By Angie Morton
It’s been a month since we have been together as a chorus. That’s just the way it goes when it is not ‘Ranch’ season and we live all over Ontario. Although the last time we were together was in Munich Germany, a long way from home!
It is our first practice since being back from the first World Mixed Barbershop Chorus contest hosted by BinG! in Munich, Germany at the beginning of April 2018. It seems to be all the entire chorus is talking about, those that went are still on the high from the experience and those that unfortunately did not join us are enjoying the great stories and memories we all came home with and telling us how proud they are.
Most of the members that went to the contest also took advantage of being in Munich to do some touring as well. So there are stories about travel to and from, trips before and after to surrounding areas and the beautiful sites of Munich, from Olympic Park to the English Garden and beer gardens, the Glockenspiel where a group of us sang Hallelujah, the Hop On, Hop Off bus, the markets and Nymphenburg Palace, just to name a few. And of course the beer, we are after all friends and family from Harmony Ranch and it only seems fitting since the idea for the chorus was developed over a beer (or two).
Everything that we had heard about Munich and the BinG! contest were all true and so much more. Munich is a beautiful city, even the subway is fun to ride and get lost on. BinG! is well known for holding an amazing barbershop contest, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. The Welcome Party was a great time with beer, pretzels, dancing and whips (of course). The shows during the weekend were fantastic, this year featuring Heavy Medal, Linq, New Harvest Singers, T-Sing, Double Date, Newfangled Four and Ronninge Show Chorus. The afterglows are definitely a must do and don’t even think about looking at the clock as it will be the wee hours of the morning when you are getting kicked out of the venue still singing tags and making new friends, a great tagging experience.
The Gasteig itself was a beautiful venue and although the stage was big and overwhelming we made the best of it by walking onto the stage in our groups of family and friends to the sound of loud cheers from our small entourage of family and of course 3rd Place World Mixed Quartet, Ripple Effect. We are very grateful to those that could join us as well as those that supported us at home and of course our director Derek Stevens for waving his arms for us and reminding us that we should watch those arms.
We had 4 months of constant fund raising as it is not an easy feat to get 30 people from Canada to Germany nor is it cheap. We would like to thank all those that participated in our fundraising events, MacGregor Meat sales, t-shirt and bracelet sales, Paint Event, Send off party. We also like to thank the people who donated money online or through a chorus member, Ontario District Western Division members for their donations and allowing us to sing for them, The Agency for their contribution, the members of Harmony Ranch for their donation from the circle monies and Sing Canada Harmony for the grant that we received. We would also like to thank Ontario District for hosting the Mixed Chorus Contest last fall, sanctioned by the Mixed Barbershop Harmony Association (MBHA) which allowed us to qualify to be invited to compete at the first World Mixed Barbershop Chorus Contest in BinG! And of course, our coaches, Robert Ross and Dave Campbell. Without all of this support this trip would not have been possible.
The whole weekend was such a great experience for all of the members. We spent more time getting to know each other better and creating bonds that will last a life time. Some of the highlights from the members include our rehearsals in the very ringy dance studio, to singing our contest package outside in the courtyard and then singing a Polecat with Adelaide Allsorts Harmony Chorus, the mixed chorus from Australia, who was using the same rehearsal space as us. This seems to be one of the chorus’s favourite memories of shaking hands with the members of the other chorus as we shared a song. It was just as barbershop is meant to be, the fellowship that this hobby brings, the close camaraderie that develops no matter where you are from.
It is overwhelming the pride and joy that members of Baldwin Blend share in having shared the contest stage with their friends and family. It was an experience of a lifetime to sing with your father, daughter, wife, husband, grandmother and most of all friends on an international stage. Placing 4th in the world just adds to the experience. We have all become ‘attached’ to each other in the experience and the music that we create together and the laughter and fun we always seem to have as a group no matter whether it is on stage, at rehearsal or just hanging out.
There are a lot of new members in our chorus and some old as well and the new members have got to experience the bond that barbershop creates and older members have started on a new barbershop journey and everyone is finding it very rewarding, fulfilling and are grateful to be a part of the journey we are on as a chorus, where ever it may take us. Maybe even back to Germany!
It was an honour to be the Canadian representative from the Mixed Barbershop Harmony Association (MBHA) at the first World Mixed Barbershop Chorus Contest. All in all, a true gold medal moment for Baldwin Blend.