Nashville Midwinter

THE LEGENDARY GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE HOSTED THE MOST ATTENDED MIDWINTER IN HISTORY, AN EVENT LONG TREASURED FOR ITS LAID-BACK INTENSITY.

2 | The Harmonizer | January/February 2020 | barbershop.org T here were nearly 900 performers among the 2,800 barbershop fans who converged for three days on country music's most coveted stage. Sometimes there were judges writing scores, a lot of the time we were just having fun. All of the time, the results were spectacular. An exciting three days kicked off with a Thursday afternoon Keynote Address for the ages by quartet gold medalist Theo Hicks, who reminded us of the profound impact made by Barbershoppers just behaving like Barbershoppers. Music educators reported that hundreds of their students indeed had "mountaintop experiences" at Midwinter while performing in Next Generation Quartet and Chorus Festivals—and all the thrilling planned and unscheduled activities in between.

The rest of us had plenty of unforgettable experiences as well, from singing with the All-Chapter Chorus or quartetting with the Harmony Brigade, participating in Harmony University courses or just tagging with friends old and new. Hundreds of seniors competed in the Seniors Quartet Contest and Seniors Chorus Festival. Together, we enjoyed two of the best evening shows in Midwinter's proud history.

Gold Medalist: DoubleDouble (ONT) 76.8% find on Facebook Perry Wildfong (Br), David Feltrin (Bs), John Mallett (L), Bobby Gibson (T)

Silver Medalist: Let's Sing! (NSC) 76.6% Steve Tremper (T), Mark Chandler (L), Greg Zinke (Bs), Joe Doub (Br)

Third Place Bronze Medalist: Hearsay (JAD) 76.2% Bob Moorehead (T), Kent Vanderkolk (L), Mike Bell (Bs), Tom Rouse (Br)

Fourth Place Bronze Medalist: Unfinished Business (JAD) 75.7% find on Facebook George Lepsch (Br), Jeff Gehm (L), Bob Godot (Bs), Dave McKinnon (T)

Fifth Place Bronze Medalist: Fossil Creak (SWD) 75.5% Frank Friedemann (T), Art Swanson (L), John White (Bs), Bill Wilkinson (Br)

6. Mac-n-Cheese (DIX) 75.1% Paul Wietlisbach (Br), Tony Clifton (Bs), Howard McAdory (L), Bob Davenport (T)

9. Spotlight (JAD) 73.8% Matt Bridger (Br), Paul Gilman (L), Dave Kindinger (Bs), Gary Wulf (T)

11. Nostalgia Express (ONT) 71.8% Larry Maw (T), Brad Brown (L), Jim Doyle (Bs), David Wallace (Br)

13. Mansion Vocal Band (NED) 71.3% Jerry Xavier (T), Al St. Louis (L), Mike Maino (Bs), Bob O’Connell (Br)

10. Social Insecurity (EVG) 72.6% find on Facebook Kevin Stephens (Br), Bob Martindale (L), Marty Anderson (Bs), Gary Raze (T)

12. Senior Varsity (CSD) 71.7% Jeff Veteto (Br), Cal Yoder (L), Darrell Link (Bs), Todd Keeley (T)

14. Papa Joe's (DIX) 71.2% Allen Reynolds (T), Ron Montgomery (L), Joe Ezell (Bs), Tom Cain (Br)

17. CHECKMATE (PIO) 69.7% Bruce LaMarte (T), Craig Pollard (L), Brian Kaufman (Br), Scott McNutt (Bs)

19. Old Spice (SLD) 69.2% Todd Horton (T), Don Stothard (L), Steve Fanning (Bs), Ron Mason (Br) 18. Take Note (ILL) 69.7% find on Facebook Rick Anthoney (T), Ralph Brooks, Jr. (L), Ed Chapman (Bs), Dick Kingdon (Br)

20. Trigger's Broom (BABS) 67.2% find on Facebook Paul Jeffery (T), Andy Salter (L), Steve Cox (Br), Adrian Armstrong (Bs)

21. Naturally Aged (RMD) 66.8% Dave Waddell (T), Mac McWilliams (Bs), Jim Hopper (L), Jim Cole (Br)

23. R.I.C.K.S. (FWD) 66.4% Pork Chop (pig), Dave Wallace (T), Steve Leipelt (L), Richard Lund (Bs), Corley Phillips (Br) 22. Fallcreek (LOL) 66.7% Rich Derrick (Br), Kevin Dean (Bs), Mark Diers (L), Mark McLaurin (T)

Next Generation Junior Chorus Invitational and Seniors Chorus Contest

Now in its 12th year, word is spreading fast among music educators: The Next Generation program is without peer in giving young singers–and audiences–mountaintop experiences. Plateau A - Small Chorus Plateau AA - Medium Chorus Plateau AAA - Large Chorus

NEXT GENERATION AND SENIORS CHORUS PORTRAITS BY READ PHOTOGRAPHY

Ratings are Good, Excellent, Outstanding, and Superior. Awards are given for the winner of each of the Plateaus.

Audience Favorite Award and Plateau AAA Winner: Hurricane of Harmony Gaither High School, Tampa, FL SUPERIOR directed by Debbie Cleveland

Plateau AA Winner: A CAPPELLA! James Hubert Blake High School, Silver Spring, MD SUPERIOR directed by Sandra Zinkievich

Presenter's Award: Wildcat Chord Ringers (A) Quinton Township School, Quinton, N.J. GOOD directed by John Wernega

Alexandria Central Select Choir (A) Alexandria Central School, Alexandria Bay, NY OUTSTANDING directed by Katie Taylor

Cleveland Heights HS Men's Barbershoppers (A) Cleveland Heights High School, Cleveland Heights, OH EXCELLENT directed by Jesse Lange

Chandler High School Men's Choir (AA) Chandler High School, Chandler, AZ OUTSTANDING directed by Lori Lyford

Prairie Chords (AA) Land O' Lakes District, Saskatchewan High School and Universities, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan GOOD directed by Justin La

Anna Coyotes Chorus (AAA) Anna High School, Anna, TX, Southwestern District EXCELLENT directed by Daniel Rohovit

Chandler High School Treblemakers (AAA) Chandler High School, Chandler, AZ SUPERIOR directed by Lori Lyford

Georgia Spirit (AAA) Atlanta, GA Metro Area OUTSTANDING directed by Becki Hine, Clay Hine, and Lars Grevstad

Here Comes Treble! (AAA) Burlington High School, Burlington, WI OUTSTANDING directed by Penny Yanke

Intermezzo! (A) Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet, Nashville, TN GOOD directed by Cody Duff

Provo High School Combined Choirs (AAA) Provo High School, Provo, UT SUPERIOR directed by Kenny Wiser

Rowdy Rhythm (AAA) Peters Township High School, McMurray, PA SUPERIOR directed by Ryan Perrotte

Seniors Chorus Festival: Carolina Statesmen (NSC) SUPERIOR directed by Mark Stock and Larry Triplett

Seniors Chorus Festival: Maple Leaf Chord Company (ONT) OUTSTANDING directed by Dr. Ray Danley

Seniors Chorus Festival: Seneca Statemen (SLD) OUTSTANDING directed by Ron Mason

Seniors Chorus Festival: Vocal Seniority (JAD) OUTSTANDING directed by Doug Smeltz

NextGen Junior Quartets The inaugural NextGen Junior Quartet Contest brought the house down!

NEXTGEN JUNIOR QUARTET PHOTOS BY LORIN MAY, READ PHOTOGRAPHY

1. Quin-Tones (Men's, Mid-Atlantic District) OUTSTANDING Tommy Hunter (Br), Julian LeFlore (L), Jake Lapp (T), Chris Crawford (Bs)

2. Singing Double (Women's, Gaither High School) OUTSTANDING Krystal Majid (Br), Emma Paschal (Bs), Hannah Paschal (L), Kelly Majid (T)

3. Vintage Mix (Mixed, Waukesha West High School) OUTSTANDING Julia Shoppach (T), Anika Shoppach (L), Ian Shoppach (Bs), Kelsey Shoppach (Br)

4. Brickyard (Men's, Powell High School) OUTSTANDING Wyatt McCarter (Br), Jordan Cagle (Bs), Hayden Rupert (L), Turner Bell (T)

6. Polaris (Men's, Coppell High School) OUTSTANDING Patrick Parker (T), Ryan McCord (L), Max Madlambayan (Bs), Alex McCord (Br) 5. Best Sellers (Women's, Onalaska High School) OUTSTANDING Alia Ebbert (T), Chloe Leithold (Bs), Rachel Schoenecker (L), Faith Leithold (Br)

8. JMNJ (Men's, Peters Township High School) EXCELLENT John Vanderhoff (T), Mason Dowd (L), Jaydon Whisker (Bs), Noah Owczarzak (Br)

10. AcousChix (Alexandria Central School, Alexandria Bay, NY) EXCELLENT Andrea Patterson (T), Kelsey Cullen (L), Emily Davis (Bs), Madison Savage (Br)

12. Neptune's Voices (Women's, Columbus High School) EXCELLENT Ashley Harouff (Br), Natalie Jarecke-Ramos (L), Hailey Oshel (Bs), Reagan Gausman (T)

9. Fourmata (Women's, Owen High School) EXCELLENT Hannah VanGorder (Br), Bethany Lanning (Bs), Josie Davis (L), Kelsey Beck (T)

11. The Barbershop Darlings (Women's, Chandler High School) EXCELLENT Kayla King (T), Sabrina Brooks (Bs), Claire Willes (L), Makayla Kirby (Br)

13. Belle Voix (Women's, Chandler High School) EXCELLENT Liz Jones (Br), Sarah Montero (L), Teah Scott (Bs), Sophie Brooks (T)