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Author: Leroy Hyson II

Barbershop Harmony Society Crowns 2025 Champions in Denver

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2025 International Contests Results

DENVER, CO – July 5, 2025 – The barbershop world came alive last week as the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) hosted its highly anticipated 2025 International Convention at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Fans from around the globe gathered to witness the world’s best barbershop quartets and choruses compete for the coveted gold medals and the results did not disappoint.

2025 International Quartet Champions: Lemon Squeezy (SNOBS – Sweden)

Making history with style, Swedish quartet Lemon Squeezy soared to victory, earning theinternational gold medal and becoming only the third non-North American quartet to win the title.

  • Final Score: 2,292 points (93.9)
  • Standout Songs: “Popular (Parody)” and “All-American Prophet (Parody)”
  • Their win highlights the growing global reach of barbershop and brings the title back to Scandinavia for the first time since Ringmasters in 2012.

Silver – Gimme Four (MAD – USA)

  • Score: 2,249 points (93.5)
  • Notable Songs: “What a Wonderful World,” “Five Minutes More”

Bronze – First Take (MAD – USA)

  • Score: 2,221 points (92.5)
  • Notable Songs: “At the Swing Cat’s Ball,” “A Cup of Coffee, A Sandwich, and You”

Full Effect (4th) and GQ (5th) rounded out the medalists.

2025 International Chorus Champions: The Vocal Majority (SWD – Dallas)

The legendary Vocal Majority continued their unprecedented run by capturing their 14th international chorus championship with an electrifying and emotional performance. Their performance was a technical and musical masterclass, confirming their place as barbershop royalty.

  • Final Score: 2,301 points (95.9)

Their performance was a technical and musical masterclass, confirming their place as barbershop royalty.

Silver – Music City Chorus (SHD – Nashville)

The 2022 Gold medalists returned to competition with another stellar and comedic performance to earn a little more hardware. For many, their rendition of “My Way” was the ballad of the contest.

  • Final Score: 2,276 points (94.8)

Bronze – Pacific Connection (BHNZ – New Zealand)

Their podium finish reflects a rising barbershop scene in New Zealand.Their lively singing was matched by their enthusiastic and authentic dancing and stage presence that had the crowd on their feet.

  • Final Score: 2,222 points (92.6)

Fog City Singers (4th) received their first ever international medal andSound of the Rockies (5th) took home field advantage to complete the medalist finishes..

Barbershop’s Next Generation is also thriving, with Radiant becoming the first non-male international champions in the NextGen Varsity Quartet contest. Radiant has had a stellar year, also capturing the 2024 Rising Star Championship and 2024 SAI Novice Quartet Award.

The Denver contests were a bold signal that this timeless genre is not only surviving—but innovating.

A Global Celebration of Harmony

This year’s contests underscored the international evolution of the barbershop style, with powerhouse ensembles from Sweden, New Zealand, UK, Japan, Canada, and across the U.S. competing at the highest levels. The Pepsi Center buzzed with energy as fans, families, and fellow performers celebrated tight harmonies, creative arrangements, and heartfelt performances.

BHS will return to District level contests and International will return in July 2026 in St. Louis. 

Barbershop Harmony Society Names Robert Rund as New CEO

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Breaking News!

The Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) has announced Robert Rund as its new CEO and Executive Director, effective August 18, 2025. A seasoned leader with over 30 years in the arts world, Rund brings a powerful mix of strategic vision, fundraising expertise, and musical passion.

A 50-year BHS member, Rund holds an MBA, is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). Known for surpassing fundraising goals and driving mission-focused growth, he’s ready to lead BHS into its next chapter.

“With deep respect for our history and culture, Robert will help us move forward toward our mission and vision of Everyone in Harmony,” said BHS President Kevin Keller.

Rund succeeds Steve Denino, who served as Interim CEO since September 2023 and helped guide the Society through a critical transition.

“For me, harmony isn’t just what we sing — it’s what we build together,” Rund said.

With his leadership, BHS is poised for a bold, inclusive future in vocal music.

In Memory of Mathew Price

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The Acaville team is deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Mathew Price, a dedicated volunteer and cherished member of our radio team.

Mathew gave his time, heart, and energy to our mission, always giving sharing his love for a cappella and a genuine desire to make a difference in our community.

We and the entire a cappella community are incredibly grateful for Mathew’s presence and the work he created during his time with us as an on-air personality. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who had the honor of knowing him, including the Untitled (Towson University) and Inside Voices family.

His beloved siblings have created a Gofundme to raise funds for his funeral. If you would like to donate, please do so HERE.

SIX13 Auditions!

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The Legendary Six13 is holding auditions!

Six13 is a professional Jewish a cappella group based out of New York. They’ve amassed over 100,000 followers on social media, well over 30 million views on their music videos, and performed across the globe over many years.

This is your chance to join this amazing legacy.

Six13’s ideal candidate:

  • Is located in the greater New York City / New Jersey area, or moving there soon
  • Is available for and interested in frequent paid performances
  • ⁠Has a solid Jewish identity and background, and is comfortable performing a repertoire of Hebrew and English songs distinctly centered around Judaism and Jewish values
  • Has strong musicality and ability to sing in harmony
  • Embraces a team mentality and is committed to helping us continue to push the group forward and grow our brand

Click the button below to find out more information on how to audition.

More info

New Series on Acaville TV: The Winning Edge

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We’re thrilled to announce the launch of The Winning Edge, a brand-new show on Acaville TV, hosted by none other than Leroy Hyson II! The Winning Edge is a dynamic roundtable series designed to equip and inspire current a cappella competitors with the tools they need to make their competitive season a success.

Each episode drops every Tuesday, beginning with an exciting conversation between Leroy and a cappella legends Ben Bram, co-founder and producer of Pentatonix and A Cappella Academy, and Shams Ahmed, former music director and arranger for Nor’easters and co-founder of Citizen Queen.

Don’t miss out! Watch the premiere episode on YouTube today on the Acaville TV channel, or catch the conversation during the College Town A Cappella Hour on Acaville Radio. Tune in and get the edge you need to take your a cappella game to the next level!

ICCA and ICHSA Semifinals!

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It’s Semifinal Season for the Varsity Vocals ICCA and ICHSA, and the competition is heating up! With two ICCA finalists and three ICHSA finalists already securing their spots, the excitement is at an all-time high. A massive shout-out to the incredible groups making waves in their regions: Noteriety (University of Arizona) from the Southwest, The Pitchmen (Belmont University) from the South, Walk The Line (Rockwall High School) from the High School Southwest region, Unstrumental (Calabasas High School) from the High School West region, and Sonic Edge (CCCEPA at Pebblebrook High School) from the High School South region.

But don’t let the action stop there—there are still plenty of Semifinals to go, and any of these groups could make a run for the coveted ICCA or ICHSA championship title! Don’t miss out on your chance to witness the magic live—get your tickets today at varsityvocals.com/events and support your favorite group before it’s too late!

Acaville at LAAF

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Don’t miss our live broadcast at LAAF this year presented by CASA. The Festival takes place in El Segundo, CA from Feb 14-16. The Los Angeles A Cappella Festival has been a staple in the a cappella community for years now and this year you can join the fun from around the world here at Acaville.org.

Broadcast Schedule

Friday: Showcase @7:30 PM PST

Saturday: Pro Show- Filharmonic @7:30 PM PST

Sunday: Scholastic Competition @4:00 PM PST