Singing Double Wins NextGen Junior Quartet Contest

In 2019, the Barbershop Harmony Society expanded their youth offerings to include the Next Generation Junior Quartet Contest and Chorus Invitational. Aside from shining a light on the youngest barbershoppers – those 18 and younger – it was also the first international contest open to all genders.

In its second year, the Junior Quartet Contest has grown beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. The robust field of 15 competing groups showcased a jaw-dropping amount of talent from teenagers from around the country. While only 3 medals were awarded, every group was greeted with a near deafening standing ovation. You couldn’t find a more welcoming and enthusiastic sold out crowd anywhere.

Each group performed one song for a panel of judges on a similar rubric to other BHS contests, but out of a total score of 35. This year’s judges were Renee Tramack (Singing), a two-time Harmony Queen and Director of New England Voices in Harmony, Sandi Wright (Performance), a Queen of Harmony, Director of St..Louis Vocal Project, and a certified judge and director in SAI, HI, and BHS, and David Wright (Music), the Associate Director of the Ambassadors of Harmony and arguably the most sought after arranger in all of barbershop.

With the scores tallied, BHS awarded their first ever gold medal to a women’s quartet – Singing Double. Singing Double earned a score of 22.2, to top a field of quartets that were so talented,  the full room of seasoned barbershoppers simultaneously felt challenged by this new crop of singers, while also being excited about the future of the art form.

Singing the jazz standard My Foolish Heart, Singing Double sang with incredible poise, impeccable blend, and a true display of talent, well beyond their years.They will be the first women to have their picture hung on the wall of champions at Harmony Hall in Nashville.

This quartet, comprised of 2 sets of twins, is coached by the legendary Debbie Cleveland, a lifelong music education, a two-time Queen of Harmony, and the 2018 recipient of the BHS NAfME Educator of the Year Award. Cleveland was also this year’s Midwinter Keynote Speaker.

In second places was yet another women’s quartet, Best Sellers. This Onalaska, WI quartet scored a 19.8 to earn the silver. With a score of 19.6, Atchison, KS-based mixed Quartet, Default, took home the bronze medal.

The audience was also treated to performances by the inaugural Next Gen Junior Quartet Champions, The Quin-Tones, the NextGen Varsity Quartet Champions, Wildfire, and the 2019 Sweet Adelines Rising Star Champions, Duly Noted.

After a quick break, the convention moved to the Florida Theatre for and Opening Night Showcase with performances by Singing Double, The Quin-Tones, Wildfire, and Duly Noted, as well as 5th place medalist quartet, Midtown, and 2019 International Champions, Signature.

Today, the Convention turns their attention to the choruses, as both the Junior and Senior Choruses will spend the day on stage at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, highlighting the talents of the oldest and youngest members of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

New Tunesday – The Summer Wrap-Up

While we were out enjoy the sun, the sand, the surf, and all of the other spoils of summer, the titans of a cappella still churned out some great new music. Here are the highlights:

Pentatonix

There were a lot of mixed feelings about the Lion King remake, but there no questioning the PTX take on this classic song off the soundtrack.

BYU Vocal Point

Not to be outdone, the men of Vocal Point released their own Lion King harmonies with their cover of Circle of Life.

MICappella

It was a busy summer as always for these Singapore superstars and rumor has it there will be even more music coming soon. Get your abbreviated Chinese music history lesson now.

N’Harmonics

It is almost time to submit your applications for the 2020 ICCA season. Be inspired by the set from the 2019 champions.

Nor’Easters

They may not have made an ICCA appearance last season, but these collegiate powerhouses did take their talents to Memphis to win the NACC Collegiate Competition.

m-Pact

There’s never a bad time for Earth, Wind & Fire, especially not when covered by m-Pact, who we can’t wait to see in November for the m-Pact Vocal Festival in Kansas City.

From The Roots

SING! Texas is just around the corner, but not before you can relive this gem of an original written by Hannah Lewis.

Plus, they released another new original “Broke My Window.”

Midtown

This year’s BHS International 5th place medalists have been making quite a slash with their music videos. Have a little fun with this cover from the Goofy Movie, a follow up to their Spiderman Theme Song.

Pitch Slapped

If this is how the ladies of Pitch Slapped are kicking off the new year, we’ve got a lot more amazing music coming our way.

New England Voices in Harmony

Harmony, Inc. unleashed part of the winning set from the 2018 International Champions. Enjoy “I See The Light” arranged by Kevin Keller.

New Tunesday – June 25, 2019

Clearly, there’s no slowing down a cappella this summer. Set aside a good deal of time to catch up on all of the great new music we found this week!

The Filharmonic

A Sing-Off favorite brings us a Jonas Brothers cover for a little summer fun – live.

Business Casual

This Bay Area group is on a monumental rise, and this new video featuring their original tune “Ain’t No Way” is just another step at the top.

N’Harmonics

The final installment from their winning ICCA set, the reigning champions mixed modern with classical to wow the audience.

Vadé

This group wins over our hearts more and more with each video.

Postyr

Capturing the sentiment wrapped up in family scattered around the world, this futurist Danish quartet continues to blaze forward.

New England Voices in Harmony

Harmony, Inc. has unleashed a treasure trove of videos from the 2018 International Contests, including this one featuring the chorus gold medalists.

Zero8

Need to hear something spectacular? How about one of the world’s best barbershop choruses fronted by one of the world’s best barbershop quartets singing something from one of the world’s best barbershop arrangers? Ok, then.

Midtown

With BHS International in Salt Lake City just around the corner, we were thrilled to get a little peek at one of the world’s top quartets through this clever video.

MVP 

This quintet out of Australia keeps us well stocked in fun content – party along with their latest release.

Flow

The fascinating art of pop rock a cappella choirs makes everything a bit more interesting. What would you do with this many voices?

Mendicants

The group responsible for bringing the legend that is Bill Hare into the a cappella fold back in 1988 and many years later, the relationship still stands.

Crimson & Slate

The Colorado a cappella scene is growing and mighty.  Enjoy this throwback video with an arrangement by Johanna Vinson.

The Lost Keys

Who doesn’t love a classic Elvis tune every once in a while?

Council Rock High School South Vocal Ensemble

While we’re on lovable guilty pleasures, here’s a spot on cover of the music of Phineas & Ferb,