The Sound of Tennessee Chorus will present its annual Show of Champions on Saturday, May 19, at 7 p.m. in the Conn Center at Lee University.
The show will feature four-part a cappella music from a variety of genres including pop, jazz and barbershop. Three International Champion Quartets from the Barbershop Harmony Society (www.barbershop.org) will headline the show.
Review for the Suntones:
The Suntones (www.thesuntones.com) is regarded as one of the greatest and most innovative quartets of all time. Since winning the International Quartet Championship in 1961 the foursome has performed alongside some of the greatest names in the entertainment industry including Benny Goodman, Jackie Gleason, Danny Thomas, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and even public figures like President Gerald Ford. The Suntones were ahead of their time, innovators in almost every field of quartetting. With the release of their "Complete Works" five-CD set and the 2003 release of the “Suntones LIVE” CD, a new generation is able to discover one of the all-time great quartets of the 20th Century. In 2005, the SUNTONES joined the Buffalo Bills as one of only two quartets to be inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Society’s “Hall of Fame.”
It is of great significance that the 2012 Show of Champions will be the Suntones last show performance, ever.
Review for Vocal Spectrum:
Vocal Spectrum (www.vocalspectrum.com) has become one of the most sought-after young quartets in the world, with appearances in Germany, Sweden, Russia, Japan, England and throughout the United States. They have enthralled audiences across the country and around the world. In 2004, their unique repertoire and energetic singing style earned them the coveted first-place gold medal at the Barbershop Society’s Collegiate International Competition in Louisville, KY. with the highest score ever recorded at the International Collegiate level. In just 2 years, they went on to win the International Men’s Quartet Contest. The group's Vocal Spectrum II recording was awarded "Best Barbershop Album" by the Contemporary A Cappella Society (www.casa.org) in April 2009. The album's single, Go the Distance, also won as Best Barbershop Song.
Review for Four Voices:
Four Voices is no stranger to the Tennessee Valley. Having met as members of the world-renowned Voices of Lee at Lee University, the foursome was the first quartet to win both the collegiate-level contest in 1996 and the International Quartet Championship in 2002. Defined by their incredible vocal abilities, tight blend and challenging musical arrangements, Four Voices is regarded as one of the greatest quartets to ever be crowned as Quartet Champions. They've performed all across North America, Europe and as far away as New Zealand. The quartet is celebrating their 10-year anniversary as champions this year.
Review for the Sound of Tennessee Chorus:
The Sound of Tennessee Chorus has been the recipient of the Dixie District Chorus Championship award and the Buckeye Invitational "Small Chorus Champion" award which is a nationally recognized accolade. The chorus is comprised of 40 non-professional singers representing a wide range of ages and professions. Under the direction of Chad Guyton, the group will be performing musical selections from feature films, Broadway shows, Americana and folk songs all in a Vaudeville-stye show with a Western/Cowboy theme.
Tickets are $15 (balcony), $21 (floor) and $27 (orchestra) and can be purchased at the door and online by visiting
www.soundoftn.org.