Jonathan,

 

I was really hoping you would get a response from this request.  I know that the University of Oklahoma had an event for male chorus members that was much appreciated and, IMHO, very succesful.  I liked the t-shirts that said, "Real Men Sing."   Since you have not, I have a suggestion.

 

I think it might be worth your while to start such an event yourself.  I would recommend doing an informal survey with your colleagues in Iowa to see if there is an interest and what kind of event might be the best. I would think it would be a festival and not a competition.  At first you would want to bring in a friend or a person available locally to be the clinician to keep exepenses down. With some thought to participant fees and event costs it could be self-funding.    You could write a grant propososal as well.   It would not need to be in a fancy venue. In fact, a concert in a school gymnasium might even be prefereable for a young men's event.  If your school would be the event sponsor it would be helpful as well.  Keep it simple and cheap at first.   You want to have some financial success so  you can do it again in a bigger and better fashion the next year.  I am sure other ideas will occur to you.  You can also get input from other directors.

 

(I started a competition years ago and i made sure I would have enough participation to pay my expenses before I did anything official.)

 

 

HTH,

 

Rob

Hey Jonathan, I am sorry the reply is late, but... have you tried your local barbershop community?  Often times, the will have events for your men - I myself took some of my men to Orlando during the summer because the Barbershop people in my area gave a free clinic.  The clinicians there also do a variety of music, not just barbershop.  One of the clinicians was extremely well versed in his knowledge of vocal health and was very informative to the students.  He was great!  So, that is my suggestion, and hopefully it does not reach you too late.

Eric,

 

As a newer member of the BHS I had not thought of that possibility.  I will look into it.  Many thanks.

Hi Jonathan,

 

The Barbershop Harmony Society hosts a National Youth Chorus Festival every year at it's International Midwinter Convention, which will be in Tampa, FL this January.

 

Here is some information:

 

 

I currently direct a youth men's chorus in Denver called 52Eighty and we were the silver medalists at last year's festival in Pasadena, CA .  The contest involves singing two "barbershop" songs and the third song can be anything from men's choir literature.  The feel of the festival is less "contest" and more "convention/festival."  The first two festivals have been enormously successful.  Have a look.

 

Sincerely,

Matt Swann

Director, 52Eighty

2008 Youth Chorus Silver Medalist

Barbershop Harmony Society

Assistant Director, Sound of the Rockies

2009 Int'l Bronze Medal Chorus

Barbershop Harmony Society

Hi Jonathan,

 

maybe it's a bit late but probably I found an event for you: At the World Choir Games in Shaoxing in July there will be also categories for male choirs. In 2012 the World Choir Games will take place in Cincinnati, Ohio. There will be these categories as well. For further information see: http://www.interkultur.com/competitions-festivals/world-choir-games/shaoxing-2010/for-choirs/open-competition/categories/

Jonathan,

 

I'm sorry to find this note so late. Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, hosts a 500-voice men's choral festival called "Real Men Sing." Dr. Lee Nelson took over the festival from a retired choral director in southern Minnesota. Unfortunately, the festival was this past weekend. The festival takes place every fall. Please contact Dr. Lee Nelson at lee.nelson(a)wartburg.edu for more informaiton. Best of luck!

 

Chris Knudson