YOUNG BELLEVUE SINGERS WIN INTERNATIONAL BARBERSHOP YOUTH CHORUS FESTIVAL

Pasadena, Calif. (Jan. 31) – The Northwest Vocal Project  of Bellevue, Wash. took home the trophy today in the  Barbershop Harmony Society’s second annual International Youth Chorus Festival.    With 10 choruses and approximately 300 students participating from the United States, this event is the exciting culmination of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s year round effort to promote barbershop harmony to youth around the world.  The Youth Chorus competition is judged by a panel of certified Society judges in three categories:  music, singing and presentation. 

Under the direction of Donny Rose the winning chorus is comprised of singers ages 16-29.   The talented young director is also a local jazz trombonist and accomplished music educator.  In less than one year, Rose led the group to first place in their plateau in San Antonio, Tex., at the first International youth music festival and scored the highest at a division contest in Portland, Ore.

The young singers competed in three age brackets with trophies awarded to winners in each of the brackets.    Every individual performer received a rating pin for their participation in the singing contest. 

Rounding out the winners in the three age brackets are:

Tri-Star of the Mid-Atlantic District, under the direction of Neil Dingle – (Plateau A under age 19)

52eighty of Denver, Colo., under the direction of Chris Vaughn – (Plateau AA under age 22)

Northwest Vocal Project of Bellevue, Wash., under the direction of Donny Rose – (Plateau AAA under age 25)

The ages of competitors range from 12 – 29, and each chorus has an average age of under 25.  This event not only showcases and represents the future of vocal music in the world of barbershop harmony, but also the leadership you will soon see in each of these students’ respective communities.