WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OF BARBERSHOP HARMONY Comes To Anaheim 6/28-7/5

The sounds you hear will be harmonious. They will be plentiful. And they will be uniquely American in their roots, but expansively international in their impact. They will come from thousands of people gathering to join in song in Anaheim, California June 28 - July 5.

Close harmony singers from across the world will meet in Anaheim for the Barbershop Harmony Society's 71st annual international convention and competitions. Singers and their fans from several countries will gather for shows, clinics, competitions, and good old-fashioned sing-alongs.

Baseball has the World Series, auto racing has the Indy 500, and barbershop harmony has the "Big Show." Now California residents can cheer on their regional representatives in international competition when they attend quartet and chorus contest sessions July 1 - 4.

All contest sessions will be held in the Honda Center. Tickets go on sale May 18 through www.barbershop.org/anaheim for California residents.

Contest Sessions

Contests begin Wednesday, July 1, with the quartet quarterfinals. Two sessions will be held: 11:00 am and 6:00 pm to narrow the field of approximately 50 down to 20. The quartet semifinals will be held Thursday, July 2, beginning at 11:00 am. The top 10 quartets will face off at 7:15 pm Saturday.

The chorus competition begins at 10:00 am Friday, July 3, with the first of two sessions. Second session will begin at 6:00 pm.

College-age quartets will bring their own youthful energy and character to the Bank of America Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest Saturday, July 4, at 9 am. "This contest just keeps getting bigger and drawing talent from all over the world," said Society Headquarters Music Specialist, James Estes. Ringmasters from Sweden took the gold in the contest last summer in Nashville.

Groups from three of the eight official Society affiliates-New Zealand, Sweden and England-will be among the competitors in various contests.

What to Expect

Look for flashy costuming and spine-tingling chords from the quartet competitors. Striped shirts and straw hats are a thing of the past, unless it fits the theme of the presentation.

Choruses will bring 40 to 160 men to stage at one time. Expect to see them in full stage makeup and costumes depicting a variety of characters-everything from green toy soldiers to mimes to whatever is needed to reflect the theme of their contest set.

Quartets perform two songs each contest session for a total of six songs if they make it into the top 10. Choruses and collegiate quartets compete in only one round of two songs.

Audience members will be asked to stay seated while contestants are on stage. After each contestant, judges will have a few minutes to record their scores. No one will be admitted to the auditorium during a performance.

Who's Hot?
Among the quartets, expect tough competition from 2008 silver medalist Crossroads as well as from fierce competitors State Line Grocery and Old School.

The Society's philosophy is "Once a champion, always a champion." As such, champion quartets are not required to defend their crowns.

The chorus contest has an equally tough field. Last year's silver medalist, the world renowned two-time gold medalist Ambassadors of Harmony, will face off against eleven-time gold medalist Vocal Majority. Chorus champions sit out for the two years following their win and then can re-enter competition.

Additional information regarding the Barbershop Harmony Society's 71st annual international convention and competitions will be released as it becomes available. For more information, visit www.barbershop.org/anaheim.

 

 

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