Summer Harmony Camp began in 1998 under the leadership of noted barbershop arranger, Dr. Val Hicks, who was serving as the Rocky Mountain District Vice President of Young Men In Harmony at the time. Dr. Hicks was literally one of the founders of Youth Outreach in the Barbershop Harmony Society, back in the 1960’s (known then as the “Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America”…SPEBSQSA). He held the camp in Grand Junction at Mesa State College in 1998 and 1999, and then he nominated Tony Pranaitis as his replacement for YMIH VP, as Dr. Hicks sought to retire from the position. Tony was elected to replace Dr. Hicks, and in 2000 moved the Camp to the Estes Park YMCA after negotiating a mutually beneficial contract. Darin Drown (baritone “Storm Front” quartet, director of “Sound of the Rockies” chorus) served as clinician for camps at Mesa State and the early years at the Estes Park YMCA. (Tony also promoted the idea of Summer Harmony Camps in southern and western areas of the District…and one Camp in New Mexico now occurs annually, and Utah now has an annual Festival).
The boys Summer Harmony Camp is sponsored by Denver Youth in Harmony, a collaboration of the Denver MountainAires and Denver Mile High barbershop chapters, and is funded by proceeds from a benefit concert called DenverBarberFest, where 200 high school boys are invited to participate in a one-day workshop and evening performance with both chapter choruses and special guest quartets. Funding is also raised through personal, business, and corporate sponsorships. This allows community involvement in this very worthwhile effort to enrich the lives of youth. (click here for information about sponsorship)
The Sweet Adelines of Region 8 joined the Summer Harmony Camp in 2002 and have sponsored a parallel Camp for girls annually since then.
The Camp is open to 50 boys and 50 girls, held in early June. Students pay $100 to register and all remaining costs are covered by the sponsoring organizations. Music and learning CD’s are provided in advance, so students come to Camp familiar with the repertoire. Clinicians work with the students on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in preparation for the performance Saturday night, on what is typically the first show in the YMCA SummerFest Concert Series (free concerts offered throughout the summer by the YMCA to guests and area residents).
Students also participate in fun activities, including a dance. There is also “free time” for recreational pursuits available at the YMCA.
On Sunday morning the boys and girls choruses each perform a song at the interdenominational Chapel service, for which the Chaplain and congregants are extremely appreciative then it's off to the Sunday GRAND FINALE performance.
Students participating in our annual High School Quartet Contest (and a planned Quartet Clinic) are given first eligibility to register for Summer Harmony Camp.