Masters of Harmony

The Masters of Harmony’s 30th Anniversary Year continues to be a year of memorable events as well as reflection on past successes, what made them possible, and thoughtful reassessment of what it will take to continue performing at the highest possible level. The Masters 2015 mantra “You Have What It Takes” is guiding that reassessment and recent audiences seem to agree!

On May 9, the Masters successfully handled the dual task of hosting and competing in the combined Southeast/Southwest Divisional Chorus Contest at Santa Monica High School. Thanks to the skillful planning of Convention Co-Chairmen Bill Rosica and Doug Price, as attested to by FWD Events Chairman Bryan Forbes, contest activities ran smoothly. The Southwest Division Seniors Quartet Contest winner, Blood, Sweat & Years, featured two MOH members, Les Weiser and Bob Cathaway. Scheduling the Masters of Harmony as the last chorus competitor allowed a number of MOH members time to perform with other choruses before rejoining the Masters on stage. MOH won the Southwest Division Chorus Contest with a score of 90.9%.

The 2015 Annual Spring Show Flashback was a superbly staged paean to three decades of standing ovation performances. Those entering the Carpenter Performing Arts Theater were greeted by a display of trophies, memorabilia, gold-medal banners and costumes worn on each of the eight MOH international championship performances. The theater was alive with eager anticipation and, over the next two hours, the near-capacity audience rewarded the performers with loud, sustained applause. A special video presentation titled “Memorable MOH-ments” presented each trophy winning performance in stunning detail. The current chorus then recreated some of those moments in a Gold Medal Medley arranged by Kenny Potter. The crowd-pleasing musicality of American Pastime (Tom Moore, Joe D’Amore, Steve Pence, Graham Pence) showed why this foursome has become a very worthy International quartet competitor. Featured guest quartet Lunch Break gave the audience a comedic performance it will long remember, providing some of the longest, most sustained laughter ever heard on a Masters stage.

Thanks to tireless behind-the-scenes work by Lake Arrowhead resident and chorus member Arbe Kraft, the Masters performed in Lake Arrowhead’s Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. The chorus thrilled an audience of about 400 in front of a huge glass window that framed some of the majestic beauty of this lakeside community. The acoustic quality of the church sanctuary area was superb, allowing the chorus and each of the three performing quartets - Masterpiece, The Newfangled Four, American Pastime - to fill the sanctuary with world-class harmony.

Special congratulations go to our barbershop brothers from Westminster who brought the Pittsburgh house down with a gold-medal performance that scored a stunning 97.5! MOH quartets competing in Pittsburgh represented the FWD well. Top MOH finisher was The Crush with emeritus member Matt Gray.

Both The Newfangled Four (Joey Buss, Jackson Niebrugge, Ryan Wisniewski, Jake Tickner) and American Pastime (Graham Pence, Steve Pence, Tom Moore, Joe D’Amore) gave improved performances that bode well for their future contest appearances. Flightline (Oscar Sotelo, Daniel Huitt, Cody Littlefield, Kyle Williamson) finished 5th in the Collegiate Quartet Contest and 30th in the open contest.

On Saturday, July 18, chorus member Dickson Chen married his fiancé Jungmi Kim in a beautiful ceremony at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Pasadena. Over 50 of his chorus brothers performed a mini-concert at the post-wedding reception. The wedding and reception were webcast, making it possible for Jungmi’s many relatives and friends in Korea to witness the event. Thank you, Dickson and Jungmi, for sharing your special days with us and for allowing us to surround you and your guests, here and overseas, with beautiful barbershop harmony!

It is with sadness that the Masters noted the passing of emeritus Jim Throgmorton, winner of four gold medals during his 27 years with the Masters and of former member James Sabina, tenor of Metropolis and winner of two gold medals during his 14 years with the chorus.

Since the last issue of Westunes, we welcomed Jesse Davidson into membership at a special badge ceremony. Three applicants – Bob Hartwig, Lucas Purcell and David Rivas – received board approval but have yet to be badged.