Ambassadors of Harmony win barbershop gold
The 160-voice Ambassadors of Harmony, a St. Charles-based barbershop chorus, won the gold medal over 28 competing groups at the international Barbershop Harmony Society’s 71st annual convention in Anaheim, Cal.
The Ambassadors had the Society’s all-time highest score: 2,926 points, out of a possible 3,000. They also beat the contest’s favorites, 11-time gold medal-winning chorus, Dallas-based Vocal Majority, which took the silver with a score of 2,889. Contest rules require first-place winners to take three years off from the competition.
The Ambassadors, lead by Jim Henry, choral music director at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, previously took the gold in 2004, and the silver in 2007 and 2008.
Two members of this year’s gold medal quartet, Crossroads, sing with the Ambassadors: Jim Henry, on bass, and Brandon Guyton, baritone. The other members, tenor Fred Farrell and lead singer Mike Slamka, live elsewhere but are affiliated with the Ambassadors.
Congratulations to the Ambassadors of Harmony! I saw their recent show at the Touhill and it was amazing.
St. Louis has reason to be proud.
If you have never seen these guys perform, do yourself a favor and get tickets to their holiday show! They are fantastic! I need not address those who have seen them - they’ll be going back!
Ditto to everything in the previous comment. Each concert blows us away. Just when we think we’ve seen the best ever, they outdo themselves. Jim Henry’s direction and leadership are spectacular. David Wright’s arrangements are stirring and memorable. We are fortunate indeed to have such a treasure in our community.
Leah Rubin