Comments on: You asked for more free time in Philly, you got it! Exciting schedule changes ….

By: Alan Gordon (FWD)

Alan Gordon (FWD) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:42:43 +0000

The groups are getting $1500, which could cover 5 nights, registrations, and some food. Transportation would be the main hurdle to save for, and many districts provide additional funding to assist with that.

For many years, the competitors got nothing unless they placed. This seed money should alleviate this issue, and can be put to better use to have them around for the week instead of dropping in Friday night and seeing only the finals.

If we’re going to give them money to come to our convention, shouldn’t they come to our convention? =)

By: Alan Gordon (FWD)

Alan Gordon (FWD) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:39:16 +0000

So how was it that the kids were able to do this in the early years when they didn’t get $1500? And recent rule changes have shifted the competitors much more in favor of existing members over new members, so that seems to favor people who would have already been here vs. the first several contests.

The Larry Ajer Show on Tuesday has been better attended than the College Contest, at least this last year. I think there are plenty of people in town, and as it stands, not many are coming on Saturday.

It may not toally work out on Tuesday, but short-sighted it ain’t. There are several factors pointing to success, past success being among them.

By: Alan Gordon (FWD)

Alan Gordon (FWD) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:35:10 +0000

Agreed with Doug. It was my understanding that the name originated with the MoH at first and stuck as an intentional nod to that initial one.

By: Scott Perau

Scott Perau — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:21:34 +0000

I missed your comment earlier Wes, so you can read my post. I completely agree with you.

By: Allan Webb

Allan Webb — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:39:56 +0000

Alan, would you mind posting your Harmonet post on this topic here? There are some good points in it that address some of the questions other have posted here (like the fact that the collegiate contest was previously successful in the earlier time slot and that the collegiate quartets are all subsidized now, etc).

By: Scott Perau

Scott Perau — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:39:31 +0000

It looks much improved, but my only concern is with the collegiate competition. In the past it was nice for the college guys to be able to leave on Thursday or Friday, perform Saturday, and come home Sunday because you only had to pay for a few nights in a hotel. Now those college quartets are going to have to pay for 5-6 nights if they want to see the chorus and quartet finals and get the entire convention experience. That added price may become an issue for a few of the college groups.

But I know that there are many tough decisions and you can never please everyone.

By: Doug Maddox

Doug Maddox — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:29:17 +0000

It was the MOH that inaugurated this class many moons ago. Kinda cool that it stuck.

By: Allan Webb

Allan Webb — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:35:03 +0000

It is if it’s the MoH doing it.

By: Bob Sutton

Bob Sutton — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:50:17 +0000

Just want to ask HQ in their listing of activities to render properly a certain class title. The appropriate term for a class taught by a person or group qualified through their accomplishment is a “Master Class”.

It isn’t a “Masters Class” or, as is in the schedule cited above, a “Master’s Class”.

It’s halftime of Saints-Redskins, so I have time to think of such irrelevance

By: Rob Hopkins

Rob Hopkins — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:17:44 +0000

I have to agree with Wes. It looks like a lot of collegiate quartet competitors will have to miss the top quartets and choruses because they can’t take a week off work. That’s really unfortunate. Moreover, I doubt a lot of convention-goers are going to come early in the week to hear the collegiate quartet contest, which was really impressive this past summer.

By: Wes Short

Wes Short — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:50:50 +0000

As much as I enjoy not having to be in the venue until midnight or later, moving the collegiate contest to Tuesday night doesn’t seems somewhat misguided. As a college student I know that summer jobs are hard to come by, and being able to take a whole week off is even harder. The move to Tuesday might force some competitors to rethink staying for the entire convention just for financial requirements.

Also, I’m not sure last year’s dismal attendance at the collegiate contest will be remedied by the move to Tuesday. Wasn’t the Harmony Foundation Presents show moved to Saturday from Tuesday to promote attendance and increase access to convention-goers who arrive later in the week?

Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t fond of the early Saturday and firmly believe that the early start of the contest made for an unfair advantage to later appearing quartets, but Tuesday night might not bode well for contestants who may have to step off the jet way and directly onto the stage.

Just sticking up for the people too busy singing tags to fill out a survey.

By: Kevin Keller

Kevin Keller — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:28:55 +0000

Rick – looks like a fun week. I agree with Alan that some tough decisions were made, but we need to take some chances sometimes if we expect to improve.

There is definitely a lot more breathing room in this schedule. Especially exciting is not making the contests run late into the night. More time for tag singing!!!!

By: D. Kennett, BSH Assoc

D. Kennett, BSH Assoc — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:46:49 +0000

Thanks you, thank you. This looks like a much more civilized schedule for convention goers. It’s great to know that HQ is not only listening but implementing.

By: Rick Spencer

Rick Spencer — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:10:43 +0000

HU Classes are TBD right now. But you don’t need to sign up ahead of time…just show up. The final class schedule should be out later in the spring.

By: Tom Meier

Tom Meier — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:13:26 +0000

Where is info to sign up for these HU courses?

“Catch Harmony University courses and do some sight-seeing and shopping by day, then get ready for the first big event …”