| In 1961 a young college sophmore, David Malony, petitioned the Chapter
Board for permission to put on a novice Quartet
Contest for the purpose of encouraging the formation of new quartets
in the state of New Jersey. The chapter would not be obligated financially
or otherwise.
The first contest was held in in the tiny Grant School auditorium before a full house. There were ten quartets from all over New Jersey. Leon Avakian, who would become the District President and then the Society's International President, was the M.C. of the contest. After the first contest the board approved it as a chapter function and the Colonial Chorus entertained at the next eight contests. The contest was moved to the larger Roosevelt Jr. H.S. where it has been held since. the Board adopted a plan whereby another organization would keep the proceeds from whatever tickets were sold, to be used for charitable purposes. Several years later the board created the Richard C. Berry Award, a rotating trophy to go to the contest winner. It was named in memory of Dick Berry, our second chorus director. They also expanded the contest to include novice quartets from all over the Mid Atlantic District. In 1975 the Board felt that the contest was not serving the purpose for which it was started- to encourage the formation of new quartets. Established quartets were using it as warm-up for the International Prelims which are always held the following week. So the Board discontinued the contest. There was no contest in 1976. However two transfers to Westfield, Jack Higgins and Bob Argalas, felt it was too valuable a property to drop and petitioned the Board to reinstate it and they would run the next one. They did this in 1977. Many fine quartets did get their start in this contest, although not as many Westfield quartets were formed as Dave had hoped. certainly many people have been helped through the fundraising potential of the contest. |