The Hurricane of Harmony Chorus from Gaither High School in Tampa was named Audience Favorite and earned a SUPERIOR rating in Friday’s International Youth Barbershop Chorus Festival in Orange County, California.
The mixed-voice barbershop chorus won the hearts of the sold-out audience with selections from the musical “Grease,” with vivid costuming and high-energy choreography
Earning top accolades was particularly fitting for the Hurricane of Harmony, whose director, Debbie Cleveland, was honored earlier in the day with the Music Educator of The Year award from the Barbershop Harmony Society and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
Now its eleventh year, the Festival featured nearly 600 young singers in 17 choruses from across North America, including men’s choruses, women’s choruses and mixed-voice choruses, all singing in the barbershop style. The event was presented by the Barbershop Harmony Society and underwritten by generous donors through Harmony Foundation International
A full score sheet is available. In summary:
Audience favorite
Hurricane of Harmony
Presenter’s award
Grandview High School Supermen
Good Rating
- Anna Coyotes Chorus
- Spartans Guys Ensemble
- St. Louis Park Middle School Chorus
- The Hallmen
Excellent Rating
- Pacific Suns
- Prairie Chords
- Sound of the Sierras
Outstanding Rating
- Chandler High School Men’s Chorus
- Cleveland Heights Barbershoppers Men
- Cleveland Heights Barbershoppers Women
- Southern Gentlemen
- OC Student Union
Superior Rating
- Chandler High School Treblemakers
- Grandview High School Supermen
- Grandview High School Superwomen
- Hurricane of Harmony
- Sounds of the Mouth Vocal Collective
- The Recruits
Plateau A (Average Age <17)
- Hurricane of Harmony
Plateau AA (Average Age 17<20)
- Chandler High School Treblemakers
Plateau AAA (Average Age 20≤25)
- Sounds of the Mouth Vocal Collective