The AIC Endowment Fund is a key charitable entity that affords the Association of International Champions (AIC) one of many opportunities to ‘give back’ to the Society, through grants that support a variety of barbershop-oriented youth music education programs.
To date, the Fund has contributed more than $100,000 in support of these programs.
The Fund supports a variety of quartet and youth programs across a number of different disciplines and cultures. Grants can range from $250 to more than $5,000, depending on the number of requests approved, the size of a given program, and its applicability to the primary purposes of the AIC.
The Fund was initiated in 1992, and is a subsidiary fund within Harmony Foundation International, the charitable arm of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a non-profit organization.
Success Stories
The AIC Endowment Fund supports a variety of quartet and youth programs across a number of different disciplines and cultures. Grants can range from $250 to more than $5,000, depending on the number of requests approved, the size of a given program, and its applicability to the primary purposes of the AIC. Such grants are solicited, received, and reviewed by the AIC Endowment Board of Trustees, a committee of three AIC members approved by the AIC Board of Directors. This committee is responsible for making recommendations to the AIC Board of Directors regarding selection of grants (from all grant requests received) and amounts to be awarded for the grants selected.
To date, the AIC Endowment Fund has contributed more than $50,000 in support of these programs. Below is a selected list of programs that have received some level of funding from the AIC Endowment Fund.
World Harmony Exchange – Teaching Expedition to China
There have been a number of very successful teaching expeditions to all parts of the world conducted by barbershoppers and AIC members over the last few years. One such trip to China occurred in the spring of 2002. This trip was organized by World Harmony Exchange, and several active AIC members served as both teachers and performers. A very hectic schedule of events yielded a number of performances and workshops, held in conjunction with Chinese music educators in major cities across the country. Due to the efforts of this group, a male quartet and a female quartet from China came to the United States to perform and to attend the 2002 SPEBSQSA International Convention in Portland, Oregon. This type of activity has been instrumental in increasing the awareness of and exposure to Barbershop singing for musicians around the world. The AIC Endowment Fund was instrumental in launching this teaching expedition.
Aloha Chapter (Honolulu) High School Harmony Camp
Sunshine District Youth Harmony Explosion Camps This has become a highly successful program that introduces high school choral students in Florida to the Barbershop style of music. Structured sessions are conducted that include high quality Society quartets, usually made up of young singers, performing songs that connect with these students on a very personal level. The students are taught to sing familiar songs arranged in 4-part Barbershop harmony, and also attend classes that promote the Barbershop style. The Sunshine District is reaping the benefits of these sessions through growing memberships in local chapters, a huge amount of enthusiasm for this type of music at the high school level, and a growing number of young quartets, some of which are becoming active within the Society. The AIC Endowment Fund has contributed significantly to support a number of these programs over the last several years.
Far-Western District High School Harmony Festivals
Sylvania, Ohio High School Choral Boosters Club This local organization in Ohio ensures that choral students at Sylvania High School are exposed to a variety of music styles through a number of different programs. In 2002, they arranged for 25 top-performing choral students to attend and participate in the Buckeye Festival, an annual Barbershop event in Columbus, Ohio that brings together men and women barbershoppers, quartets, and choruses. These groups compete in a variety of events, including a comedy quartet contest, a chorus contest, and a mixed quartet (men and women) contest. The high school students chosen to attend this festival performed to a sold-out audience, and attended classes to learn more about the Barbershop style. They also participated in the festival competitions, and made many new barbershop friends in the process!! The AIC Endowment Fund afforded these students the opportunity to participate in this festival.
Kent State University – Men’s Chorus Scholarship Program
Dixie District Youth Harmony Workshops
Buckeye (Ohio) High School Harmony Festivals
“The Nightingales”” – a youth barbershop quartet in Russia This very young, energetic foursome has performed extensively throughout Russia, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. In 2001, they had the opportunity to visit the United States and attend the SPEBSQSA International Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. They performed for a number of audiences while in the US, and totally overwhelmed everyone with their exuberance and their singing. They were hosted by the Gas House Gang, 1993 Society International Champions and active AIC quartet. The AIC Endowment Fund partially funded the Nightingales trip to the United States.