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The Barbershop Harmony Society is a non-profit, international organization with over 35,000 members in over 700 chapters in the United States and Canada, and affiliates in several foreign countries. It was founded in 1938 with the name Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, or SPEBSQSA, a tongue-in-cheek put down of the many federal agencies formed during the Depression. The name caught the eye of the Associated Press, the word spread around the country, and that unpronounceable acronym has been twisting tongues until recently, when it was retired, but remains as a reminder that a good sense of humor is an integral part of our hobby.

The Socity is divided into 16 geographical districts. The Big Apple Chorus is a member of the Mid-Atlantic District, which covers the area from lower New York State, south to Virginia and as far west as Central Pennsylvania. Each of these districts host annual contests and conventions for both choruses and quartets.

The winners of each of these districts then compete at the International Convention held each year at various locations in the US or Canada. Past conventions have been held in Montreal, Portland, San Antonio, Hartford, Salt Lake City, Nashville, Calgary and other exciting travel locations. This year, the International Convention and competition will be held in Salt Lake City,Utah.

The Internaional Office of the Society is located on the shore of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The knowledgeable staff of "Harmony Hall" is available for any questions about our hobby and the Society. The Society maintains a toll-free number to answer questions ranging from Copyright laws to Music Theory. Harmony Hall also maintains the world's largetst collection of "a cappella" music outside the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Members of the Society as well as interested individuals are invited to contact our Society's International Office by dialing 1-800-876-SING.