Harmony College Northwest 2026

Even though this session in titled RECRUITING & SUPPORTING NEXT GEN SINGERS, this session will have not cover “recruiting” however, it will give you ideas on how to set up programs and concepts on how to reach Next/Gen Singers to “PLANT SEEDS” for their future involvement in our Society.

Many a leader has “mis-led” due to making assumptions about how the members of that organization felt about things and about people. Operating on assumptions is pretty close to the opposite of having everyone on the same page and focusing efforts in the same direction. Even negative feedback should be preferable to none. This session walks the participants through a fairly regular assessment one president conducts on a variety of aspect of the chapter, its products, member responsibilities, its leadership, etc. Be ready; you will find out things you didn’t know about your members and their thoughts. Perceptions are very revealing.

"For many of us, recruiting new members resembles some sort of barbershop black hole. We’ve tried this and we’ve tried that. Nothing seems to work. And when lightning strikes and someone walks through our doors, we find ourselves fumbling for a process that contains elements that are appealing enough to make that person want to a) stay the night and, more importantly, b) comeback a second time. This session will offer a model and suggestions for getting them in the door and getting back that all-important second time. Come with ideas to share as well. Very little is new under the sun; we just haven’t seen it all.

Motivational leadership within a barbershop chorus is the practice of transforming a collection of individual voices into a single, resonant instrument through the power of shared vision and vocal unity. A truly motivational director or section leader acts not just as a conductor, but as a "salesman" for the music, igniting a passion for the lock and ring of a perfectly tuned chord. By fostering a culture of positivity and section pride, leaders inspire singers to embrace the discipline of vowel matching and precise synchronization not as a chore, but as a path to collective excellence. This leadership style prioritizes the growth of the individual—offering specific, encouraging feedback and celebrating small musical victories—while maintaining an atmosphere of humor and camaraderie that makes the rehearsal hall a lifeline for its members. Ultimately, motivational leadership in barbershop is about creating a safe space where every singer feels empowered to take risks, ensuring that when the chorus finally hits that ringing chord, it is a triumph of both musical craft and human connection.