Last night, the Association of Past Ontario Champs (APOC) hosted its annual Pep Rally—an inspiring evening devoted to supporting the Ontario District’s competitors heading to the International Barbershop Competition in Denver, Colorado, next month. This year’s gathering was a lively celebration of harmony, tradition, and camaraderie, fueling excitement for our district’s upcoming performances on the international stage.
The night opened with a touching performance by the APOC Chorus, featuring “There’ll Be No New Tunes on this Old Piano.” This musical tribute honored BHS Hall-of-Famer George Shields and the 1965 East York Barbershoppers, who famously earned 3rd place in that year’s International Quartet Contest under Shields’s direction.
Serving as the evening’s charismatic host, Pat Brown kept the crowd of over 200 attendees thoroughly engaged. The program included performances by eight quartets and five choruses, each offering their distinct brand of barbershop harmony and flair, much to the delight of the audience.
A standout moment came with the presentation of the 2023 Jeff Pritchard Outstanding Quartetter Award, bestowed upon Derek Stevens. This award is given to long-standing Ontario District quartetters who embody the spirit of Jeff Pritchard: gentlemanly conduct, humility, passion for barbershop, years of dedicated quartet singing, and a strong commitment to the goals of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Derek’s well-deserved recognition earned a heartfelt and enthusiastic ovation from the audience.
To cap off the night, Jordan Travis and Derek Stevens led a rousing sing-along, uniting the entire hall in heartfelt renditions of “We Sing That They Shall Speak” and “Keep The Whole World Singing.”
Thanks to the generosity of those in attendance, two quartets and one chorus were awarded funding from both APOC and the Ontario District to help with the costs of competing at the international level. Representing Ontario in Denver will be Burlington’s Voices Unlimited in the chorus contest, along with quartets Empire and Maple Reserve in the open quartet contest.