If you like to sing and enjoy being part of an organization that aspires to excellence, then you should consider membership in our chorus. The first step is to attend one or more of our weekly rehearsals. Those take place on Tuesday evenings at 7 pm at Harmony Hall. Full details (including a map) are on the Visit Us tab of this web site.
The ability to sight read from sheet music is not a requirement for membership. Most of our members learn the music from listening to part-specific recordings that are available through our Members Only section of this web site. After you have spent some time singing with the group, you will gain a greater understanding of some of the markings and notations on regular sheet music. That will help in your further understanding of our style of singing.
The most important part of becoming a member is to be willing to learning how to produce proper vocal technique. You may have been singing in church choirs or other groups over the years, but singing a cappella (unaccompanied) 4-part harmony arrangements is different….but VERY rewarding. We have a top level director and many other knowledgeable singers in the group who can provide any assistance that you may need. The key thing is that there is NO PRESSURE for you to join until you are absolutely ready to join with us on the risers producing the very highest quality singing entertainment.
Once you have visited with us a few times, you may wish to apply for membership. Before accepting your application, we will ask that you sing one song (of your choosing) from among our list of “polecats.” Polecats are songs that everyone throughout the barbershop community have learned and enjoy singing together. By the time you are ready to audition, you will have had a voice placement assessment completed by our director. This is to evaluate your voice and make a determination as to what part you should be singing. Barbershop music is arranged for four voice parts: Lead is the voice normally singing the melody; Bass is the voice providing harmony notes in the lower register; Tenor is the voice singing harmony notes generally higher on the scale than the melody; and Baritone is the voice singing notes around the melody completing the chord and making that unique barbershop sound. The audition song you choose should be memorized and will be performed in a quartet format usually with the section leaders of the other voice parts. The section leaders are available for as much practice as you like. Your audition audience is small, including the director and the four section leaders. Once you have successfully auditioned, the VP for Membership will assist you with the completion of the application process.
Dues
When you chose to join the America the Beautiful (ATB) Chorus, you are agreeing to become a member of the Colo Spgs-Pikes Peak Chapter (PPC). This is the official chartered entity under which the chorus operates. The chapter is a part of the Rocky Mountain District (RMD) within the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS), an international organization. Each group within BHS has its current annual dues set as shown below. All dues are paid by the member to BHS, which then redistributes the specific district and chapter dues back to these organizations. As a singer in ATB Chorus, you are expected to obtain the necessary attire to sing with the chorus at our events; this includes a tuxedo outfit and chorus-specific shirts. Our chapter may provide assistance with first year membership costs if needed for deserving youth singers desiring membership. Youth dues for those 25 years and younger is presently $126.50.
| Current Dues (02/2024) | Age 26 – 74 | Age 25 or less | 75+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| BHS | $180.00 | $90.00 | $135.00 |
| RMD | $60.00 | $30.00 | $60.00 |
| PPC/ATB | $25.00 | $6.50 | $18.50 |
| Total | $265.00 | $126.50 | $213.50 |
Commitment
You are probably wondering, “What sort of commitment do I need to make” to join such a group. Our chorus is comprised of a very diverse group of singers of all ages. We have singers who are retired, some who are still very actively engaged in their careers, and some who are still in high school! Our current roster of active members is approximately 50 singers. We are always pleased when we can muster 30-35 singers for one of our shows or major productions. Obviously, there are events which preclude members from participating in every chorus activity. You would be no exception to that situation. We only ask that you make an honest effort to be an active member and participate as often as possible. We have found that most members arrange their personal lives to accommodate as much singing as possible. Once you have enjoyed an audience showing its appreciation for the resonance and ring of barbershop style singing, you will understand why.