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May 2008                Archive | Ads | Submissions | Links          Online Edition #5


Guardians of Harmony Chorus Champs


Lansing Chapter Secretary/Treasurer, Former District President Larry Parker presented it to the smiling GoH President Dave Anderson.  Then Dave and co-director Glen Hipple held the trophy up for all to see as it towered above their heads. 

Saturday afternoon Pioneer District Chorus Finals April 26th were opened by Pioneer District President Jim Kunz.  Then a few words by Chorus Contest Presenter Tom McCoy. 

Mic testers were the open volunteer Joe Barbershop Chorus directed by Joe Liles. 

Guardians of Harmony of Macomb County co-directed by Al Fisk and Glen Hipple won PIO Chorus Champion and Plateau 1 Champion scoring 887. 

Great Lakes Chorus of Grand Rapids directed by Curt Struyk scored 795. 

Town & Country Chorus of Hillsdale directed by Don Slamka won Plateau 2 Champion scoring 789. 

Gentlemen Songsters of Detroit-Oakland directed by Steve Sutherland scored 744. 

Cereal City Chorus of Battle Creek directed by Rob Halsey scored 725. 

Cherry Capital Chorus of Traverse City directed by Jeff Cobb won Plateau 3 Champion scoring 724. 

Lakeshore Chorus of Grosse Pointe directed by Steve Pauling scored 714. 

Kalamazoo Barbershop Chorus of Kalamazoo directed by Dave Woolf scored 697. 

Big Chief Chorus of Pontiac-Waterford directed by Thomas Blue scored 644. 

Arrowhead Chorus of Flint directed by David Longroy scored 612. 

Sun Parlour Chorus of Windsor directed by Dan Bezaire scored 599. 



Chorus Champ Trophy

New Chorus Champ Trophy
(click image for album)


Spring conventions don't just determine the quartet contests like International Quartet Representative. 

At Battle Creek Michigan's newly renovated W.K. Kellogg Auditorium Saturday morning and noon April 26th 11 choruses competed for District Chorus Champion.  In addition Mt. Pleasant and Lansing choruses performed but since they both won Chorus Champion within the last two years they were ineligible so had unpublished scores, singing for evaluation only. 

This 2008 Pioneer District Chorus Champion was Macomb County Guardians of Harmony co-directed by Al Fisk and Glen Hipple.  This was their first run for Champs after taking the required two years off since winning it in 2005.  The chorus' music dazzled along with the gold neckties they wore with black suit jackets, shirts, and pants. 

After Lansing's Capitol City Chordsmen had won Chorus Champion in 1973 they had purchased a trophy cup to be passed on to winning choruses.  This year Lansing took the opportunity to retire that trophy that had over the years become dented and scratched.  As the old cup stood in a place of honor on a pedestal beside the speaker podium, a three foot tall custom wood case was rolled out onto the stage in front of the Guardians of Harmony chorus and opened to reveal the tall new Chorus Champion Trophy. 
Announcing the winners was Chorus Director Development Jim Ryan. 

Each chorus director was called out on stage and all were lined up with Former District President Raleigh Bloch presenting the plaques for the Plateau and District Champions.

After chorus evaluations and a break the evening quartet competition was held.  Once the quartet competitions were over awards were presented but they weren't all competition awards. 

Quoting Ron Seely the from 2006 May print Troubadour article, The First Van Tassell Winners, "(QCA Mission Statement) 'To provide quality barbershop entertainment, to encourage formation and coaching to quartet and to educate audiences in the art form of barbershop harmony'.  In addition to that challenge, we felt that certain individuals should be recognized as outstanding in helping us serve the mission." Saturday night after quartet competitions QCA President and last year winner of the Legacy Award, Russ Seely gave a touching speech and then presented the 2008 Glenn Van Tassell Legacy Award to Macomb County Guardians of Harmony Director Al Fisk.  Left to say a few words the overwhelmed honoree gazed at the plaque then out into the audience and mustered up a heartfelt thank you before beating a quick retreat. 

The evening competition ended with Master of Ceremonies and Former District President Doran McTaggart directing the audience to Keep The Whole World Singing. 

But the night was just getting started as many went to the McCamly Plaza Hotel District and Chapter Hospitality Rooms for drinks, food, fellowship and barbershop singing into the wee small hours. 
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