[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 61-03, July - September, 2007 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

Change, rest, and new opportunities
Harmony College North 2008

By Ken Fisher, Dean Harmony College North

Management studies tell us that change is good for an organization. Barry Greig (registrar) and Ken Fisher (dean) have recommended to the Ontario District Board that our long tradition of holding a Harmony College North in June should be altered next year. The reasons are many and  include personal activity schedules, Ontario history, and new opportunities for the district.

The first big reason is that both MegaCity and The Northern Lights will be out of the country in the period around HCN. For Ken Fisher, dean, this is a major issue. There is always a significant amount of last minute detail to attend to in the 10 days prior to HCN. This cannot be done while out of the country.

With TNL in England, Ken is removed from a possible involvement with HCN ‘08. Also, these two choruses contain most of our fine Ontario District education staffers. We cannot afford a school with staff  from a great distance. Thus 2008 is a great opportunity for both Ken and Barry to get a break from HCN.

The second big reason is historical. No one would disagree that the district ought to use some of it dues funds to support the barbershop education of our members. However, in the last few years we are seeing a slump in the proportion of members who attend schools (any schools).

Also, only a very few chapters seem to support HCN. Believe it or not, after 22 years there are men in our district who have never attended HCN and there are chapters who have never participated.

The Barrie Chapter has been a strong supporter over the era. Could this attitude have anything to do with the fact that they have been repeat Ontario District Chorus Champions?

It is costly in both dollars and time to run an HCN. The reward for the district and the planners is the participation. Barry and I are suggesting that for a few years we evolve to a new model.

This might be a series of regional schools like the great one Bill Vermue organized for the Eastern Division in the fall of 2007.

It might be a collaboration with Harmony Inc.  For example, the HI equivalent of Harmony University, HITS, will be in Mississauga next August. Ken Fisher is already in discussion with HI about possibilities.

Ontario District Vice President of Music & Performance Jamie Marr is looking to revive the OSCARS (essentially a single day of quartet coaching, much like the HCN rotation) program.

The third reason is the most exciting. We need to attract young singers in order for our art form to survive.

All Ontario Barbershoppers would love to have a dynamic, active Youth In Harmony program. Over the last few years John Kirby has worked wonders in getting the Music Educators across the province to respect our art form as a useful addition to music curricula.

Several other initiatives are underway in this district. Plans are being made for a youth chorus to go to the Mid-Winter Convention in January.

There will be a barbershop music Saturday in the Toronto area in late March next year.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a Harmony Explosion Camp in our district? Due to the school schedule, such a camp for youth and teachers cannot happen in June. Most other districts hold theirs in August.  Perhaps our HCN should be in August and coordinate with a Harmony Explosion event.

BOTTOM LINE

No traditional Harmony College North in June next year.

Look for the exciting new opportunities that will give us the chance to learn more about our wonderful hobby in 2008.

[ED: This article was written before my deadline. Since that time, at the regular District Management Team meeting, we discussed Harmony College North at length.

GOOD NEWS! Harmony College North will take place the weekend of June 6-8, 2008 at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo. This is the same location where it was in 2007.

Further information to follow, but mark it on your calendar now since these new facilities are much different than the University of Guelph. Air-conditioned rooms no less!]     k