 |
 S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. - The long array of initials stands
for the "Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet
Singing in America." Founded in 1938, the Society does just what its name implies.
The Society began in 1938 (a time of multi-initialed governmental agencies in the United
States), and it is easy to recognize the tongue-in-cheek attitude with which it began. A
shorter name, the Barbershop Harmony Society, has since been adopted for more informal
use. The Society boasts more than 800 choruses and
1800 quartets and 37,000 men across the United States and Canada, ranging in size from
about 20 to 150 members. It is the largest all-male singing society in the world. Eight
affiliated organizations around the world add another 3300 members to the count, and the
33,000 members of female groups such as Sweet Adelines International and Harmony, Inc.
bring the total number of barbershop singers to nearly 70,000 worldwide.
Most chapters meet once a week, and most are
built around a "chorus." People who like to sing music in the barbershop style
and who are too busy or aren't yet confident enough of their ability or to sing in a
quartet will find a lot of support and an excellent learning environment in the chorus,
which is conceptually a big quartet. With lots of other people singing each part any
newcomer can learn in a non-threatening situation
Barbershop singing has spread all over the world
with chapters in England, the Scandinavian countries and Australia and New Zealand to
mention just a few. The US and Canada are divided 16 districts. HEARTBEAT are all members
of the Patapsco Valley Chapter which
meets near Catonsville, MD. Our chapter is part of the Mid-Atlantic District made up of almost 100
chapters from Long Island through Virginia.
If you like to sing or just to listen
please stop by our chapter. Visitors are always welcome at chapter meetings. Just show up
and enjoy the singing and good fellowship. If you decide you'd like to join, they'll tell
you how. If you aren't interested in joining, there'll be no pressure. |
S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.