Category Board and staff notes

Recognition and Installation

Thanks to all who attended last night’s event at Pizza Ranch in Marion. The food and fellowship was wonderful! Thanks go to Tom Rad for his planning and to CSD Iowa Director Allan Mebus for swearing in the 2026 Officers. Congratulations to Darrel Herschberger upon receiving recognition as the 2025 Barbershopper of the Year. Leland Freie presented him with the award and cited him for his outstanding involvement in both the chorus and quartet activities, for working on the board, and for being a leader in the baritone section by learning his music quickly and accurately. 

Valentines sales are underway

All the information needed for ordering Singing Valentines is available on the website HarmonyHawks.org

Singing Valentines need your participation

Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching. Singing Valentines sales is not only a great and unique service to our community but is also a major source of the funds needed to run the Harmony Hawks Chorus. It is second only to our spring show as a fundraiser. As such each of you should consider it your responsibility to be part of this effort. 

What will your roles be? 

• Will you sing as part of a quartet? 
• Will you contact friends and family asking them to purchase one?
• Will you send email and post on social media as part of the promotional effort?

Some of us will be dong all of the above – what are you willing to contribute? 

Quartets needed We need two or more quartets, and you can help. Since we will only need to learn a few easy songs, you can try out a new part. As always, tenors and baritones are especially needed.

FIRST ACTION Next Tuesday January 20, anyone who would like to be in Singing Valentines quartet should come come to the rehearsal early at 6:00. At that time we will see who is available and we will sing some of the songs. We might even form quartets.

If you are unable to be at this 6 p.m.rehearsal but would like to participate, please call Tom Read at 319-360-3765, and let him know you want to participate.

The information on Singing Valentines is live on the website now. Start spreading the word!

Tuesday songs

• “Love Letters” (Piercy)
• “Sweet Caroline”
• “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”
• “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
• “I Believe”
• “It Is Well With My Soul”

Upcoming Events

• Board meets, January 26, 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Lindsay home
• February 13 & 14 – Singing Valentines
• March 22 – Honor Flight Orientation Performances (12:00 and 3:00)
• April 10-11, 2026 – CSD Spring Convention
• April 18, 2026 – Spring Show

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Valentines Quartets

Anyone interested in singing in a Valentines quartet show up Tuesday at 6:00 to work on the songs. We will try to form one or two more quartets.

Tuesday songs

“Let Me Call You Sweetheart”
“Sweet and Lovely”
“My Wild Irish Rose”
“Love Letters” (Piercy)
“Sweet Caroline”
“Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”

Installation and Awards Banquet:

January 17 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Chorus members and their significant others are invited to attend the Harmony Hawks Installation & Awards Banquet. We will enjoy the wonderful Pizza Ranch Buffet, recap and celebrate the chorus’s accomplishment in 2025, install the 2026 officers, and present chorus awards, including the 2025 Barbershopper of the Year.

Please plan to attend and RSVP to Gary Lindsay or Tom Read with the number from your household who plan to attend.

Upcoming events

• January 17 – Installation and Awards Banquet
• February 13-14 – Singing Valentines
• March 22 – Honor Flight Orientation Performances (12:00 and 3:00)
• April 10-11, 2026 – CSD Spring Convention
• April 18, 2026 – Spring Show

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Greetings

We hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. If you are traveling, we wish you a safe return. The first snowfall of the season was quite spectacular!

Songs for the December sing-outs are listed below. Bring your song book if you need one. The order will be set before the performance.

Wednesday, Dec. 3 (5:50)

• Aura Independent Living Center, 3010 Center Point Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
• As many as we can get
• Outdoor tree lighting
• 10 minutes of caroling
• Attire: since it is outdoor, nearly anything goes
• Arrive: 5:30

Thursday, Dec. 4 (2:00)

• Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Women’s Group, 3634 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
• People Singing: Leland Freie, Tom Zuber/Al Huneke, Larry Hlavacek, Cal Birkey
• Sing for 20ish minutes
• Attire: festive attire
• Arrive: 1:45

Sunday, Dec. 7 (7:00)

• Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3634 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
• Octet or a few more
• Sing for 20-30 minutes
• Few chorus songs plus Christmas songs/sing-along
• Attire: festive attire
• Arrive: 6:30

Tuesday, Dec. 9 (6:30)

• Cottage Grove Place, 2115 1st Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
• As many singers as we can get
• 20-30 minutes with Christmas carols and some sing-alongs
• Attire: festive attire
• Arrive: 6:15

Tuesday, Dec. 16 (6:30)

• Grand Living, 325 Collins Rd SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
• As many singers as we can get
• 20-30 minutes with Christmas carols and some sing-alongs
• Attire: festive attire
• Arrive: 6:15

Song	December 3 10 minutes	December 4 20 minutes	December 7 30 minutes	December 9, December 16
Jingle Bells	X	X	X	X
Silent Night	X	X	X	X
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing	X		X	X
Jingle-Bell Rock	X	X	X	X
Winter Wonderland		X	X	X
O Come, All Ye Faithful		X	X	X
O Holy Night	X	X	X	X
Carol Of The Bells				X
We Wish You A Merry Christmas	X	X	X	X
You Raise Me Up			X	X
It Is Well With My Soul		X	X
King of the Road			X	X
Under The Boardwalk			X	X
An Irish Blessing		X

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