Audacity

Audacity took the gold in the hotly contested International Seniors Quartet Competition at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Midwinter Convention. A total of 24 seniors quartets from the U.S and Canada squared off in the annual contest to become the 2009 Seniors Quartet Champion. The top five quartets each received a medal. Members of the gold medalist quartet Audacity are tenor John Fynmore, Phoenix; lead Byron Bennett, Mesa; baritone Fraser Brown, Phoenix; and bass Greg Dodge, Tempe.

 Audacity, formed in early 2007, has traveled to Illinois, Colorado, California and Tennessee to compete in various competitions. In Nashville they participated in the 2008 International Quartet Competition. All four men are members of the Greater Phoenix Chapter.
Like all members of the Barbershop Harmony Society, competing quartets sing as a hobby. In the Seniors competition, no member of any competing quartet may be younger than 55, and the cumulative age of the quartet must be 240 years or more. They are judged by a panel of two judges in each of three categories; music, presentation and singing.

List - Seniors Quartet Champions

Listing of all seniors quartet champions from the first contest in 1986.

To compete in the Seniors Quartet Contest,

  • all singers must be at least 55 years old, and
  • cumulative total of ages of quartet members must be at least 240 years.

 

Year

City

Quartet Name

Tenor

Lead

Baritone

Bass

2009

Pasadena, CA

AudacityJohn FynmoreByron BennettFraser BrownGreg Dodge

2008

San Antonio, TX

Eureka!

Frank Friedemann

Art Swanson

Richard Haines

Brian Beck

2007

Albuquerque, NM

Friendly Advice

Dan Tangarone

Wes Sorstokke

Bill Thurmon

Forrest Lamotte

2006

Sacramento, CA

Antique Gold

Tom Bates

George Wakeham

Charlie Metzger

George Metzger

2005

Jacksonville, FL

Texoma Sound

Frank Friedemann

Jim Casey

Bill Thompson

Tom Pearson

2004

Biloxi, MS

Downstate Express

Ed Wirtz, Jr.

Bruce Odell

Richard Treptow

Gary Rogness

2003

Albuquerque, NM

The Barons

Bud Haggard

Carl Taylor

Ken Buckner

Bill Woodward

2002

Riverside, CA

Chicago Shuffle

Ray Henders

Howard Tweddle

Darryl Cremer

David Boo

2001

Jacksonville, FL

Harmony

Rudy Zarling

Joe Liles

Darryl Flinn

Reed Sampson

2000

Tucson, AZ

Over Time

Jim Richards

Jerry Harrison

Mel Knight

Wilton "Bud" Roberts

1999

Biloxi, MS

Tri-County Reclamation Project

David Cowin

Robert (Bob) Squires

Arnold (Jim) Foley

William (Doug) Watson

1998

Tampa, FL

Jurassic Larks

Vic Neilsen

Vince Yinger

GW Lewallen

R.L. (Barney) Alleman

1997

Sacramento, CA

Saturday's Heroes

Dave Wilkinson

Joe Mazzone

Neil Plum

Bob Summers

1996

Jacksonville, FL

Fatherly Advice

Dan Tangarone

Dick Bek

Bill Thurmon

Burt Staffen

1995

Tucson, AZ

Reminisce

John Adams

Scott Werner

Alan Durick

Dick Whitehouse

1994

Sarasota, FL

The New & Improved Industrial Strength Mini-Chorus

Ray Henders

Robert (Bob) Squires

Arnold (Jim) Foley

Warren (Buzz) Haeger

1993

Corpus Christi, TX

Rockies IV

Herb Thomson

Wesley (Wes) Dorsey

Gerald Harris

Perry (Pete) Tyree

1992

Long Beach, CA

One More Time

James (Jim) Wheeler

Milton (Milt) Christensen

Robert (Bob) Evans

Ronald (Ron) Rumel

1991

Tampa, FL

Old Kids on the Block

Ray Henders

Ken Jordahl

Arnold (Jim) Foley

Thomas (Thom) Hine

1990

Tucson, AZ

Grandma's Beaus

Mike Stump

Merrill Miller

Bob Griffith

James (Jim) Richards

1989

Honolulu, HI

Bayou City Music Committee

Marlin (Griff) Griffith

John Hammond

Dave Ewing

Ken Pacetti

1988

Washington, D.C.

The Silver Tones

Bob Reiderbach

Bill Brooks

Sam Love

Ralph Shonk

1987

Sarasota, FL

Close Harmony Tradition

Dick Merritt

Warren (Mitch) Mitchell

Bob Mahony

Chuck Benson

1986

Tucson, AZ

George Baggish Memorial Quartet

Frank Lanza

Richard (Doc) Sause

Fred Steinkamp

Ed Keller