MHBQA has received several emails with this question. Part of MHBQA's "mission" is to encourage barbershop mixed quartets, which mean including as much actual barbershop music in our quartet repertoires as we can, given the restrictions of the voicing in each quartet, and being able to explain to our audiences what songs are in the barbershop style and which are not!
It should be understood that the Mixed Harmony Showcase which is presented at the SPEBSQSA annual convention has no connection with MHBQA, other than having some of our quartets sometimes asked to perform on the show. From its inception, the Showcase - at the invitation of SPEBSQSA - has been produced by Doug Miller, an extremely talented barbershop coach, judge, quartet and chorus man, who is also a member of the mixed VLQ Friends. MHBQA was delighted to have him running the annual Showcase, as it was beyond our capabilities and desires. MHBQA has no part in the planning & production of this show, although MHBQA quartets are welcomed by Doug to submit their bids for inclusion. His (and SPEBSQSA's) goal is to present a first-class wide-spectrum show of a cappella mixed singing, including barbershop style. It is a mixed harmony showcase, not a barbershop mixed harmony show. That said, it is still a delightfully enjoyable show... just wish it started earlier than 11pm!
Due to the late hour, your MHBQA editor has not been able to attend for several years. Thankfully, others are still functional at that time late in the Convention week, and MHBQA member Phil Richards of the MHBQA quartet Grandma's and Grandpa's wrote this review for the Harmonet:
"The Mixed Harmony Showcase for 2003 was held on Thursday night in the Chorditorium after the A.I.C. Show. Doug Miller, the host, warned the audience that Kibbers [an acronym used on the Harmonet for those who wish to Keep It Barbershop] might not be happy beause there were going to be a few non-barbershop selections coming up. That was certainly the case, with essentially no contestable barbershop performed. BUT - the groups all did a great job with a wide variety of a cappella numbers. The group were four quartets and a chorus... I only had the back of a parking stub to take notes, so I don't have a song list for each.
"First on was Heart-to-Heart from Milwaukee, two couples singing a broad mix of a cappella material. Second on was MHBQA quartet Philharmonix from Philadelphia, two ladies and two gents doing arrangements frequently used by recent SPEBS quartet champs. Third on was MHBQA quartet Rendezvous from Chicago, again two ladies and two gentlemen, with a highlight being their review in song of several dozen old-time radio commercials. Fourth on was MHBQA quartet 'Round Midnight from New Hampshire. These two couples did a variety of a cappella material. Fifth on was A Cappella Pops from Philadelphia, directed by Jan Muck. They are a mixed chorus of about forty, including many barbershoppers, who sing very modern music.
"Doug Miller's group Friends, from Minneapolis, who founded this showcase, didn't participate because of illness and personnel changes.
"Phil Richards, for the Harmonet"