Harmony Heritage Finishes 6th and Qualifies for International Contest

Pawtucket, RI , April 28, 2025 —  Harmony Heritage, the Pawtucket, Rhode Island chapter of Harmony, Incorporated, an international organization of female a cappella singers specializing in the barbershop harmony style, recently earned regional recognition and qualified for a spot at Harmony, Inc.’s international competition, which will be held in Hershey, Pennsylvania later this year.

Harmony Heritage, based in Pawtucket, RI, placed 6^th out of more than 10 choruses in Harmony, Inc.’s Area 2, which encompasses New England plus Montreal, Canada. The competition took place in Framingham, Massachusetts, and participants earning a score of a certain threshold are qualified to participate in the international competition of Harmony, Inc. choruses in November.

 “The Harmony Heritage chorus rehearses all year to become more masterful at the four-part harmony that characterizes the barbershop style, but qualifying to participate in the International Convention & Contests of Harmony, Inc. is truly an honor,” says Camilla Streeter, chapter president. “We plan to build on the success of our area contest showing as we prepare, and we’re proud to represent the Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts community among choruses from all across the United States and Canada.”

Harmony, Inc. has hosted area and international conventions for more than 60 years, gathering female singers of all musical backgrounds and experience levels to participate in a series of competitions for quartets and choruses. Participants are adjudicated by a panel of trained judges evaluating categories that encompass what songs the performers elect to sing, the skill with which they sing those songs, and how they present the songs, which can include emotionally connecting with the audience. “The Harmony Heritage not only earned area recognition for its performance, but it has also accomplished something equally notable in qualifying to join other choruses at the premier event in Harmony, Inc.’s annual competition cycle,” says Gaye LaCasce, Harmony, Inc. president. “This positions Harmony Heritage as one of the top representatives of our organization, and we appreciate the talent that these women bring to the barbershop harmony genre.”

With approximately 25 members, Harmony Heritage is directed by Bob O’Connell of Pawtucket, RI. The chorus presented two songs at the area contest to earn its placement, “The Nearness of You” and “Take Me to the Land of Jazz”. These selections are a small sample of the chorus’s extensive repertoire, which is ideally suited for a wide range of audiences and events. To learn more about the chorus’s upcoming performance schedule, visit https://www.harmonyheritage.org.

About Harmony Heritage
Founded in 2001, a southern New England chapter of Harmony, Inc., also known as the Harmony Heritage chorus, brings four-part a cappella harmony to the local community through regular performances and educational events. The chorus consists of women representing a wide range of musical backgrounds, from novice to trained professionals, and performs under the direction of Bob O’Connell.  Members hail from all over Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts. Harmony Heritage holds open rehearsals at 7:00 pm on Tuesdays at Epworth United Methodist Church, 915 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket, RI, and all women with a love of singing are invited. For more information, visit www.harmonyheritage.org .