Group Picture of the Quartets Front row from L-R: Bryan Ziegler – After Hours, Kevin Hughes – Forefront, Jonny Moroni – Vocal Spectrum, Eric Dalbey – Vocal Spectrum, Back row from L to R: Drew Wheaton – Forefront, Drew Ochoa – After Hours, Dan Wessler – After Hours, Tim Buetel – After Hours, Chris Hallam – Vocal Spectrum, Tim Waurick – Vocal Spectrum, Aaron Hughes Forefront and Brian O’Dell – Forefront.
I would also like to thank the good folks of Harmony Ranch for allowing the District to use their park so we could have an entire weekend celebration.
WOW – AMAZING – FANTASTIC – PHENOMENAL
These are some of the words that were heard describing the 75th Anniversary Show.
On September 17th, at 2 pm in Burlington, Ontario this WOW – AMAZING – FANTASTIC – PHENOMENAL thing happened. No words really describe how much fun it was. A show brought to Ontario District by the 75th Anniversary Committee to celebrate our 75th Anniversary, and what a show it was.
After an electrifying welcome and introduction by our presenter Jordan Travis, the show was kicked off by Vocal Spectrum (VS), the 2006 International Champions. Starting with Cruella Deville the crowd rose to their feet when the song was over and gave VS a standing ovation; the first of many that VS received in their first set.
Then, on came Forefront, the 2016 International Champion Quartet and they sang for 25 minutes for their first set with no shortage of standing ovations themselves as well. Forefront joked about being the elder statesmen of the 3 quartets, but the chords were definitely young at heart. They turned the stage over to young guys from After Hours, and they certainly did not disappoint. They also received many standing ovations for their first set.
Each quartet did a second 20 minute set where they got many more standing ovations. Forefront’s tenor Drew Wheaton, the lone Canadian on the show, mentioned proudly to the crowd that his wife (Kris) was competing at the Sweet Adelines international and that meant he got to drive up from Louisville with his three very young children. Kris’s quartet Presto! finish 4th.
The show was coming to an end when I had the honour of presenting each of the quartet members with a commemorative 75th Anniversary pin. Then a combined finale song “Without a Song” made popular by Keepsake quartet was sung. When done, the final standing ovation of the show was received by the quartets. After the show was over and the quartets had sold their merchandise, we headed up to Harmony Ranch where an excellent meal was waiting for us, prior to the quartets wandering around Harmony Ranch, singing at the campfires that were hosted by each circle. This was an awesome day followed by a great night with just a few drinks and pie irons, but most certainly everyone who was there enjoyed the great weather and the singing until the wee hours of the morning.
The festival day started off with a free breakfast for all, followed by a BBQ lunch. Donations were accepted, and folks were very generous as is our barbershop community’s way. It did rain for a good part of the day, but nothing rained on the festivities. Many Ontario District groups sang (mostly groups from the Ranch), and the Maple Leaf Chord Company sang, as well as many pickup quartets. Then each of the three AIC quartets sang, wowing the crowd yet again. Special note of thanks to Reuven Grajner, bass of Ontario District’s own Yonge Guns quartet for filling in for Dan Wessler of After Hours. No shortage of talent there. Way to go Reuven!!
For Ontario District to meet the requirement to obtain the sponsorship funding from the AIC/HFI Ontario District had to provide an outreach opportunity for the Quartets at some time during their stay. It was discussed by the committee and decided that we would go to 3 different high schools to achieve this for the outreach. Easy peasy right? Well not so easy when you consider Covid restrictions and the inability for schools to even open their doors to a discussion on the topic. However, Ontario District’s Youth in Harmony VP Robert Ross pulled it off with a high school in Guleph, another in Oshawa, and one in Scarborough. All 3 quartets were able to perform, engage the students and have the students learn about barbershop! Way to go Robert!
I’d like to recognize the 75th Anniversary Committee Members for their respective effort to plan, promote, and organize the events that brought this wonderful show to Ontario District.
Dale Wood, Show Chairman, Bill Vermue, Events, Ken Dodge and Waldo Redekop, 75th Anniversary book, Ron Whiteside and Dave Forrester for their guidance, Steve Bangham for his work promoting all of the events and his work on the Festival day at the Ranch, Steve Armstrong and Michael Black for their work on the Prominent Barbershopper videos yet to be released and of course their guidance, Rick Snoulten for his efforts with the Festival day at the Ranch and his guidance, and lastly Robert Ross for his work on the Outreach to the schools.
The total investment by AIC/HFI via the AIC Outreach Fund was $29,700 US for this event.
A debt of gratitude to HFI and the AIC for what you do to promote and preserve this great Barbershop hobby of ours! It was great to share in such a wonderful event with HFI and the AIC.
Again, thank you for your support!
Submitted In-Harmony by
Dan Locke, Ontario District President and
75th Anniversary Committee Chairman