The Acorn – Feb. 3, 2026 – OCS Weekly News

1. High Notes

• REMINDER: For new songs (see Carol’s Cadence), please print your sheet music at home if you are able. Sheet music is accessible through the HarmonySite app.
• Feb. 9 (Mon) – Regular rehearsal at Glenaire, 4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary. (Parking is available in the circle OR in the Glenaire parking deck at 5100 Glenhope Ct.)
  • Regular schedule + Board Meeting:
    • 5:30p – Board meeting – all welcome!
    • 6:45p – Mixed chorus rehearsal
    • 8:00p – Business meeting / break
    • 8:15p – Men’s chorus rehearsal

• Registration for the Carolinas District Convention is OPEN! April 17 & 18, Hendersonville, N.C.

If you are planning to sing at the Contest/Convention:  Please read this & see Section 5 below!
www.carolinasdistrict.org/2025-nsc-district-convention/   [[yes, this is the for 2026, even though Carolinas has the URL as 2025]]]
To sing with our chorus at the Convention, you must:

• Register for the convention. (Early bird price ends March 15!) Choose the “RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK” chapter!
• Book a place to stay (convention rate for hotels ends March 15 – though you can stay anywhere).
• Join/renew your membership with the Barbershop Harmony Society (national group). You can register for the Carolinas Convention now, but they WILL check to ensure you are a current BHS member before you are allowed to sing on stage!

2. Fanfare
SELL our Singing Valentines – This is a KEY FUNDRAISER for OCS!
Singing Valentines are a key fundraiser for OCS and a great way to show someone you care!
Help us out by telling your friends! They can order online at www.oakcitysound.org 

• Prices range from $50 (anytime of the day) to $100 (within 30 minutes of your specified time).
• A quartet (or VLQ) will sing a song and deliver a card with the buyer’s personal message. Roses also available.
• Quartets available Friday, Feb. 13, and possibly Saturday, Feb. 14.

Basic Music Theory Class – continuing… No cost!

• 5:45p – 6:30p, for 4 sessions
• Join any time – even if you can’t attend all classes!
• RSVP not required but doing so will allow Gary to bring enough materials: gthorn228@gmail.com
• Classes and topics are:
  • NO CLASS Feb. 9 due to scheduled Board Meeting 😊
  • Feb. 16 – Session 3: Tempo and tempo markings, time Signature review, Tempo changes (Poco, Molto, Ritards, etc.), Repeats, Repeat Endings, common Music road Map Markings, dynamic markings, accents.
  • Feb. 23 – Session 4: Review Previous Sessions, Sharing Stems, beats in a measure, ties and slurs, look at Irish Blessing Music, Major/Minor/7th Chords, diminished, augmented chords,  Some actual chords and each part in Down Our way (primarily so you can tell are you on 1-3-5 or 7 in a Chord). Session 4 will have some advanced topics that when understood, it will help you match other parts and "lock and ring" chords.

3. Overtures

• New Performance Outfits - 2026:
  • For those who haven’t heard, we have updated our performance outfits for 2026. (The short backstory is that our previous shirts/colors were discontinued.) The Board approved a new “black and white” standard (plus occasional festive bling).
  • PLEASE REVIEW NEW GUIDELINES HERE: https://www.oakcitysound.org/the-chorus-uniform
  • From the HarmonySite app, click the “Chorus Life” button on the bottom row, then see “Chorus Uniform.”
• Do You Like Your Part?? Does it like or fit you?
  • If the part you’ve been singing doesn't feel like the best place for you, January will be a good time to possibly change to a new voice part.
  • We have some new music coming in 2026 and the spring convention and chorus contest in April.
  • If you would like to do some range testing with Carol, send her a quick email at carolstep@gmail.com with the subject line “PART CHECK” – and we'll set up a time and location early in the new year.
• Meetup Group – Remember to RSVP for each rehearsal and afterward, RATE us on Meetup. We are listed under Oak City Sound or “Raleigh Area A Cappella Singing Meetup Group.”
• Fundraiser or Concert Suggestions? – Contact a member of the board and let us know.

4. Carol's Cadence

• Since our Valentines are covered, we’re going to spend this week focusing on our Contest songs and trying out some of our new songs! (See below.)
• Rehearsal songs for Feb. 9:
  • All existing regular repertoire songs, including:
  • Mixed Chorus:
    • Hey Good Lookin’  (Contest song)
    • What a Wonderful World  (Contest song)
    • 8 Days a Week  (new song)
    • I Can See Clearly Now  (new song)
  • Men’s Chorus:
    • Lazy Day  (Contest song)
    • Over the Rainbow  (Contest song)
    • If   (new song)

5. Accelerando  (for OCS)
April 17-18:  Carolinas District Convention & Contest (2026) (Hendersonville, N.C.) – optional, but most members try to go!

• Our chorus usually sings for evaluation scores – then free coaching from a judge in the afternoon! It’s also a great chance to hear some amazing quartets and choruses.
• Registration also includes the late-night food/socials, fellowship, and access to all the competitions.
• ALL DETAILS HERE: www.carolinasdistrict.org/2025-nsc-district-convention/

To Represent OCS as part of the Chorus:

1. Register for the convention – choose the “RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK” chapter! Fee is $79 by March 15; $100 on Mar. 16 and after. This includes your singing as well as access to all official Conference events.
   • Bringing a spouse/family/friend who wants to watch but isn’t singing? Guest ($79) & youth (under 18 free) registration is available as well.
2. Book a room. You are welcome to stay wherever you want, though the “Headquarters Hotel” (Hampton Inn Hendersonville) will host the evening parties, singing and tag singing, etc. Two hotels are offering the Barbershop Conference rate – use the direct Booking links listed on the above web page.
3.  Join/renew as a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society. You MUST be a BHS member to sing on stage at the Carolinas Convention!

Future Dates

• April 27: Rehearsal will be at Searstone.
• Nov. 23: CONCERT of holiday music at Searstone.

6. In Harmony  (Around the BHS World)

• April 17 - 18: Carolinas District Convention & Contest (Hendersonville, N.C.)
• June 28 – July 5, 2026: BHS International Convention (2026) – St. Louis, Missouri.
• July 16 - 19:  Lakeside Harmony Weekend – Furman University(?) – this fun and educational weekend offers barbershop education, fellowship, and concerts for an EXTREMELY affordable price that includes lodging and most meals. Stay tuned for when 2026 details are released:  https://lakesideharmony.org/ 
• Future International locations:  2027 – Minneapolis, MN;  2028 – Chicago, Ill.;  2029 – San Antonio, Texas

7. Major & Minor Moods
Please send our friends your prayers & best wishes!

• Kudos to David Kraay for assuming our music librarian position!
• Mike Muha is feeling a bit better, though his 3 ribs are still broken.