FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2008

THE AMBASSADORS OF HARMONY and CROSSROADS Quartet TAKE SILVER MEDALS AT INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

The Ambassadors of Harmony Perform at Nashville Competition
(Photo Courtesy of Jayne Morden)

NASHVILLE - The Ambassadors of Harmony, a St. Charles-based barbershop chorus of 164 singers, placed a very close second to win the Silver Medal at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 70th annual international contest in Nashville, Tennessee. They missed first place by less than half of one percentage point, and delivered a performance that earned two standing ovations from the crowd of about 10,000 people.

Twenty-eight qualifying choruses from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia competed at the Sommet Center arena in Nashville. The competition also drew about 51 competing quartets from around the world.

Crossroads Competes in Nashville (Photo Courtesy of Jayne Morden)

Crossroads Quartet, a new quartet affiliated with the Ambassadors of Harmony Chorus, earned the Silver Medal in the three rounds of quartet competition also held at the Sommet Center. The quartet features Fred Farrell - Tenor, Mike Slamka - Lead, Jim Henry, the Director of the Ambassadors of Harmony - Bass, and Brandon Guyton - Baritone. All four singers hold Gold Medals from past competitions with other quartets.

Fred Farrell - Second Edition
Mike Slamka - Power Play
Jim Henry - The Gas House Gang
Brandon Guyton - Four Voices

Crossroads raised their standing in each round of the competition, receiving the top score in the final round on Saturday evening. More information about them can be found at CrossroadsQuartet.com

On Friday, under the direction of Dr. Jim Henry, The Ambassadors of Harmony sang a moving two-song set that included George and Ira Gershwin's "Love Walked In". The chorus also performed a choreographed and joyful version of a two song medley, "Get Me To the Church on Time", by Lerner & Lowe, from the musical My Fair Lady; and "This Joint is Jumpin' " by Andy Razaf, J.C. Johnson, and Thomas "Fats" Waller. Both numbers were arranged by Dr. David Wright.

The group has finished in the top five choruses 12 times since it began performing in international contests in 1989, including a Gold Medal and two Silver Medals in their last three International Contests. The annual competition is hosted by the Barbershop Harmony Society, an organization of more than 30,000 singers in more than 800 chapters in North America.

Barbershop music is a uniquely American art form. It is known for its four-part harmony and the “expanded sound” created by its unique chord structure. It shares roots with gospel and jazz and is part of the continuum of American music.

Upcoming shows for the Ambassadors of Harmony include its annual holiday performance, "Sounds of the Season - 2008" Dec. 12-14 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. Tickets will go on sale in September. Groups of 20 or more may reserve tickets now by calling the Touhill Ticket Office at 314-516-4949.