FAQS

What kind of music does Full Circle sing?

Barbershop Harmony - which is very nicely defined by the Barbershop Harmony Society as: A Truly American Artform

It’s music in a very pure form created with nothing but human voices coming together to create a rich and satisfying texture that is pleasing to the ears and invigorating to the soul. Whether you’re an experienced musician or a brand new singer, barbershop levels the playing field and allows you to find your voice and be a part of creating something that is greater than the sum of its parts.

I’ve never heard of mixed-voice barbershop ensembles. What’s the difference?

For over 80 years, the Barbershop Harmony Society has facilitated the establishment of male-only quartets and choruses and their development as performance artists. Sweet Adelines International and Harmony, Inc. have done the same for over 70 years for female-only ensembles. In the last decade or so, particularly in Europe, quartets composed of both male and female voices have become popular. In fact, there is now a recognized festival hosted every two years by BinG! (Barbershop in Germany) at which mixed-voice quartets and choruses compete and crown their world champion.

Up until 2014 when the Mixed Barbershop Harmony Association was formed, there had been no standing in North America for larger mixed-voice ensembles singing a cappella music, barbershop style. MBHA now provides support to groups like Full Circle as they develop their repertoire, polish their performance skills, and participate in festival opportunities. And in 2017, the BHS announced it was going coed, as well. Established in 2015, Full Circle is proud to be in the forefront of this movement, a singing circle dedicated to full harmony and exciting performances.

Now that BHS offers competition opportunities to mixed-gender choruses will Full Circle compete?

When the membership of Full Circle feels it is appropriate, we will discuss and decide whether we wish to join the world of choral competitions. As members of the Mixed Barbershop Harmony Association (MBHA), we are an affiliate of Harmony, Inc. which welcomes MBHA ensembles to compete at their Area conventions. For the meantime, we sing for the joy of our friendship and the 7th chords, and share this with our community in rockin', fun performances.

Will I have to audition?

Nope, no auditions. If you sing in the shower, in your car, at your church, if you used to sing in high school or college or at the karaoke bar, you’ll be GREAT! If you love to sing, there is a home for you at Full Circle. We have an experienced cadre who will teach you the skills you need and help you develop your barbershop harmony skills over time.

What type of time commitment will Full Circle require?

We believe that, with proper training and support, we can forgo working longer and more often and work SMARTER instead. Full Circle is a “do your homework” type of chorus. You will be armed with the learning tools you need (and no, you don’t need to read music to be successful at Full Circle) to learn on your own and come to rehearsal prepared. At rehearsals, we work smart and leave plenty of time for fun. 

Our rehearsal schedule calls for rehearsals every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The chorus shares a Google calendar listing all rehearsals and performances. 

What about the financial commitment?

Currently, Full Circle covers the cost of printed music and audio learning tracks from the proceeds of its performances.  There are no dues or required out-of-pocket expenses. We meet at the Linwood Center in Ellicott City and hall rental is already covered. We strive to book at least two benefit performances per year to support Linwood Center's mission of creating the possibility of extraordinary lives for children and adults living with autism and related developmental disabilities. Members are asked to join the Mixed Barbershop Harmony Association which assesses a $20 annual fee.

What exactly does “family-friendly” mean?

We’re truly interested in welcoming singers of all ages. There is no minimum age requirement for joining Full Circle. So long as a young person has appropriate adult supervision at chorus events and has the ability to keep up with Full Circle rep and rehearsals, he/she is more than welcome to join our ranks!

What if I have additional questions?

Please feel free to reach out to the Full Circle leadership by emailing the director. We will be happy to answer your questions via email or set up a convenient time to talk on the phone.

Where can I find the next rehearsal or performance?

We rehearse every Wednesday at the Linwood Center, 3421 Martha Bush Drive, Ellicott City, MD.  Give us a call or drop us a line to let us know you're coming. A new friend will greet you at the door.