Harmony University at

STILL NEW AFTER 30-SOME YEARS, HARMONY UNIVERSITY IN 2019 GREW, AND CHANGED, AND WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS EVER

32 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2020 | barbershop.org I t sounded the same, with good close harmony—and different, with that music made by men and women in new combinations.

It looked the same, with multi-decade HU vets sporting classic Aloha Chapter shirts and patches from past colleges—and different, with young people’s bright blue and fuschia hairstyles smartly setting off the silvered and bald heads.

But most importantly, it felt the same: the same total immersion in harmony that wards off daily cares, and makes every singer part of a single tribe.

Every activity reinforced the feeling, like keynote speaker Shane Scott’s moving testimony of being sustained by the barbershop family as he grieved the loss of his wife.

The 40 young men and women in the Next Generation Mixed Chorus showcased a future of artistry unshackled from any constraints on who can participate.

Worldwide friendships sprang up among singers from 13 countries, singing late into the night powered by ice cream, the traditional HU dietary staple.

Steven Armstrong, Faculty Jake Bartlett, Faculty Danny Becker, Quartet Success Manager Chad Bennett, Show Producer, Faculty Tim Beutel, Faculty Ron Black, Music Coach Blair Brown, Section Leader Beth Bruce, Faculty Cary Burns, Music Coach Don Campbell, Dean of Director's College Andrew Carolan, Music Coach Joe Cerutti, Music Coach Ted Chamberlain, Faculty Anthony Colosimo, Singing Coach Jennifer Cooke, Faculty Peter Cunningham, Singing Coach Katy Dane, Faculty Elizabeth Davies, Faculty Darin Drown, Dean of Music Education College Paul Ellinger, Singing Coach

Cindy Hansen Ellis Faculty Mo Field, Performance Coach Dave Fobart, Performance Coach George G. Gipp, Faculty Dr. Philip Grant, Faculty Caki Gray, Director of Membership Chase Guyton, Private Voice Instructor Mary Halsig, Adjunct Faculty Erin Harris, Faculty Eddie Holt, Men's Chorus Coach Shannon Jeffreys, Faculty Nathan Johnston, Section Leader Holly Kellar, Faculty Mike Kelly, Video Production Rich Knight, Faculty Rasmus Krigström, NextGen Director Will Lagos, Performance Coach Peggy Viermann Leon, Faculty Patricia Leveille, Private Voice Instructor Marty Lovick, Performance Coach Brian Lynch, Faculty

Rob Mance, Faculty Eddie Martinez, Singing Coach Patrick McAlexander, Music Coach Donya Metzger, Faculty Shawn Mondragon, Performance Coach Marty Monson, Faculty Alexander Morris, Music Coach Charlotte Murray, Faculty Kimberly Newcomb, Section Leader Drew Ochoa, Faculty Paul Olguin, Faculty Manoj Padki, Adjunct Faculty Ravi Raghuram, Section Leader Andrew Rembecki, Singing Coach Jill Rodgers, Coaching Apprentice Program Coordinator Amy Rose, Performance Coach Donny Rose, Director of Harmony University, Chorus Director Coach Dusty Schleier, Men's Chorus Director Shane Scott, Faculty

Steve Scott, Dean of Harmony College and Performing Arts College Stuart Sides, Faculty Rich Smith, Men's Chorus Coach Gene Spilker, Performance Coach Brent Suver, HU Team | Logistics Katie Taylor, Faculty Renee Tramack, Singing Coach Steve Tramack, Music Coach Larry Triplett, Faculty John Ward, Singing Coach Theresa Weatherbee, Faculty Dan Wessler, Faculty Kim Wonders, Women's Chorus Director Cy Wood, Performance Coach David Wright, Faculty Sandi Wright, Faculty Steve Wyszomierski, Think! Coordinator Bryan Ziegler, Faculty

Chorus College Participants

HARMONY UNIVERSITY PHOTOS BY LORIN MAY

The Alliance (JAD) Greater Central Ohio, Directed by Rich Lapp - alliancechorus.org

The Blenders (BHA) Gold Coast, QLD Australia, Directed by Jono Albertini - theblenders.com.au

QUARTET AND CHORUS COLLEGE

TOGETHER AT HU FOR A WEEK OF INTENSIVE COACHING Groups from India, Argentina, Australia, and Germany joined their North American counterparts for two intensive two-hour coaching sessions daily with some of best coaches the barbershop world has to offer. Individual group members still had plenty of time to take other courses and tracks throughout the week. All groups performed one or more songs on the Friday Night or Saturday Night shows. Row 1 (Top): Organised Chaos, SomeSing, HU Women's Chorus, Daybreak Row 2: Bright Idea, JAQ, Seaside, Tonic! Row 3: HU Men's Chorus, Antique Harmony, Rhinestones, Nightfall Row 4: The Northsiders, Chili Treat, HU NextGen Chorus, Time and a Half Row 5. Rev'l, Easy Does It, Detroit Sound Machine, Lip Service, Journey Men Row 6. Barberdrunk Row 7. Something Good, Eleventh Hour

2019 District Champions

For years, the district contest score sheet has gradually added new categories: Seniors champs, Novice champs, Plateau and Division champs. But 2019 marked the beginning of a new era—with membership now open to everyone, new quartet and chorus types are available for the first time. Most districts are still developing the next evolution of their contest offerings, but some have already expanded to include mixed and women's contest categories.

CARDINAL DISTRICT cityScape Jay Hawkins (Br), Tony Clifton (Bs), Howard McAdory (L), Allen Reynolds (T)

Thoroughbreds (Louisville, KY) Chorus Champion Brothers of a Chord Novice Quartet Champion cityScape Seniors Quartet Champion

CENTRAL STATES DISTRICT Spitfire Austin Veteto (Br), Justin Reid (Bs), Christopher Pingel (L), Stephen Vandenberg (T)

Central Standard (Metro Kansas City, MO) Chorus Champion Jazz! Women's Quartet Champion Hangin' with the Guys Mixed Harmony Quartet Champion radio days Novice Quartet Champion Swipe Right Super Novice Quartet Champ

Wildfire Kevin Mendez (Br), Harrison Cooke (Bs), Stephen Goldman (L), Caleb Hayes (T) DIXIE DISTRICT

Crimson Pride Chorus (Tuscaloosa, AL) Chorus Champion Silver Ring Seniors Quartet Champion Goodness Gracious Novice Quartet Champion Rock City 4 Super Seniors Quartet Champion

EVERGREEN DISTRICT RagTag Matthew Hart (T), Ian Kelly (L), Tyler Rands (Bs), Gus Curry (Br) Boise Chordsmen (Boise, ID) Men's Chorus Champion PDX Voices (Portland, OR) Mixed Chorus Champion Mugshot Mixed Harmony Quartet Champion FREE ADVICE Seniors Quartet Champion

FAR WESTERN DISTRICT Vocalocity Eric Bjornsen (Br), Dan Davenport (Bs), Trevor Way (L), Rob Menaker (T) Masters of Harmony (Santa Fe Springs, CA) Chorus Champion Pacific Coast Harmony (La Jolla, CA) Mixed Harmony Chorus Champion Troubadour Women's Quartet Champion Tenor First Mixed Harmony Quartet Champion Over The Line Seniors Quartet Champ Notable Novice Quartet Champion

ILLINOIS DISTRICT Center Ring Patrick Henders (Br), Benjamin Dirks (L), Gregory Martin (Bs), Craig Hall (T)

New Tradition (Northbrook, IL) Chorus Champion Upside Downers Seniors Quartet Champion Trebletones Women's Youth Quartet Champion Chord-on-Blues Men's Youth Quartet Champion the Illinois District

JOHNNY APPLESEED DISTRICT Trademark Matthew Cook (T), Keith Parker (L), Chris Gregory (Bs), Brandon Miller (Br)

Men of Independence (Independence, OH) Chorus Champion Kitsch-N-Sync Mixed Harmony Quartet Champion The Home Team Novice Quartet Champion Champion Champion

LOL Pitch Piper/Bob Fricke

LAND O' LAKES DISTRICT First Ave Eric Renz (T), Jay Fahl (L), Paul Tabone (Bs), Brent Haagenson (Br)

Great Northern Union (Hilltop, MN) Chorus Champion Seasonal Blend Seniors Quartet Champion

MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT Pratt Street Power Ben Hawker (Br), Ed Schubel (L), Darren Schmidt (Bs), Vince Sandroni (T)

Parkside Harmony (Hershey, PA) Chorus Champion Even Money Seniors Quartet Champion

NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT Daily Special Ben Lewin (Br), Cay Outerbridge (Bs), Chad Putka (L), Isaac Swanson (T)

Vocal Revolution (Concord, MA) Chorus Champion Mansion Vocal Band Seniors Quartet Champion

CAROLINAS DISTRICT Wordplay Ryan Wilson (Br), Scot Gregg (Bs), Jay Lusk (L), Matthew Gorman (T)

Palmetto Vocal Project (Mount Pleasant, SC) Chorus Champion Hawketts Youth Chorus Champion Quadrophonic Mixed Harmony Quartet Champion Lämp Youth and Novice Quartet Champion

ONTARIO DISTRICT The Aristocrats Darryl Marchant (Br), David Feltrin (Bs), John Mallett (L), Bob Gibson (T) East York Barbershoppers (East York, ON) Chorus Champion Generations Women's Quartet Champion Ripple Effect Mixed Harmony Quartet Champion Zenith Novice Champion

PIONEER DISTRICT Silver Edition Bruce LaMarte (T), Craig Pollard (L), Cody Harrell (Bs), Aaron Pollard (Br)

City Lights (The Motor City Metro, MI) Chorus Champion The Heights Mixed Harmony Quartet Champion CHONK, Novice Quartet Champion

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT Sound Logic Grant Goulding (Br), Adam Scott (Bs), Joel Gillespie (L), Dallin Cox (T)

Sound of The Rockies (Denver Mile High, CO) Chorus Champion X&Y Mixed Harmony and Novice Quartet Champion Velcro Seniors Quartet Champion

SENECA LAND DISTRICT Studio Time! Kyle Fioramonti (T), Stephen Barrie (L), Matt DeMartino (Bs), Jason Kammerer (Br)

Harmonic Collective (Liverpool, NY) Chorus Champion Finger Lakes Mixed Chorus Mixed Harmony Chorus Champion Just Four Men Seniors Quartet Champion Bell Curve Novice Quartet Champion

S E N E C A L A N D D I S T R I C T

SUNSHINE DISTRICT Bourbon Brothers Matthew Nelson (T), Matthew Boutwell (Bs), Christian Espinoza (L), Alex Kuen (Br) Orlando Harmony (Winter Park, FL) Chorus Champion Skirt And Ties Mixed Harmony Quartet Champion

SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT Showpiece Daniel Zeagler (L), Geoff Kannenberg (Br), Chip Davis (Bs), Phillip Zeagler (T) The Marcsmen (San Marcos, TX) Chorus Champion Two Timers Seniors Quartet Champion Quickdraw Novice Quartet Champion

Most of what goes on throughout the Barbershop Harmony Society is initiated by chapters, quartets, and others far away from our International stages. We share the best stories we've heard about throughout the year. Read some at barbershop. org/harmonizer. Tell us your story! Submit text and images to harmonizer@barbershop.org. PLEASE TELL US YOUR STORY!

PACIFIC COAST HARMONY MIXED CHORUS FROM LA JOLLA, CA

THE HEIGHTS MIXED QUARTET FROM PIONEER DISTRICT

JAZZ! WOMEN'S QUARTET FROM SPRINGFIELD, MO

ALL PEOPLE WERE WELCOMED INTO MEMBERSHIP IN 2018. IN 2019, CHAPTERS EMBRACED THE CHANCE TO TRY NEW WAYS OF SHARING HARMONY.

The Everyone in Harmony journey of inclusion in BHS hit full stride in 2019, when chapter membership for all people became an option. Digging deep into their own cultures and hopes, some existing chapters began designing new modes of participation in the barbershop experience. Some chapters converted their choruses to mixed harmony. Others retained a men’s chorus and added a mixed group. Others added a separate women’s chorus under the same chapter entity. Chapters that studied themselves and found that the men-only experience was best suited to their needs also went forward with renewed sense of purpose and confidence. In other cases, enthusiastic singers started up brand-new endeavors built on new goals and visions. The result: the most innovative, energized year of activity since the early days of the Society.

2019 FIRSTS: NEW TYPES OF DISTRICT CHAMPIONS CENTRAL STATES Jazz! Women's Quartet Hangin' with the Guys Mixed Harmony Quartet EVERGREEN PDX Voices Mixed Harmony Chorus and District Small Chorus Mugshot Mixed Harmony Quartet FAR WESTERN Pacific Coast Harmony Mixed Harmony Chorus Troubadour Women's Quartet Tenor First Mixed Harmony Quartet ILLINOIS Second City Chorus Mixed Harmony Chorus JOHNNY APPLESEED Kitsch-N-Sync Mixed Harmony Quartet CAROLINAS Quadrophonic Mixed Harmony Quartet ONTARIO Generations Women's Quartet Ripple Effect Mixed Harmony Quartet PIONEER The Heights Mixed Harmony Quartet ROCKY MOUNTAIN X&Y Mixed Harmony and Novice Quartet SENECA LAND Finger Lakes Mixed Chorus Mixed Harmony Chorus SUNSHINE Skirt And Ties Mixed Harmony Quartet Florida Suncoast Chorus Mixed Harmony Chorus

BHS BY THE NUMBERS (as of December 2019)

CHORUSES

686 6 73