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GQ Wins Barbershop Harmony Society World Championship

Written by Benjamin Rivenburgh on . Posted in Blog/News. No Comments on GQ Wins Barbershop Harmony Society World Championship

GQ has made history as the first women’s quartet to win the Barbershop Harmony Society International Quartet Championship. The quartet captured the gold medal at the 2026 World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, finishing ahead of 51 other quartets from around the globe.

Their championship victory caps a remarkable competitive journey. In 2022, GQ placed fourth in the first international barbershop contest to include non-male quartets. They followed with a fifth-place finish in 2025 before claiming the world title in 2026.

GQ is made up of Amanda Sandroni (tenor), Katie Gillis (lead), Ali Hauger (baritone), and Samantha Tramack (bass). The four singers met while attending Towson University and officially formed the quartet in July 2011.

In addition to pursuing excellence in barbershop harmony, GQ is committed to music education and mentoring young singers. Each member works in music education while maintaining a career in the arts. Their journey from aspiring performers to world champions reflects their dedication to the craft and their passion for inspiring the next generation of barbershop musicians.

The Top 5 Ranking Quartets:

  1. GQ — 6,723 points (93.4 avg)
  2. Gimme Four — 6,700 points (93.1 avg)
  3. Full Effect — 6,645 points (92.3 avg)
  4. First Take — 6,552 points (91.0 avg)
  5. Sunday Night Social — 6,544 points (90.9 avg)

Congratulations to GQ and to everybody who took the stage – another successful year of amazing barbershop music!

Sweet Adelines Regional Season

Written by Leroy Hyson II on . Posted in Blog/News. No Comments on Sweet Adelines Regional Season

Sweet Adelines Regional Season Is Here, and the Stakes Have Never Been Higher

The competition season is officially underway, and Sweet Adelines International is bringing the world together one region at a time. From the Midwest to New Zealand, singers across six countries are competing this spring for a spot on the biggest stage in women’s barbershop harmony: the 78th Annual International Convention and Competition, taking place October 26-31 in Columbus, Ohio.

This week, five regions compete simultaneously on April 23-26. Region 13 (North by Northwest) holds its contest in Spokane, Washington, with a free webcast available to viewers worldwide. Region 15 (Greater New York and New Jersey) competes in Albany, New York. Region 5 (Spirit of the Midwest) heads to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, also offering a free webcast. Region 6 (Northern Lights) holds its regional in Rochester, Minnesota, streaming via Vimeo. Region 8 (Rocky Mountain) takes the stage in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The competition continues April 30 – May 3 with four more regions. Region 2 (Border Lakes) competes in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Region 3 (Midwest Harmony) holds its contest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Region 16 (Lake Ontario) gathers in Pickering, Ontario. Region 26 (Canadian Maple Leaf) competes in Edmonton, Alberta.

May 7-10, Region 1 (North Atlantic) holds its regional in Springfield, Massachusetts, with a webcast available by donation. That same weekend, Region 31 (Quartet of Nations) and Region 32 (Nordic Light) come together for a joint international convention in Manchester, United Kingdom, drawing competitors from across Europe and Scandinavia.

The final wave of regional contests runs May 14-17 across four continents. Region 12 (Pacific Shores) competes in Sparks, Nevada. Region 17 (Great Lakes Harmony) holds its contest in Erie, Pennsylvania, with a webcast available. Region 9 (Coastal Harmony) competes in Kissimmee, Florida. Region 34 (Southern Cross) takes the stage in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, streaming for 20 Australian dollars. Region 35 (New Zealand) competes in Palmerston North.

Every regional contest this spring is a qualifying event. The road to Columbus runs through all of them. Full details, orders of appearance, and webcast information for each region are available at sweetadelines.com.