Worldwide Barbershop Quartet Association

The Monthly Pitch

AUGUST 2026

Issue 26-08

Greetings!

In Memorium - Artie Dolt

October 1, 1942 - July 5, 2026

Founding Member F0015 since March 2018

Artie began his barbershop career at a very young age singing with his father in the Montclair, NJ chorus, the Dapper Dans of Harmony. When their director left, Artie took up the reins at the young age of 19 and directed the chorus over the years to several Mid-Atlantic District Chorus Championships and also to 4th place on the International Stage at Barbershop Harmony Society, formally SPEBSQSA.

He joined the newly formed Society for the Preservation and Propagation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in the United States (SPPBSQSUS, forerunner of WBQA) with Montana Jack Fitzpatrict in its infancy and formed our first Lodge, #1 in San Antonio, the Friends In Harmony. Under Artie's direction, they grew to over 100 men and had several international performances including in France, at a Normandy Day Celebration as well as Great Britain. Artie became the Society's second president after Montana Jack and led the Society for a year until he had to resign due to health conditions.

Artie exemplified what our Society is all about - Fun, Fellowship and Music and was able to build a music program around that. Artie also directed a women's barbershop chorus, the Blue Belles.

Artie's positive and uplifting personality will be missed by everyone who had the privilege and pleasure to know him.

Friends In Harmony, Lodge #1, San Antonio, TX

WBQA 5th ANNUAL QUARTET CONTEST NOW OPEN!

Calling all Barbershop Quartets! Here is your chance to compete to become the next WBQA Champion Quartet!

Our past champions have been very active across the nation participating in a variety of venues representing WBQA. And there is no cost to compete! Here are the requirements:

• Your quartet must be a WBQA registered quartet
• All members must be a member of WBQA
• All competing members must purchase a registration for the 2027 Convention and Contest

So guys, pick out your songs - they must represent the Barbershop style of music - fill out an entry form and submit it, and start practicing. The contest will be held in two sessions on Thursday, January 21st and finals on Saturday, January 24th.

All entries must be received by December 15th in order to be in the draw. Late entries will sing either first or last.

This is a unique contest unlike any other. No professional judges. Be judged by average barbershoppers who know when they like something. And they have been very consistent and accurate for the past contests.

Click here for a Contest Entry Form

Your quartet not registered with WBQA?

Click here for a Quartet Registration Form

Want to review the rules for the contest? Click here

Our WBQA Champion Quartets

Continuum

2026 Champion Quartet

Wheelhouse

2024 Champion Quartet

Riptide

2025 Champion Quartet

Brouhaha

2023 Champion Quartet



BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

It's that time again to nominate your Board members for 2027

Nominating Chairman Tim McShane is calling for all interested members to submit names of candidates for next year's Board. Before submitting a name, be sure that the person is willing to be an active participant of the Board. The Board meets on the second Wednesday of each month.

The current Board members are

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President - Kenny Hatton

Immed Past President - Jay Giallombardo

Executive Vice President - Raymond Schwarzkopf

Treasurer - Sean Praetzel

Secretary - Roger Heer

Vice President Lodges - George Gipp

Vice President Membership - Steve Shannon

Vice President Marketing - Mike Nichols

BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE

Paul Blazek

Scot Brannon

Ron Rank

Keith Richmond

Sylvester Wetle

Please fill out the WBQA Nominating Form and submit to WBQAsings@gmail.com.

Click here for the Board Nominating Form

Forms must be submitted by September 1st to be considered.

AVAILABLE NOW - CLICK HERE TO ORDER

You can now reserve your hotel room at the DoubleTree Hilton, San Antonio airport for the convention. Price is $115 + tax per night.

Click here to reserve your room

NEW MEMBERS - JULY

• Kevin Sullivan, New Braunfels, TX
• Bob Pratt, Neosho, MO - Joplin Lodge #8
• Allee Wallace, San Antonio, TX - San Antonio Lodge #1
• Jon Fehringer, Hawley, PA - Honesdale PA Lodge #14

Welcome to our new members!

Be sure to let your Barbershop friends know about us. You might want to forward this email to them so they can see what's happening. And tell them to go to our website at WBQAsings.org and on the bottom of the Home page, click the link to sign up to receive the Newsletter.

JULY BOARD MEETING NOTES

• A Quartet Contest Entry Form is available on our website on the '2027 Convention' page as well as the 'Documents' page.
• The Board reviewed a document prepared by Mike Nicols as to the possibility of producing a podcast of our WBQA Quartet Contest. Further information about the feasibility is required before any decision can be made.
• The Board discussed the fact that 41% of our members do not open the monthly Newsletter. There are also a large number of bounces which indicate an email account that no longer exists or is no longer accepting receipts of emails. Discussed some ways to look into this.
• Wheelhouse indicated that the Lake Erie Lodge show, which they were to appear on, has been postponed. Wheelhouse indicated that they will be able to make the new date.
• The Board approved the a name change for the Lake Erie Lodge chorus to 'Commodore Perry Chorus' to avoid confusion.
• VP George Gipp proposed organizing lodges into regional territories to facilitate local gatherings and educational events.
• The Board paused for a moment of silence for our two departed members - Allen Hatton and Artie Dolt.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW:

• Member Database - Find other members, by state or city, find Lodges or find quartets. Link to the database is in the restricted Members page. When signing in, your member number MUST include the preceding letter - Ex M1234. Try it. First time? You will need to click 'Reset Password' after entering your member number. You will be sent a link to the email address on file to reset or create your password. You will receive an email once approved.
• Missed a newsletter? Check the 'Documents' tab' for the latest Society Newsletter, the Quartet Corner Bulletin or the Lodges in Motion Bulletin.
• Please, please, please DO NOT click on the 'Unsubscribe' link below. If you do, you will no longer receive any communication from your Society. We can only send you a 'Resubscribe' link ONCE!

Roger Heer, Secretary WBQA and Newsletter Editor

Worldwide Barbershop Quartet Association

Visit Website - WBQAsings.org , ,,,,,, Email Us: wbqasings@gmail.com

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