Category: Active Champions

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.

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Musical Island Boys WIN… finally!!

Tenor: Jeff Hunkin
Lead: Marcellus Washburn
Bass: Matt Gifford
Bari: Will Hunkin

The North American tradition of barbershop harmony became still more global last week in Las Vegas, as two offshore quartets placed in the top five of the world championships.

After three consecutive 2nd place Silver Medalists placements Musical Island Boys of New Zealand became only the second non-North American quartet to win the gold medals, while Lemon Squeezy placed fifth at the annual competition of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

The top finishers were, in order:

1. Musical Island Boys, 8058 points, 89.5%
2. Forefront, 8021 points, 89.1%
3. Main Street, 8015 points, 89.1%
4. A Mighty Wind, 7976 points, 88.6%
5. Lemon Squeezy, 7918 points, 88%

To capture the crown, the new champs sang through a wide repertoire that included songs from “The Lion King,” Michael Jackson, Motown, and a touching simple song of parting “Now Is The Hour.”

The Musical Island Boys add championship medals to chests already decorated with gold as collegiate champions in 2006, New Zealand national champions in 2007, 5th place medals in world competition in 2010, and silver medals in world competition in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

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Tenor: Rob Menaker
Lead: Patrick Haedtler
Bass: Brett Littlefield
Bari: Alan Gordon

Three past-champion singers plus a hot young lead combined to bring MASTERPIECE the gold medals in Saturday’s world championship competition in Toronto.

Singing music ranging from Kathy Mattea’s “Where’ve You Been” to American classics “Tennessee Waltz” and “Sweet Lucy Brown,” the quartet emerged from a pack of fifty quartets at the contest, held at the 75th Anniversary Convention of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Experienced singers bass Brett Littlefield and tenor Rob Menaker sang in 1996 champion Nightlife; baritone Alan Gordon sang in 2004 champ Gotcha!; and lead Patrick Haedtler previously sang in international competition with The Crush.

The top five finishers were, in order:
1. Masterpiece — 8041 points, 89.3%
2. Musical Island Boys — 8002 points, 88.9%
3. A Mighty Wind — 7924 points, 88%
4. Main Street — 7825 points, 86.9%
5. Forefront — 7758 points, 86.2%

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Tenor: Jakob Stenberg
Lead: Rasmus Krigström
Bass: Emanuel Roll
Bari: Martin Wahlgren

Ringmasters made history in Portland by becoming the very first quartet from a Society affiliate to win the coveted quartet gold medal. Travelling all the way from Stockholm, Sweden, Ringmasters combined virtuosic singing with championship-level entertainment and youthful energy to bring back a Gold medal for the Society of Nordic Barbershop Singers (SNOBS) Affiliate.

Ringmasters made their Society contest debut competing in the International Collegiate Quartet Contest first at the 2007 Denver International Convention, and then returning in 2008 to win the Collegiate gold medal in Nashville. They also competed in the International Quartet Contest that same year, finishing an impressive 17th place. In 2009 in Anaheim, they won a 4th place Bronze medal, and in 2010 in Philadelphia they won a 3rd place Bronze medal. After taking a year off in 2011, they returned triumphantly in 2012 to win the Gold medal in Portland.

Ringmasters is tenor Jakob Stenberg, lead Rasmus Krigström, baritone Emanuel Roll, and bass Martin Wahlgren.

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Tenor: Jeff Selano
Lead: Jim Clark
Bass: Syd Libsack
Bari: Darin Drown

The comedy quartet Storm Front created plenty of thunderous applause and light-hearted laughter as they won the coveted Gold Medal at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 2010 International quartet contest Saturday evening at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The competition was fierce and the energy high among the 51 quartets participating in the Society’s 72nd Annual International Convention.

Storm Front’s members are tenor Jeff Selano and bass Syd Libsack of Atlanta, GA and lead Jim Clark and baritone Darin Drown of Denver, CO. The group placed third in international barbershop competition in 2007, sixth in 2008, and third again in 2009, which prompted them to write and perform the parody “We’ve Grown Accustomed to 3rd Place”. They also performed a medley entitled “Car Song”. Storm Front stood out in the humor category amidst mostly traditional and several contemporary barbershop quartets.

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Tenor: Fred Farrell
Lead: Michael Slamka
Bass: Jim Henry
Bari: Brandon Guyton

Our 2009 champs are men who have won the gold medals once before. They won in convincing fashion in Anaheim, California July 4th week during the 71st International Convention and Contests of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Their total score was 93.7% and 213 points above the second place quartet.

Fred Farrell (tenor) sang with Second Edition during their gold medal win in 1989. This win makes Fred one of the 18 multiple champs with the longest span between wins (20 years). Mike Slamka (lead) won his first gold with Power Play in 2003. Baritone Brandon Guyton won his first with Four Voices in 2002. Dr. Jim Henry (bass) won his first championship with Gas House Gang in 1993. He also holds a historic distinction by also directing his chorus, The Ambassadors of Harmony, to a Chorus Championship in the same year as they also won in Anaheim.

Crossroads considers their family to be an important part of the quartet. They boast 15 kids and one grandkid between them. Following the win they ALL spent the next day at Disneyland (all 24 of ’em).

You can hear their first studio recording project via their website. Its a true representation of this foursome’s talent and love of singing together.

They plan to spend the next year performing and continuing their quest for vocal musical perfection.

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Tenor: Shawn York
Lead: Sean Devine
Bass: Cory Hunt
Bari: Patrick Claypool

Joy, Relief, Pride, Exuberance, Nervousness, Bliss, Apprehension, Release, Elation, Humility, Liberation, Anxiety, Delight, Gratification, Honor

What is it like to win International? The 2008 champion OC Times felt ALL these emotions and more.

Shawn York (Tenor), Sean Devine (Lead), Patrick Claypool (Baritone), and Cory Hunt (Bass) for winning the coveted gold medals in Nashville during the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 70th annual convention and contests.

They performed three consistent contest sets to win by 51 points (2700 / 2690 / 2684 = 8074). After placing 18th, 5th, 3rd, and 2nd the previous four years, OC Times had been inching closer to their goal with each attempt. Their song selections had been unique and contributed to their rapid growth and popularity.

They competed with“Don’t Be a Baby, Baby”, “Oh, Look At Me Now”. “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You”, “You’re Sixteen”, “You Belong To Me” and “Drivin’ Me Crazy”. Competing with these songs made popular by the likes of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ringo Starr, and Patti Page expanded the barbershop realm to the delight of most.

They call Orange County, California home and are active members of the Masters of Harmony chorus, seven time international chorus champion. They are ALSO active members of Westminster, the 2007 international chorus champion. With their win of quartet gold medals they become only the third quartet to win CHORUS gold medals the same year.

OC Times formed in the spring of 2003. Shawn, Sean and Patrick are the original members. Their original bass was Drew Harrah. He won the FWD title with them and placed 18th in Louisville in 2004. In January 2005 Cory joined the group. The rest is, of course, history.

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Tenor: Tim Waurick
Lead: Eric Dalbey
Bass: Chris Hallam
Bari: Jonny MoroniIn the closest win in the Society’s 68 year competition history Vocal Spectrum took home the big trophy by singing flawlessly and earning the best score on two of the three sets. Still it was only SIX little itty-bitty points that separated them from the future champion and three time silver medalists Max Q.The youth movement in the Society now has an extraordinary benchmark with these four guys winning the College Quartet Championship (2004) and the International Quartet Championship (2006) after only THREE years as a group.Vocal Spectrum first sang as a one-time educational quartet for a workshop with Francis Howell North High School Men’s Ensembles on January 5th, way back in 2002. They liked what they heard and continued singing after that chance grouping.

They hail from St. Charles, Missouri where all were majoring in different fields of study at Lindenwood University and come from various musical backgrounds, from classical vocal training to jammin’ in rock-n-roll bands.

Tim Waurick (tenor) is the newest member of VS joining in September 2003 replacing original tenor David Cassel. Tim sang in Good Times at International in 2001 and 2003

Eric Dalbey (lead) has sung in many quartets throughout his high school career and became an original member of Vocal Spectrum in 2002.

Jonny Moroni (bari) discovered barbershop through a local public access channel and soon joined the Ambassadors of Harmony (St. Charles, MO) He has gone on to win a total of 5 International Medals with the chorus.

Chris Hallam (bass) sang in select ensembles throughout high school and joined the Ambassadors of Harmony (2004 International Chorus Champions) and has competed at the International contest with them three times.

In addition to performing all over the U.S. as well as singing in Germany, Holland, Sweden, Russia and England, the foursome gets a special kick out of being part of Youth In Harmony Workshops and teaching high school students about barbershop harmony.

They follow in the recent footsteps of Four Voices who won the college gold medals in 1996 and the quartet gold in 2002. Vocal Spectrum is the FIRST quartet to win THREE of the possible 4 gold medals (Collegiate Quartet, Men’s Quartet, and Chorus Medal).

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