Masters of Harmony Update – Spring 2012
The Masters of Harmony’s latest CD, “The Dream Is Carried On,” honors a relationship that spawned and nurtured The Westminster Chorus. Westminster took that spirit further when a group of its members, led by Joey Buss, decided to create an even younger youth-oriented chorus. Joey’s music team recruited members from local Orange County high schools, Youth in Harmony events, and by word of mouth. The new ensemble adopted the name Boom Town Chorus and grew to 23 members ranging in age from 13 to 26 with an average age of 18. Eight of the members are current or past members of Westminster and/or MOH, and they mentored the young men as section and assistant section leaders. In October 2011, chorus rehearsals focused on competing in the International Youth Barbershop Chorus Festival in Tucson, Arizona, in January 2012. The Harmony Foundation and other donors provided needed financial support. Under Joey’s leadership, the Boom Town Chorus won the Plateau A chorus competition with a score of 75.9, the only Plateau A chorus to earn a “Superior” score from the judges. Congratulations to you, Joey, and to the young men you directed!
One month later, the Masters held the 12th Annual Young Men’s Harmony Festival at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. This year’s event drew 203 young men from 19 high schools and one middle school throughout Southern California. More than 70% of the attendees were first-timers, while 30% were repeat attendees. With expert coaching from OC Times and Dave Tautkus, Jason Remley and Ken Potter, the students worked all day to get ready for their part in an evening show that included Tenacious Q, The Crush, Boom Town Chorus, OC Times and the Masters of Harmony. For the show finale, 275 singers crowded the risers to sing a rousing rendition of “America the Beautiful/Overlay.” The result was a long, loud standing ovation from the audience of parents, families, teachers and friends. This year’s event brings the 12-year attendance total to well over 2,700 students who have participated in one or more youth festivals. Once again, special congratulations go to Youth Festival Coordinator Mark Freedkin. Over the years, Mark’s many hours of organizing work have made this event a great success, one now a model for similar events all around the country. Who knows how many of these young men will be inspired by this experience to join youth choruses like the Boom Town Chorus and someday, to Society chapters around the country? This festival and others like it are how we can make sure “The Dream is Carried On!”
In March, the Masters of Harmony performed for the eleventh time on the Calimesa Community Concert Series. This year, the series moved from the familiar Mesa Grande Academy Auditorium in Calimesa to a new, permanent home in the University of Redlands Memorial Chapel. The beautiful ambiance of the chapel was the perfect place to perpetuate a musical love affair that has been bringing the Masters of Harmony and Calimesa concert audiences together for over 20 years.
Three weeks later, the Masters of Harmony hosted the Far Western District Spring Convention in Ontario, California. For the first time, the convention was combined with the Southwest and Southeast divisionals and it resulted in the largest attendance for a Spring Convention in the last 10 years. The MOH experience gained hosting two past International Conventions (1999 and 2009, both in Anaheim) was brought to bear on the larger-than-usual logistics involved in convention hosting duties, and the consensus is that this year’s Spring Convention was a successful one.
The Santa Fe Springs Chapter was honored at the House of Delegates meeting for its high level of donations to Harmony Foundation, and Mark Freedkin was announced as dedicatee for the FWD Fall Convention to be held in Mesa, Arizona, in October. MOH quartets Masterpiece and The Crush took first and second place, respectively, in the Prelims, and the Harmadillos won the Collegiate Quartet Contest. The Westminster Chorus won the Southeast Divisional Chorus Contest. Five MOHers directed choruses – Craig Ewing (Fullerton), Kelly Shepard (Rincon Beach), John Brockman (Riverside), Martin Fredstrom (South Orange County), and Justin Miller (Westminster).
In April, the Masters of Harmony presented their annual spring shows at the Downey Civic Theatre. It was a “bitter-sweet” experience for the MOH family since it was the last local performance by Mark Hale as MOH director. However, the Masters rose to the occasion with performances that thoroughly entertained the near-capacity audiences. The shows started with a unique format – that of a small town radio show with radio-type commercials, creatively produced by Gary Stone and harmonized by the American Pastime quartet. In his role as “disc jockey,” Jeff Baker captivated the audience as he introduced “jingle” singers hawking make-believe local products. One of the highlights of the MOH portion of the shows was the introduction of a new Hoagy Carmichael Medley, beautifully arranged by Rob Campbell and featuring soloists and a quartet. Masterpiece showed the audience why it is a top contender for International Quartet Gold, and the zany antics of Tenacious Q wowed the audiences in its own clownish style.
It is with great sadness that the Masters note the passing of two of their beloved members, Mark Feiner and Terry Blood.
Since the last edition of Westunes, Ed Churchill (bass), Foster Howlett (bass) and Taylor Price (lead) have become members of the Masters of Harmony.
One month later, the Masters held the 12th Annual Young Men’s Harmony Festival at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. This year’s event drew 203 young men from 19 high schools and one middle school throughout Southern California. More than 70% of the attendees were first-timers, while 30% were repeat attendees. With expert coaching from OC Times and Dave Tautkus, Jason Remley and Ken Potter, the students worked all day to get ready for their part in an evening show that included Tenacious Q, The Crush, Boom Town Chorus, OC Times and the Masters of Harmony. For the show finale, 275 singers crowded the risers to sing a rousing rendition of “America the Beautiful/Overlay.” The result was a long, loud standing ovation from the audience of parents, families, teachers and friends. This year’s event brings the 12-year attendance total to well over 2,700 students who have participated in one or more youth festivals. Once again, special congratulations go to Youth Festival Coordinator Mark Freedkin. Over the years, Mark’s many hours of organizing work have made this event a great success, one now a model for similar events all around the country. Who knows how many of these young men will be inspired by this experience to join youth choruses like the Boom Town Chorus and someday, to Society chapters around the country? This festival and others like it are how we can make sure “The Dream is Carried On!”
In March, the Masters of Harmony performed for the eleventh time on the Calimesa Community Concert Series. This year, the series moved from the familiar Mesa Grande Academy Auditorium in Calimesa to a new, permanent home in the University of Redlands Memorial Chapel. The beautiful ambiance of the chapel was the perfect place to perpetuate a musical love affair that has been bringing the Masters of Harmony and Calimesa concert audiences together for over 20 years.
Three weeks later, the Masters of Harmony hosted the Far Western District Spring Convention in Ontario, California. For the first time, the convention was combined with the Southwest and Southeast divisionals and it resulted in the largest attendance for a Spring Convention in the last 10 years. The MOH experience gained hosting two past International Conventions (1999 and 2009, both in Anaheim) was brought to bear on the larger-than-usual logistics involved in convention hosting duties, and the consensus is that this year’s Spring Convention was a successful one.
The Santa Fe Springs Chapter was honored at the House of Delegates meeting for its high level of donations to Harmony Foundation, and Mark Freedkin was announced as dedicatee for the FWD Fall Convention to be held in Mesa, Arizona, in October. MOH quartets Masterpiece and The Crush took first and second place, respectively, in the Prelims, and the Harmadillos won the Collegiate Quartet Contest. The Westminster Chorus won the Southeast Divisional Chorus Contest. Five MOHers directed choruses – Craig Ewing (Fullerton), Kelly Shepard (Rincon Beach), John Brockman (Riverside), Martin Fredstrom (South Orange County), and Justin Miller (Westminster).
In April, the Masters of Harmony presented their annual spring shows at the Downey Civic Theatre. It was a “bitter-sweet” experience for the MOH family since it was the last local performance by Mark Hale as MOH director. However, the Masters rose to the occasion with performances that thoroughly entertained the near-capacity audiences. The shows started with a unique format – that of a small town radio show with radio-type commercials, creatively produced by Gary Stone and harmonized by the American Pastime quartet. In his role as “disc jockey,” Jeff Baker captivated the audience as he introduced “jingle” singers hawking make-believe local products. One of the highlights of the MOH portion of the shows was the introduction of a new Hoagy Carmichael Medley, beautifully arranged by Rob Campbell and featuring soloists and a quartet. Masterpiece showed the audience why it is a top contender for International Quartet Gold, and the zany antics of Tenacious Q wowed the audiences in its own clownish style.
It is with great sadness that the Masters note the passing of two of their beloved members, Mark Feiner and Terry Blood.
Since the last edition of Westunes, Ed Churchill (bass), Foster Howlett (bass) and Taylor Price (lead) have become members of the Masters of Harmony.
