2011 Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention

Another BHS International Convention came to a close today, and what a great convention it was. There were actually three contests – Collegiate Quartet Contest, International Chorus Contest, International Quartet Contest – and plenty of extra shows and events.

Collegiate Quartet Contest

Prestige - 2011 Collegiate Quartet Champion

There were 21 collegiate quartets that qualified for the Collegiate Quartet Contest. The winners (their BHS districts are in parenthesis) – the first five places medaled – and their scores were:

1. Prestige (JAD) – 81.4
2. The Vigilantes (DIX) – 80.2
3. After Hours (ILL) – 78.5
4. Expedition (LOL) – 77.0
5. HHHHHHHHHHHHHH (EVG) – 76.4

International Quartet Contest

Old School - 2011 International Quartet Champion

There were 52 quartets that qualified for the International Quartet Contest. Everyone pretty much knew who was going to win as long as they didn't screw up, and the contest came out pretty much as expected. The five medalist quartets were:

1. Old School (MAD) – 89.9
2. Musical Island Boys (NZABS) – 88.5
3. Masterpiece (FWD) – 87.3
4. A Mighty Wind (DIX) – 87.0
5. Main Street (SUN) – 85.8

There were a couple of new quartets in this year's contest that I really liked: Ignition! from the Rocky Mountain District, Da Capo from the Mid-Atlantic District, and The Franchise from the Johnny Appleseed District. All in all, I thought the contest was very good, although the singing was not as good as it was in either 2009 or 2010.

International Chorus Contest

That were 30 choruses that qualified for this year's contest. I was a little disappointed in that the best chorus that qualified chose to not compete this year. The Vocal Majority from Dallas was the number one seeded chorus, but decided to sit out this year to work on recordings and to transition to a new director. If they had been in the competition, the results would have been different. Of course, that's just my opinion, but the VM scored a 97.1 last year and finished 2^nd to Westminister. I think they would probably have scored higher than any of the other choruses had they competed. The top five choruses were:

1. Masters of Harmony (FWD) – 94.3
2. Great Northern Union (LOL – 94.1
3. ** The Northern Lights (ONT) – 91.1
4. ** Sound of the Rockies (RMD) – 91.1
5. Alexandria Harmonizers (MAD) – 88.8

Toronto Northern Lights and the Sound of the Rockies actually tied for 3^rd place, so no medal was awarded for fourth this year.

2012 International Convention

The 2012 convention will be in Portland, OR, and promises to be another great gathering of quartets and choruses. If you've never been to a barbershop convention, it's quite an experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a cappella singing.

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