3 tables)
- 1 table; two chairs = $150 (total of 2 tables)
Prices are listed in US Dollars. The rental fee is non-refundable.
Reserve your space, today.
Know someone with a business that would like to be a vendor, but they are not a member of Harmony? There's a form for that too! Go here for details.
If you have questions about securing your booth space, please contact our Convention Business Services Assistant at ICCBusinessAsst@harmonyinc.org.
WANT MORE REHEARSAL TIME AT IC&C?
• Open rehearsals at IC&C this year will be available to all competing choruses on Thursday, November 6. We have six rooms available to us this year for both our open and preassigned rehearsal sessions.
• Open rehearsals this year will be managed through Sign-Up Genius, the same app that is used for volunteer sign-ups. You will be able to view all rooms available for rehearsals for each time slot and choose which time and room best suits your chorus's needs. Open rehearsal room slots will be available this year between 1:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• The link to start booking open rehearsal rooms will be available by August 30.
• Preassigned rehearsal rooms will continue to be scheduled according to the Order of Appearance
For questions or further information, please contact the Awards and Services Manager.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A BIG SCREEN ADS
Show support for your favorite chorus, quartet, coach, and more with a Big Screen ad! The deadline is October 1.
Cost:
- Harmony, Inc. member, quartet, or chapter = $35 per slide
- Non-Harmony, Inc. barbershop member = $100 per slide
- Not affiliated with any barbershop organization (outside provider) = $150 per slide
TUNE UP TIPS
Dates and Deadlines to Remember:
NOW OPEN - Hershey Lodge Room Reservations
August 21, 2025 - Get all the details on IC&C 2025 with the 2025 "Know Before You Go" call at 7 p.m. ET.
August 31, 2025 - Last day for Early Bird AEP pricing (price goes up $10 per AEP after this date)
September 17, 2025 - Last day to make your Hershey Lodge room reservation
September 30, 2025 - Last day to purchase Saturday night dinner tickets
October 1, 2025 - Last day to purchase a Big Screen Ad
October 7, 2025 - Last day to submit your song registration (for competing quartets and choruses)
October 31, 2025 - Last day for online AEP orders
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The Association of Harmony Queens is so excited to bring you our 2025 Parade of Champions! Not only do we have an amazing lineup of talent, but we also have some pretty exciting things to share at our event. It is the 65th Anniversary of the Pitch Pipe Pals, the very FIRST Harmony, Inc. Quartet Champions. In their honor, we will celebrate their Sapphire Anniversary as our theme for the evening! Please join us in our Sapphire Soiree and get dazzled up in your favorite fancy attire! If you are in a sapphire shade, even better! We want to light the room up in blue!
Want another reason to attend? Before our show, the AHQ will be hosting a cocktail hour from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. We want to get to know our membership, and would love to have you join us! Want priority seating at the show? You can get that by participating in our SING WITH THE QUEENS event on Wednesday night. All YOUTH members are also welcome to get early priority seating at 8:00 pm. Eligible priority seating members may bring up to +3 guests, as well! Doors will open for all at 8:15 pm, with the show beginning at 8:30 pm.
If you need just one more reason to attend the Parade of Champions, we are also going to have a raffle at the event. All attendees are eligible and automatically enrolled. The drawing will be held at our closing ceremony. You truly do not want to miss this wonderful evening of music and celebration. So don’t wait! Make your plans now to attend the 2025 PARADE OF CHAMPIONS! *Ticket included in the All-Events Pass (AEP)!*
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Let your voice be heard!
By Tessa Walker-Sifuentes, Youth Coordinator
We are releasing a permanent form that will allow our youth members and youth-adjacent members to contribute any comments, concerns, suggestions, and ideas directly to the International Youth Coordinator.
Please follow this link: https://bit.ly/HIYouthVoiceBox
The link will be available at the bottom of each issue of the HI-NOTE. It will also be emailed out to Chapter/Area Leadership and directly to all current Youth Members. Let me know if you have any questions or issues filling out the form.
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SEEKING
General Facilitator
Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact and eager to gain valuable experience in facilitation and group collaboration? Join us as a General Facilitator and help guide productive conversations and planning sessions that support the mission and goals of Harmony, Inc.!
In this dynamic volunteer role, you'll collaborate with a variety of groups from Area Councils to choruses, where you will lead engaging meetings, encourage inclusive participation, and help teams move from ideas to action. You'll attend training sessions, facilitate brainstorming and planning discussions, and work closely with teams to ensure meetings are effective and outcomes are clear.
This is a great opportunity to add to your facilitation skills, connect with passionate individuals, and contribute to positive change within our organization. Interested? Reach out to Katie Rose, Facilitator Program Coordinator, at rosek@harmonyinc.org to learn more about becoming part of this inspiring team!
New Chapter Development Coordinator
Are you passionate about growing Harmony, Inc.? We’re seeking a detail-oriented, enthusiastic individual to serve as our New Chapter Development Coordinator. In this vital role, you'll support prospective chapters, manage communications, and help expand our Harmony family. Learn more and apply today by emailing Director of Growth.
Chorus Director Development Coordinator
The Chorus Director Development Coordinator serves as an advisor and resource provider for all Harmony, Inc. chorus directors. They communicate regularly with chorus directors, share educational materials and other resources, and assist in meeting their training needs. The Chorus Director Development Coordinator administers the Director Mentoring Program, designed to foster the development of musical directors interested in building their skills.
If you would like more information, please contact Executive VP, Donna McKay. Additional details about this position can be found in the corporate manual. To apply, complete the application form HAR-001.
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| MEDAL: Member Experience Discovery & Action Library |
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By: Jennifer Paulus, Member Experience Working Group Lead
WHAT? Intro to Member-Centered Design
Design isn’t just about costumes or logos. It shows up in rehearsal habits, communication choices, and even which members stick around.
SO WHAT?
Many of our chorus routines were inherited, not intentionally designed. Member-Centered Design (MCD) helps us notice friction and shape better member experiences.
NOW WHAT?
Learn how MCD borrows from Human-Centered Design and why design matters more than you think.
Read Full Article
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| Equity, Diversity, and Me! |
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Equity, Diversity, and Me!
By Emily Parsons, EDC Chair
The Equity & Diversity Committee Roundtable Discussions are back with new sessions! Join members of the Equity & Diversity Committee and interested Harmony, Inc. members for continued discussions and learning together. Register for the Zoom meetings .
Our first meeting will be Monday, August 25, at 6 p.m. Eastern. You only need to sign up once for access to all the dates; attend when it fits your schedule and participate in the way that feels best for you – if that’s keeping your camera off and only commenting in the chat, that is perfectly okay!
You can expect the meeting to start with a “provocation”: a video or an article on a topic meant to make you think. We ended the last session of Roundtable Discussions with this video on empathy.
Can you put yourself into someone else’s shoes, and think about how they may feel coming into a chorus rehearsal or event?
Is there anything you can think of that could make their visit to your chorus or event better overall?
If “empathy gives you a reason to help others”, how can you use your empathy to make your chorus or Harmony, Inc. space an inviting place for all visitors? Consider sharing your ideas with your chorus Board of Directors or leadership team. Any steps taken towards making your space accessible and welcoming to visitors and potential new members makes it more welcoming and accessible for your current members, too.
We’d love to host you at the Roundtable Discussion on August 25. If you can’t make that one, we hope you can make one of the other future dates at 6 p.m. Eastern: September 23, October 22, November 13, January 26, February 24, March 25, April 30, May 27, and June 25.
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| Years of Membership Buyback Program |
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Members with a non-continuous history of Harmony, Inc. membership may now buy back missing years of membership at the current full-member dues rate. Requests made here will be reviewed by the Corporate Office on a case-by-case basis to confirm the number of years a member is missing.
The details:
- You may choose to buy any portion of your missing years up to and including the total number of years missing.
- No Area dues will be collected for missing years, and no youth discounts will be applied.
- Upon receipt of payment, your record will be updated to reflect the total number of years for which you paid Harmony, Inc. dues.
- Membership dues, including dues paid via this program, are not refundable or transferable.
- Members who reach GOLD status as a result of buying back missing years will be transferred immediately to GOLD status, and all future dues will be waived.
Contact Executive Director Kelly Peterson for more information or to get started.
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Your donations to the For Love of Harmony program enable you to identify individuals or groups to receive special recognition, while at the same time providing a monetary gift to Harmony, Inc.
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Sing Canada Harmony donors
Violet Sky
Adam Kaufman
Area 5 in honour of Area 5 ACC Judges
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- to Valley Voices (Area 1) on the recent passing of member, Deb Moreau
- to Pegg Reinert (St. Louis Vocal Project, Area 4) on the loss of her mother
- to Melody Hilliard (Crystal Chords, Area 3) on the passing of her husband, William "Bill" Hilliard
Need to post a condolence notice? Please have the information sent to the Administrative Coordinator to be recorded. Thank you. |
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30 AUGUST - booking open rehearsal rooms link available
31 AUGUST - Last day for Early Bird AEP pricing
15 SEPTEMBER - Canadian Chapters must file T2 with CRA
15 SEPTEMBER - Youth Member of the Year Award Deadline
17 SEPTEMBER - ICC Hotel Reservation Deadline
30 SEPTEMBER - Last day to purchase ICC Dinners
1 OCTOBER - ICC Big Screen Ad Deadline
7 OCTOBER - Last day to submit Song Registration Form
31 OCTOBER - Last day to submit AEP online orders |
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| International Board of Directors Meetings |
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Upcoming 2025 meetings are scheduled:
- Q3: August 20
- Annual: November 3-5
- Associates/Delegates Meeting: November 16
IBOD quarterly meetings are open to the membership.
Members are invited to submit items for consideration on the agenda (note deadline for Mid-Year agenda item submission has passed).
Agendas are posted in advance on the Members Only website. Please contact the Corporate Office for details on how to join the virtual meetings or where to attend the live meetings.
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| International Convention & Contests |
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2025 NOVEMBER 5-8, HERSHEY LODGE, HERSHEY, PA
2026 NOVEMBER 11-14, GALT HOUSE, LOUISVILLE, KY
2027 NOVEMBER 10-13, NIAGARA FALLS CONVENTION CENTER, NIAGARA FALLS, ON
2028 NOVEMBER 1-4, HERSHEY LODGE, HERSHEY, PA
2029 NOVEMBER 7-11, HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTER, HALIFAX, NS
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The next issue of the HI Note comes to your inbox September 5. What would you like to see covered in our pages? Drop a line to editor@harmonyinc.org and we'll tell the world. Next deadline is August 28.
See you again, soon!
Copyright © 2025 Harmony, Inc., All rights reserved.
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