Instant Classic Makes Huge Leap to Win Championship
Tenor: David Zimmerman
Lead: Theo Hicks
Bass: Kyle Kitzmiller
Bari: Kohl Kitzmiller
In one of the biggest leaps in ranking in recent memory, Instant Classic jumped from an 8th place finish in 2014 to winning it all in 2015. With a smooth, vibrant, and youthful sound, Instant Classic delivered consistently thrilling and heartfelt performances, winning the hearts and minds of the audience as well as earning the highest overall score by an esteemed panel of judges over three rounds during one of the most intense and closest quartet competitions seen in many years at International.
Bass clef brothers Kyle and Kohl Kitzmiller proved once again that family does matter when it comes to achieving world-class lock and ring, and David Zimmerman put a virtuosic tenor flare on top of it all while the incomparable lead Theo Hicks executed powerfully emotional and electric performances that moved every member of the audience in attendance.
The top finishers were, in order:
1. Instant Classic, 8343 points, 92.7%
2. Forefront, 8332 points, 92.6%
3. Main Street, 8313 points, 92.4%
4. Lemon Squeezy, 8219 points, 91.3%
5. Throwback, 8074 points, 89.7%
To capture the crown, the new champs sang through a wide repertoire that included the songs I Won’t Send Roses, This Could Be The Start Of Something Big, Spend My Life With You, ‘Til I Hear You Sing, How Could I Ever Know?, and Love Me Or Leave Me.
Instant Classic began as a collegiate quartet in 2009, finishing as high as silver medalists in the Harmony Foundation International Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest in 2012 behind Lemon Squeezy, and then placing 16th in 2013 Toronto, 8th in 2014 Las Vegas, then first in 2015 Pittsburgh.
It’s widely felt by everyone who hears Instant Classic perform that this is indeed the Start Of Something Big for this young foursome.