Sound Assembly Chorus in front of Birr Castle
Birthplace of Barbershop Harmony in Ireland
Birthplace of Barbershop Harmony in Ireland
By Leo Larivee
Musical Director of Sound Assembly Chorus
(Wellesley, MA Chapter SPEBSQSA)
The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA, Inc.) traces its beginnings to a chance meeting in 1938 in the lobby of Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City between two businessmen from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Owen C. Cash and Rupert I. Hall). The two "Barbershoppers" found two other men and they sang their way through a snowstorm that had marooned all four at the hotel.
A few weeks later, 26 like-minded singers gathered at a meeting in Tulsa on April 11, 1938, and they founded a Society that grew to a high of over 38,000 men vowing to “Keep America Singing.” The two businessmen's original meeting is now commemorated on a plaque in the restored original lobby of the Muehlebach Hotel.
Fifty years later, in July 1988, another chance meeting occurred. “Baz” Millar (Shannon Development Corporation) the catalyst for expanding Barbershop Harmony in Ireland and Leo Larivee (Musical Director of the Wellesley, MA Chapter Sound Assembly Chorus) were among more than 10,000 Barbershoppers in attendance at the 50th annual International Convention of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) held in San Antonio, Texas. As luck would have it, they happened to be seated next to each other during convention week. A friendship quickly developed and it led to Sound Assembly Chorus accepting an invitation to travel to Ireland in August 1989 to be the featured guest performers at the first-ever convention of Irish Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS).
Shortly after returning home from San Antonio, “Baz” Millar held an organizational meeting at the County Arms Hotel in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland that formally establish the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers as a singing entity. The original meeting is commemorated on a plaque at the County Arms Hotel in Birr, County Offaly.
Chairperson Ann Richie worked hand-in-hand with “Baz” Millar to ensure that everything ran smoothly during "Birr Vintage Week" which included organizing the first IABS Convention. The primary sponsor for “Birr Vintage Week” (in 1989) was Smurfit.
The official opening of the first convention of the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS) took place on August 18, 1989, in the historic Dining Room of Birr Castle Demesne, in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland. Sound Assembly Chorus along with their entourage of about 80 friends and family traveled from Boston to provide assistance wherever it was needed. They arrived at the County Arms Hotel in Birr, in time to register before attending the Opening Ceremonies at Birr Castle.
Lord and Lady Rosse who actually reside in the castle hosted the Reception. This magnificent structure is known for its famous telescope that was the largest in the world before Palomar Observatory in California and holds the Guinness World Record for its boxed hedges.
After opening remarks by IABS Executive Director, Barrie Brown (Cork) and Baz Millar of Shannon Development Corporation, Lord Rosse welcomed invited guests, many wearing "period" costumes in celebration of “Birr Vintage Week," into the historic Dining Room of Birr Castle.
Sound Assembly Chorus started things off by singing "My Wild Irish Rose," followed by several other Barbershop Harmony selections. Also performing were Sound Accord Quartet (Wellesley, MA), Four-In-Bar (Dublin), and Peppercorn (LABBS) from the UK. The Birr Castle Dining Room has spectacular acoustics, and the capacity crowd was very appreciative of all of the performers.
The competition itself took place the next day at Marian Hall, just outside the gates of Birr Castle.
The very first quartet to compete on stage in an IABS contest was the Midland Buskers from Athlone (Tenor Dermod Foy, Lead Ed Cowan, Bari Noel Henry, and Bass Joe Flynn). Doug Hillman, from Sound Assembly Chorus, served as competition MC, and the first panel of judges consisted of Joe Mason and Leo Larivee from Sound Assembly Chorus and John Grant from BABS (England).
The Sound Assembly Chorus donated a 4-foot high 100-year traveling trophy aptly called "The Wellesley Cup" which will be awarded annually to the winning Irish National Men’s Quartet Champion.
In 1989, the champion quartet and first winner of “The Wellesley Cup” were Four-In-A-Bar from Dublin (Tenor Joe Walsh, Lead Tony O’Reilly, Bari Paul Walsh, and Bass Jon Clarke). Coming in Second was Par Four (Cork) with Eight Feet (Tipperary) finishing in Third. The Polyphonics (Cork), directed by Morris Healy, won the IABS National Men's Chorus Contest.
At the second IABS Convention in 1990, also held in Birr during "Birr Vintage Week," the ladies were also involved in singing barbershop harmony. “Lida Rose” quartet from Skerries became the first IABS National Ladies Quartet Champion while Four-In-A-Bar quartet from Dublin repeated as the IABS National Men’s Quartet Champion.
Today, as we approach the 30th Annual Convention, IABS is a vibrant singing organization with male and female quartets and choruses and clubs that are located throughout Ireland.
There is a renowned all-Ireland National Ladies Chorus called Ireland Unlimited, and a Men's National Chorus called Harmony Federation. The chorus members come from all over Ireland and convene once a month for their rehearsals.
IABS Convention draws singers from all over the world who compete for the titles of IABS International Men's Quartet Champion, IABS International Ladies Quartet Champion, and IABS International Chorus Champion. The national competition is limited to Ireland members only, and they vie for the titles of IABS National Men's Quartet Champion, IABS National Ladies Quartet Champion, and IABS National Chorus Champion. IABS International Mixed Quartet Champion and IABS National Mixed Quartet Champion have been recently added to the mix.
The singing level of IABS quartets and choruses has improved by light years since 1989. Coaches from all over the world come to Ireland to work with individual quartets and choruses as well as conducting group Workshops.
Here’s to the next 30 years of Barbershop fun, fellowship and song! “Keep the Whole World Singing”!
By Leo Larivee
Musical Director of Sound Assembly Chorus
(Wellesley, MA Chapter SPEBSQSA)
The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA, Inc.) traces its beginnings to a chance meeting in 1938 in the lobby of Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City between two businessmen from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Owen C. Cash and Rupert I. Hall). The two "Barbershoppers" found two other men and they sang their way through a snowstorm that had marooned all four at the hotel.
A few weeks later, 26 like-minded singers gathered at a meeting in Tulsa on April 11, 1938, and they founded a Society that grew to a high of over 38,000 men vowing to “Keep America Singing.” The two businessmen's original meeting is now commemorated on a plaque in the restored original lobby of the Muehlebach Hotel.
Fifty years later, in July 1988, another chance meeting occurred. “Baz” Millar (Shannon Development Corporation) the catalyst for expanding Barbershop Harmony in Ireland and Leo Larivee (Musical Director of the Wellesley, MA Chapter Sound Assembly Chorus) were among more than 10,000 Barbershoppers in attendance at the 50th annual International Convention of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) held in San Antonio, Texas. As luck would have it, they happened to be seated next to each other during convention week. A friendship quickly developed and it led to Sound Assembly Chorus accepting an invitation to travel to Ireland in August 1989 to be the featured guest performers at the first-ever convention of Irish Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS).
Shortly after returning home from San Antonio, “Baz” Millar held an organizational meeting at the County Arms Hotel in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland that formally establish the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers as a singing entity. The original meeting is commemorated on a plaque at the County Arms Hotel in Birr, County Offaly.
Chairperson Ann Richie worked hand-in-hand with “Baz” Millar to ensure that everything ran smoothly during "Birr Vintage Week" which included organizing the first IABS Convention. The primary sponsor for “Birr Vintage Week” (in 1989) was Smurfit.
The official opening of the first convention of the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS) took place on August 18, 1989, in the historic Dining Room of Birr Castle Demesne, in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland. Sound Assembly Chorus along with their entourage of about 80 friends and family traveled from Boston to provide assistance wherever it was needed. They arrived at the County Arms Hotel in Birr, in time to register before attending the Opening Ceremonies at Birr Castle.
Lord and Lady Rosse who actually reside in the castle hosted the Reception. This magnificent structure is known for its famous telescope that was the largest in the world before Palomar Observatory in California and holds the Guinness World Record for its boxed hedges.
After opening remarks by IABS Executive Director, Barrie Brown (Cork) and Baz Millar of Shannon Development Corporation, Lord Rosse welcomed invited guests, many wearing "period" costumes in celebration of “Birr Vintage Week," into the historic Dining Room of Birr Castle.
Sound Assembly Chorus started things off by singing "My Wild Irish Rose," followed by several other Barbershop Harmony selections. Also performing were Sound Accord Quartet (Wellesley, MA), Four-In-Bar (Dublin), and Peppercorn (LABBS) from the UK. The Birr Castle Dining Room has spectacular acoustics, and the capacity crowd was very appreciative of all of the performers.
The competition itself took place the next day at Marian Hall, just outside the gates of Birr Castle.
The very first quartet to compete on stage in an IABS contest was the Midland Buskers from Athlone (Tenor Dermod Foy, Lead Ed Cowan, Bari Noel Henry, and Bass Joe Flynn). Doug Hillman, from Sound Assembly Chorus, served as competition MC, and the first panel of judges consisted of Joe Mason and Leo Larivee from Sound Assembly Chorus and John Grant from BABS (England).
The Sound Assembly Chorus donated a 4-foot high 100-year traveling trophy aptly called "The Wellesley Cup" which will be awarded annually to the winning Irish National Men’s Quartet Champion.
In 1989, the champion quartet and first winner of “The Wellesley Cup” were Four-In-A-Bar from Dublin (Tenor Joe Walsh, Lead Tony O’Reilly, Bari Paul Walsh, and Bass Jon Clarke). Coming in Second was Par Four (Cork) with Eight Feet (Tipperary) finishing in Third. The Polyphonics (Cork), directed by Morris Healy, won the IABS National Men's Chorus Contest.
At the second IABS Convention in 1990, also held in Birr during "Birr Vintage Week," the ladies were also involved in singing barbershop harmony. “Lida Rose” quartet from Skerries became the first IABS National Ladies Quartet Champion while Four-In-A-Bar quartet from Dublin repeated as the IABS National Men’s Quartet Champion.
Today, as we approach the 30th Annual Convention, IABS is a vibrant singing organization with male and female quartets and choruses and clubs that are located throughout Ireland.
There is a renowned all-Ireland National Ladies Chorus called Ireland Unlimited, and a Men's National Chorus called Harmony Federation. The chorus members come from all over Ireland and convene once a month for their rehearsals.
IABS Convention draws singers from all over the world who compete for the titles of IABS International Men's Quartet Champion, IABS International Ladies Quartet Champion, and IABS International Chorus Champion. The national competition is limited to Ireland members only, and they vie for the titles of IABS National Men's Quartet Champion, IABS National Ladies Quartet Champion, and IABS National Chorus Champion. IABS International Mixed Quartet Champion and IABS National Mixed Quartet Champion have been recently added to the mix.
The singing level of IABS quartets and choruses has improved by light years since 1989. Coaches from all over the world come to Ireland to work with individual quartets and choruses as well as conducting group Workshops.
Here’s to the next 30 years of Barbershop fun, fellowship and song! “Keep the Whole World Singing”!