The RTP Chapter is pleased to highlight its continuing program of bringing barbershop harmony to our area's youth. This activity was started by Robert Dickson and his quartet the Never Home 4 and is supported by the entire chapter, including the following programs:

• The High School Choral Classroom Visitations
  Two of our seniors quartets, the Never Home 4 and the ElderBaris, visit about 35 HS's in a six county area: Wake, Durham, Orange, Wilson, Harnett and Lee. The objective is to introduce the A Cappella Barbershop style of vocal music to HS students in the public school system. The RTP program offers them free music and coaching and provides a performance opportunity in an annual HS Quartet competition. Every participating school gets a cash stipend and the schools with the top scorers get additional prize money, plus medals and trophies. The top male and female quartets are featured on the Chapter's Annual Show in May.
  
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• The CO-ED A Cappella Festival for HS, MS and College age Students
  The RTP Chapter participates in the local Sweet Adeline Chorus sponsored area-wide all-day Choral Festival and Show, usually on the 2nd Saturday in Sept. every year. Public school students and the community are invited to learn about A CAPPELLA barbershop style singing in a structured classroom type environment. Top-notch male and female clinicians and teaching quartets are brought in to introduce the idiom and direct the learning process. Music Educators in attendance take part in special Master Classes. Demonstration and participation are the order of the day which concludes with a Free to the public evening performance by the male and female student choruses as well as the participating choruses and quartets.
  
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• Get America Singing...Again, an Elementary School Vocal Outreach
  The RTP chapter purchased and distributed MENC approved songbooks to five elementary schools in Wake county as a pilot project in co-operation with the Supt of the Wake County Public School Arts and Music programs. The children commit about 6 good ol' songs to memory and put on a concert at a school function to which the RTP Chorus is invited to share the stage. With the success of the initial project, five additional schools have agreed to participate during the 2004-5 school year. It is a great way to introduce the children to the joys of participation in a vocal music tradition and expose them to adult role models doing the same thing.
  
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• Home School Outreach
  The RTP Chapter recently has sent invitations to the Home School community suggesting that they develop interest groups and participate in the HS Contest and Festival activities offered to the Public Schools. There have been inquiries about the Chapter's offers of free music and coaching. This is a work in progress.
  
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• Harmony Camp Scholarships
  The Chapter provides scholarships and transportation to male HS students and (M/F) Music Educators who want to attend the SPEBSQSA Dixie District Harmony Camp held at Clemson University over a long weekend in mid-July every year. We usually average about 5 attendees.
  
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• College Barbershop Quartet Contest
  The Chapter has sponsored college age foursomes that wish to participate in a higher level of competition. The eligibility is quite simple: The competitors must be males between the ages of 17 and 25; they need not be enrolled in school; SPEBSQSA membership is not required but is allowed; they must perform two songs arranged in the Barbershop style. Quartets that are selected to represent the District in the preliminary competition in March receive a $1500 grant to defray their travel expenses to the International Convention and CBQC finals the following July.
  
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