Worldwide Barbershop Quartet Association


The Monthly Pitch

NOVEMBER 2026


Issue 26-11

Greetings!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS SUNDAY!


Be sure to set your clocks BACK one hour.

CONVENTION EARLY BIRD PRICES END DEC 1st!


Be sure to order your Convention Registration before December 1st in order to pay the Early Bird price of $185. After December 1st, the price increases to $199.


Click here to see the schedule of Convention events that is happening this year - you don't want to miss it!

AVAILABLE NOW - CLICK HERE TO ORDER


The Convention is open to all barbershoppers, family and friends and non-members. Registration price is $189 ($199 after December 1) which includes both sessions of the Quartet Contest, Friday night Champion Reception and Saturday night Banquet plus breakfast each morning. Single Quartet Contest tickets available for $45 ($49 after December 1).

Reserve your convention hotel room now at the DoubleTree Hilton, San Antonio Airport. Room price is $115 + tax per night.

Click here to reserve your room

Dear WBQA Members


There is something special about bringing barbershop singers together: the friendships, the ringing chords, the stories, and the joy of sharing the music we love.


This January, we have an opportunity to experience all of that at the 2027 WBQA Convention in San Antonio, Texas. I hope you'll make plans to join us!


Whether you're coming to compete, enjoy the performances, reconnect with old friends, or make some new ones, your participation is what makes our convention, and our association special.


Do you have a quartet? Bring tham along! We would love to see quartets from across the country and beyond take part. Our goal is to have 25 quartets entered in the contest, and we need your help to get them there. If you're not currently singing in a quartet, this could be a great time to get four voices together and be part of the fun.


And if you're not competing, please come and be part of the audience. Your presence and encouragement mean a great deal to the singers on stage.


WBQA is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the barbershop style. Every singer who joins us, every quartet that takes the stage, and every member and guest who comes to listen helps keep that tradition strong.


Come sing with the men in San Antonio! Register, invite a friend, and help us make the 2027 convention one to remember.


I look forward to seeing and singing with you there.


Mike Nichols

WBQA VP Marketing & Communications

FREE QUARTET COACHING AT THE CONVENTION


And what quartet couldn't use some FREE coaching from our champion quartet members to improve your total performance. AND DID WE SAY IT WAS FREE?


To qualify, all members MUST be WBQA members, and you must be staying in the headquarters hotel.



Just download and fill out the form and email to Rich Gray at richgray27@gmail.com. You will be contacted to arrange a time and place. . . . . . Quartet Coaching Request Form

WBQA 5th ANNUAL QUARTET CONTEST IS OPEN!


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


Our past champs 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 registered with WBQA
  • 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. The contest will be held in two sessions on Thursday, January 21 and finals on Saturday, January 24.


All entries must be received by December 15th, 2026 in order to be in the draw. Late entries will sing either first or last.


This is a unique contest. No certified judges. Be scored by fellow 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



Could your quartet be the next WBQA Champ?

ANGEL FUND ESTABLISHED TO HELP MEMBERS 'IN NEED' ATTEND THE CONVENTION


Thank you to all of our members who contributed to the Angel Fund. There were $1,120 in contributions. Thank you.


If you would like to request assistance to attend the 2027 WBQA Convention in January, please fill out the form and return it to Steve Shannon at SteveShannon@WBQAsings.org.



Click here to download the form

SLATE OF BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2027

The Nominating Committee announced a new slate of officers for 2027. They are

  • President - Rich Gray
  • Executive Vice President - Mike Ebbers
  • Immediate Past President - Kenny Hatton
  • Treasurer - Sean Praetzel
  • Secretary - Roger Heer
  • Vice-President Lodges - George Gipp
  • Vice-President Membership - Steve Shannon
  • Vice-President Marketing - Mike Nichols
  • Vice-President Quartet Development - Tim McShane

Members At Large

  • Paul Blazek
  • Steve Morin
  • Scott Brannon (one year remaining in term)
  • Keith Richmond (one year remaining in term)
  • Sylvester Wetle (one year remaining in term)


Nominations are open until November 20th. If you would like to submit a nomination, download a fillable Word doc and return to the Chairman of the Nomination Committee, Tim McShane, at QuartetVP@WBQAsings.org

Click here for the form

Barbershop Philosphy


The Old Philosopher observed: "When we understand that each day is NOT just one more day, it is one less day to appreciate the things that truly matter."


. . That got me thinking about what truly mattered in my life. After family, there weren't many things more important than music. Barbershop has become part of my soul.


. . Our WBQA is dedicated to the Preservation and Propagation of this wonderful art form, but unless WE share this joy with other men, it will die with us. All it takes is you talking with every stranger you meet. No big deal, just casually ask:

  • "Where do you do your singing?" or
  • "You look like a singer." or
  • "Are you a musician?" or
  • "Do you sing in a choir?" or
  • "Are you in a singing group?" or


. . What you say really doesn't matter. Your role in Preserving our art is NOT to sell strangers on Barbershop. If your enthusiasm shows them how much you enjoy singing with other guys, they will want to visit your Lodge.


Last Thursday, a road stone shattered my windshield. Saturday, I asked the Safelite installer what group he performs with. He's my guest this week. Now, it's your turn. Just do it!


Steve Shannon

Membership VP

Worldwide Barbershop Quartet Association

713 927-7369

SteveShannonsings@WBQAsings.org

NEW MEMBERS - OCTOBER


  • James Ottaberry, Snyder, TX
  • PJ Rowan, Spring, TX - Spring Tx, Men in A Chord, Lodge #19
  • John Jackson, Westerville, OH


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.

OCTOBER BOARD MEETING NOTES


  • Nominations of 2027 Board members was extended until November 20th due to the late revised slate of officers presented by the Nominating Committee on September20th.

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.
  • Please, please, please DO NOT click on the 'Unsubscribe' link below. If you do, you will no longer receive any communication from your Society. To 'resubscribe', go to our website and click on the 'Click here to Receive our Monthly Newsletter' link, fill out the form, and submit.

. . Roger Heer, Secretary WBQA and Newsletter Editor

 

Worldwide Barbershop Quartet Association

Visit Website - WBQAsings.org , ,,,,,, Email Us: secretary@wwbqasings.org

 
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This is the official website of the Society for the Preservation and Propagation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in the United States (SPPBSQSUS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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