Barbershop Harmony Jamboree Now in Meredith
“Harmony-on-the-Lake” is back! The event showcases the truly American artform of a cappella harmony known as Barbershop and is now appearing in Meredith, New Hampshire, on Lake Winnipesaukee – after over 60 years of being the crown jewel of summer fun and non-stop harmony in other lakeside towns.
It’s all happening the weekend of August 19 and 20, centralized at the Meredith Community Center (MCC), with singing planned on the Bay and all around the town. There’s a community Dinner on Friday night (hosted by Meredith’s own Altrusa group) with informal singing, good food and fun; a day of activities and singing Saturday – capped off by the “Great Gathering” Show on Saturday night at the MCC.
Barbershop (singing only – no scissors or combs) is music created purely by human voices joining to create a rich and satisfying texture that is pleasing to the ears and invigorating to the soul. The Jamboree returns to Meredith to create camaraderie among friends and fans of harmony. Come enjoy the ringing (and “busting”) of chords and overtones. Each singer represents membership in one (or more) of the three international barbershop harmony groups: the Barbershop Harmony Society, Harmony, Incorporated, and Sweet Adelines International. They will descend upon Meredith because, you may notice, each has a singing addiction.
Meredith is the setting for sharing a wide repertoire of beloved songs and intricate harmonies. This annual event is sponsored by the region’s official Northeastern District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. The Meredith community – notably the Parks and Recreation Dept., the Chamber, and Altrusa – is graciously and enthusiastically welcoming and supporting this blockbuster event. In its heyday, the lakeside harmony Jamboree brought over a thousand “visitors” to a town.
Are you a fan or curious about Barbershop and share a passion for a cappella? Come see Harmony-on-the-Lake, join the singing, tour the lovely, historic town, and just have fun. Members and non-members are all welcome and embraced.
The Northeastern District (NED) (http://www.NEDistrict.org) is one of 17 Districts of the Barbershop Harmony Society (http://www.barbershop.org) – representing 45 local chapters/choruses and over 1300 men, women, and mixed-gender barbershop harmony singers. The six chapters in New Hampshire include Laconia, Dover, Concord, Nashua, Keene and Hanover with male and mixed harmony choruses.
Activities for the weekend are outlined on the Jamboree web page (https://www.nedistrict.org/jamboree). The event is centralized at the Meredith Community Center. You’ll find singers all over town – in restaurants, shopping areas, parks, the Community Center – rain or shine. There’s a mini-golf “tournament” planned at Pirate’s Cove, on Saturday morning with singing throughout the course. Later, find performances and impromptu singing at Community Park and Hesky Park, learn a tag at “The Pit,” or maybe catch a quartet while eating dinner (and singing!) in any of the fine Meredith dining spots.
The weekend’s culminating “Great Gathering Show” is planned for Saturday night, starting at 7:00 PM at the air-conditioned MCC, featuring many top notch, award-winning quartets and choruses, various “pick-up” quartets or “VLQs” (very large quartets), and the famous “Afterglow” including refreshments, again by Altrusa, Inc. Anyone can enjoy the show – either in the audience or performing on-stage. Not quite an open-mic event, but if you love singing and have the interest to try 4-part harmony – you, too, can be a part of the fun. Learn an easy song or two and join three others as a quartet or be fearless and join the “Everyone In Harmony Jamboree Chorus” on-stage. Anyone can join the show and sing barbershop.
Admit-one registration or ticketing is available online for the weekend including the Saturday show-only; exclusively for $15 now, in advance, at the Jamboree website page. Show tickets are available at the door for $20. Buy your Friday dinner and afterglow tickets online, too, although all are also welcome at the door. All proceeds support your community, local missions, and youth-in-harmony activities. All may be purchased, including inaugural tee shirts and koozies, at the Community Center anytime during the weekend.
The Barbershop Harmony Society’s mission is simple: Everyone In Harmony. Men and women, from all over the world, from all walks of life, and all ages – come together and share in this truly American art form and find common ground through self-expression through singing. The friendships forged through barbershop harmony bridge gaps like no other hobby, and for many devotees, barbershop is far more than a hobby. It’s a passion.
The Jamboree Team of the Northeastern District wishes to publicly thank the Town of Meredith, the Meredith Chamber of Commerce, the Altrusa chapter of Meredith, the business community, and its leadership, for embracing this reorganized event, for their encouragement, hospitality and kind support. The summer event destination now is Meredith, August 19 and 20 and the third weekend in August for the foreseeable future. Enjoy the harmony! Join the fun! Learn about it and register here: https://www.nedistrict.org/jamboree .
PRESS RELEASE #1 – Preferred/Full – July 29, 2022 – Thank you!
By STEVE SALAMIN
District VP – Marketing & Public Relations
Northeastern District – Barbershop Harmony Society
Steve’s phone: (603) 313-3397
See pictures.
FULL INFORMATION >> https://www.nedistrict.org/jamboree
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