From June 29-July 6, close to 10,000 barbershoppers and their families from all over the world will descend on Nashville for the 2008 Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention! The Music City Chorus, in its 60th year of existence, is proud to be the host for this convention for the second time, having hosted in 2001.

This annual convention will feature the 30 best choruses and 52 best quartets from across the world in the Sommet Center to determine who wins the gold medal in the chorus and quartet competitions. The Chorus is ecstatic to have three of its chapter quartets in the quartet contest: Lunch Break, Redline, and The Great Nashville Singout. Other notable events will be the World Harmony Jamboree show, the Harmony Foundation show featuring The Real Group, Voices of Lee, etc., and the Association of International Champions (AIC) show.

There will also be a special dedication ceremony on Thursday, July 3 to dedicate the new Society headquarters at 110 7th Ave. North in downtown Nashville. The Society, which relocated to Nashville from Kenosha, Wisconsin in August of last year, is also celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Information about the convention can be obtained at www.barbershop.org, including a schedule of convention events, contest sessions, etc. Tickets for the contest sessions and special shows are available through the Society website and via Ticketmaster -www.ticketmaster.com. The public can also contact Convention Publicity/PR Committee Chair Bob Davenport at tenorbob@comcast.net or by calling 331-7377. Additionally, the Music City Chorus is also looking for volunteers to help us with various aspects of the convention. Anyone interested in volunteering can fill out a volunteer form at www.nashville2008.org.

Come hear the greatest barbershop harmony singers in the world!

The Music City Chorus, in connection with the Barbershop Harmony Society and the local chapter of the American Red Cross, will be involved in the first annual "Singing For Life" Blood Drive on Saturday, May 10, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. 171 barbershop harmony chapters across the United States and Canada will also be involved in this collaborative blood drive to encourage more blood donation and expose more people to barbershop harmony. Quartets from the MCC and perhaps other ensembles will entertain the blood donors at the local Red Cross blood donation center, located at 2201 Charlotte Avenue. The public is invited to donate blood and listen to some great entertainment!

On March 15, 2008, the Chorus competed against 21 other choruses from TN, AL, MS, GA, NC, and SC in the Spring Dixie District competition in Greenville, SC and finished 2nd in the contest. Under the leadership of our new Director, Mike O'Neill, the chorus finished 2nd, 86 points behind Atlanta Vocal Project. Our contest package consisted of two well-known country music tunes that have been arranged in the barbershop style of harmony: "Honey, Open That Door"/"Hey Good Lookin' " and "Cheatin' Heart." O'Neill stated, "This is just another step in our upward progression of musical growth and excellence. We are excited about the future direction of this chorus, and that excitement is being reflected in the number of guests we have visit us each Monday night at our rehearsals."

The chorus is busily preparing to host the 2008 Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention from June 29-July 6, learning two new contest songs for the Fall Contest in October, and learning new songs for our Christmas show in December. Come join us!!

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Music City Chorus Gospel Show, February 16, 2008 at Otter Creek Church of Christ

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Music City Chorus Gospel Show, February 16, 2008 at Otter Creek Church of Christ

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Music City Chorus Gospel Show, February 16, 2008 at Otter Creek Church of Christ

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Music City Chorus Gospel Show, February 16, 2008 at Otter Creek Church of Christ

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Music City Chorus, Dixie District Championships 2007