Masters of Harmony Update - Fall 2011
In October, members of the Santa Fe Springs Chapter elected 13 men to serve as their 2012 Board of Directors. These men plus Immediate Past President Kirt Thiesmeyer will direct official chorus responses to the unique challenges of an International Championship year, a year that will include hosting the Far Western District’s 2012 Spring Convention in Ontario, California. Bill Rosica returns as chapter president; AJ Manker will serve as secretary and Jussi Ratsula as treasurer. Ray Johnson, Jake Bailey, Joe D’Amore, and Gary Stone will serve as vice presidents in charge of vital chapter functions. The six board members-at-large include Ron Andreas, Tom Christman, Dain Goad, Rich Owen, Graham Pence, and Bill Power. All will be installed at the Annual Awards and Installation Banquet in January 2012.
Three days after the election, the Masters of Harmony, outgoing Far Western District Champion Chorus and current International Champion Chorus, performed a swan song set late in a Saturday filled with Far Western District Convention chorus and quartet competitions. The set included the contest package that made the Masters the International Champion Chorus for the 8th consecutive time. Many who filled Fresno’s beautifully appointed William Saroyan Theater had not seen the Masters of Harmony perform in Kansas City and with their sustained enthusiastic applause, expressed the pride felt throughout the District at having the chorus gold medal back in our district for another year. Four quartets with Masters members finished in the top ten: Tenacious Q (2nd), Don’t Tell Mom (4th), Velvet Frogs (6th) and Midnight Madness (7th). Men from the MOH family directed three of the choruses competing in Fresno: Gary Steinkamp (3rd place Spirit of Phoenix); John Brockman (Riverside’s 7th place The New Gang on the Corner); and Craig Ewing (Fullerton’s 10th place Orange Empire Chorus). Other Masters men with important convention roles were renowned Production Manager, Doug Maddox, and in the judges’ pit, Ken Potter. Sean Devine gave a rousing speech to the House of Delegates on behalf of Harmony Foundation. He presented MOH with the largest of the checks handed out to various chapters for notable participation in the program that is helping ensure the long-term viability of our Society.
Special congratulations go to our sisters in harmony, Harborlites Chorus, who rehearse in Anaheim, just a few miles down the road from Santa Fe Springs. The Harborlites were one of two dozen Barbershop Harmony Society and Sweet Adelines International groups competing on the Gospel Music Channel’s eight-week contest show, America Sings!, this summer. Harborlites won the contest and its grand prize of $10,000. Congratulations to our sister chorus for taking our hobby to a new audience so successfully!
Continuing an innovation started over a year ago, anyone wishing to attend a MOH performance can go to the MOH website and select specific seats through our online ticket ordering program. Patrons can order tickets using all major credit cards through PayPal or by mailing a check to the Masters of Harmony.
Three days after the election, the Masters of Harmony, outgoing Far Western District Champion Chorus and current International Champion Chorus, performed a swan song set late in a Saturday filled with Far Western District Convention chorus and quartet competitions. The set included the contest package that made the Masters the International Champion Chorus for the 8th consecutive time. Many who filled Fresno’s beautifully appointed William Saroyan Theater had not seen the Masters of Harmony perform in Kansas City and with their sustained enthusiastic applause, expressed the pride felt throughout the District at having the chorus gold medal back in our district for another year. Four quartets with Masters members finished in the top ten: Tenacious Q (2nd), Don’t Tell Mom (4th), Velvet Frogs (6th) and Midnight Madness (7th). Men from the MOH family directed three of the choruses competing in Fresno: Gary Steinkamp (3rd place Spirit of Phoenix); John Brockman (Riverside’s 7th place The New Gang on the Corner); and Craig Ewing (Fullerton’s 10th place Orange Empire Chorus). Other Masters men with important convention roles were renowned Production Manager, Doug Maddox, and in the judges’ pit, Ken Potter. Sean Devine gave a rousing speech to the House of Delegates on behalf of Harmony Foundation. He presented MOH with the largest of the checks handed out to various chapters for notable participation in the program that is helping ensure the long-term viability of our Society.
Special congratulations go to our sisters in harmony, Harborlites Chorus, who rehearse in Anaheim, just a few miles down the road from Santa Fe Springs. The Harborlites were one of two dozen Barbershop Harmony Society and Sweet Adelines International groups competing on the Gospel Music Channel’s eight-week contest show, America Sings!, this summer. Harborlites won the contest and its grand prize of $10,000. Congratulations to our sister chorus for taking our hobby to a new audience so successfully!
Continuing an innovation started over a year ago, anyone wishing to attend a MOH performance can go to the MOH website and select specific seats through our online ticket ordering program. Patrons can order tickets using all major credit cards through PayPal or by mailing a check to the Masters of Harmony.
